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Al Campanis

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Sports Executive

The Resume

    (November 2, 1916-June 21, 1998)
    Born in Kos, Greece
    Birth name was Alessandro Campani
    Second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1943)
    General manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1968-87)
    Fired two days after appearing on Nightline to discuss the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Dodgers (April 6, 1987)

Why he might be annoying:

    His Major League playing career lasted just seven games.
    In one of his first trades as general manager, he sent his son Jim to the Kansas City Royals for two minor leaguers.
    Asked by Ted Koppel why there were so few black managers and executives in baseball, he replied that they lacked 'the necessities' for the job.
    Given a chance by Koppel to clairfy, he dug the hole deeper with comments like 'How many quarterbacks do you have, how many pitchers do you have that are black' and praising black people's athletic abilities then adding, 'As far as having the background to become club presidents or presidents of a bank, I don't know.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served in the US Navy during World War II.
    He and Jackie Robinson were teammates on the minor league Montreal Royals, and he once threw down his glove and challenged an opposing player who had been harrassing Robinson.
    Manny Mota called him 'the father of Latin baseball.'
    He later said that by 'necessities' he had meant a lack of experience in the relevant areas rather than innate abilities.
    In the wake of the interview, Commissioner Peter Ueberroth announced that hiring of minority group members would be a Major League priority.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 30 Votes: 10.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying