He’s who won when it seemed impossible. Fortune Magazine ranked him first on their 2017 list of the “World’s Greatest Leaders.” He’s rich, Ivy League-educated and a whiz with numbers.
That’s right. It’s Theo Epstein. Boy wonder.
Epstein currently serves as the president of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs. But in Boston, he will forever be remembered as the architect behind the breaking of the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004.
In the winter of 2002, Epstein took over as the Red Sox general manager. He went on to transform the entire franchise, and in many ways, the city of Boston. His legacy with the Sox lives on, even six years after he skipped town. During his tenure as GM, he signed Xander Bogaerts and drafted current Red Sox Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, Christian Vazquez, Blake Swihart and Jackie Bradley Jr.
With respect to former Sox, Epstein’s list of acquisitions includes Curt Schilling, Kevin Millar, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury. Oh, and a player by the name of David Ortiz.
The Red Sox won two World Series championships with Epstein at the helm, and a third shortly after his departure to Chicago. In short, he is one of the most influential individuals in the history of the Red Sox franchise.
Epstein returns to Fenway Park this week, when his reigning world champion Cubs visit Boston for a three-game series to close out the first month of the season. The Cubs (12-8), like the Sox (11-8), have underperformed so far this season, and barely sit above .500. Nevertheless, I anticipate an exciting series.
So how did this nerdy boy from Brookline end up as the most important leader in the world, two spots ahead of Pope Francis?
Fortune emphasized three main criteria when choosing leaders: acknowledging reality and offering hope, bringing followers physically together, and building bridges. As the leader of the Cubs’ magical championship run, Epstein certainly fulfills all three categories.
By breaking a 108-year curse, the Cubs offered no shortage of hope. With record ratings during the World Series, and capacity crowds in Chicago and Cleveland, Epstein brought people together. And finally, with the love and celebration that took over the Windy City after the amazing victory, Epstein built bridges. Cubs fans of all faiths, generations and backgrounds could come together to bask in the glow of their triumph, over a century in the making.
After a toxic end to his time in Boston — the horrendous collapse of the 2011 Sox — Epstein took a different approach in Chicago. In crafting his five-year plan for the Cubs, Epstein hoped to carry over the success of his “Moneyball” methods from Boston, with the added focus on the character of his team.
Like the 2013 Red Sox, Epstein realized that baseball players are more than just robotic, one-dimensional athletes — they have personalities, interests and flaws. By looking at the full complexity of a player, rather than just his abilities on the diamond, Epstein became better able to build a winning ball club. It doesn’t matter how many home runs a player hits on the field if he’s a cancer in the clubhouse.
In his interview with Fortune, Epstein reflected on this principle.
“If we can’t find the next technological breakthrough, well, maybe we can be better than anyone else with how we treat our players and how we connect with players and the relationships we develop and how we put them in positions to succeed,” he said. “Maybe our environment will be the best in the game, maybe our vibe will be the best in the game, maybe our players will be the loosest, and maybe they’ll have the most fun, and maybe they’ll care the most. It’s impossible to quantify.”
By emphasizing the connections between members of the team, from the front office to the dugout, the Cubs created an environment in which each player could have fun, try their best and feel part of a family. That mentality carried them all the way to breaking a century-long curse. Without Epstein as the mastermind behind it all, who knows how long the drought would have continued.
Being a local of Boston, and a lifetime Sox fan, Epstein will always hold a special place in my heart. I grew up with Epstein’s Red Sox teams, and like many young Boston fans, I wanted to grow up to be like him one day. While my career aspirations, as well as Epstein’s job title and location may have changed, he still remains a significant part of baseball. His career illustrates the importance of innovative thinking, staying hopeful in the face of defeat and working hard to achieve your goals.
He may now run a different ball club. He may lead the Cubs to a World Series victory over my Red Sox in the near future, but Theo Epstein will always be loved here. Boston fans should be proud that the “World’s Greatest Leader” was once ours. I know I am.
Welcome home, Theo.
