RIP Frank Cashen

No glasses, no bow tie? Yeah, that's Frank Cashen.

No glasses, no bow tie? Yeah, that’s Frank Cashen.

Rest in peace, Frank Cashen, who passed away at the age of 88.

Cashen was the architect — and I really do believe that’s the correct term — of the Baltimore Orioles winning ORGANIZATION. Not team, organization. He created “The Oriole Way” that is now used as a marketing tagline by the Ripken brothers.

Cashen was also the brains behind the building of the Mets organization in the 1980s, put in charge of everything (including the hiring of broadcasters, it turns out) by the greatest owner in Mets history, Nelson Doubleday, Jr.

Frank Cashen

Now, that’s more like it.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
  1. Bat July 1, 2014 at 3:21 pm
    I know this will seem like endless dumping on the Wilpons, but here it goes anyway:

    I recall hearing that the Wilpons were adamantly opposed to acquiring Piazza and said Hundley was good enough at catcher. Fortunately Doubleday insisted, or so the story goes, and the Mets decided to acquire Piazza.

    Hundley had a couple good years but Piazza restored Mets baseball to the prominent of the late 80s.

    I wish Doubleday had not sold his portion of the team to the Wilpons and Saul Katz. What if the opposite occurred and Doubleday (and his family?) had acquired sole control from the Wilpons?

  2. Bat July 1, 2014 at 4:32 pm
    Here’s something to look forward tomorrow: Yankees plan to spend $15 to $18 million on international free agents (IFAs) which will likely result in a tax of $10 million. I wish the Mets could spend $25 million on IFAs and tax and not blink. Oh, that’s right, the Yankees play in New York.

    http://sbb.scout.com/2/1361172.html

    http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24392288/report-yankees-plan-to-shatter-international-spending-record-in-2014

    http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/baseballinsider/source-yankees-agreements-players-big-push-coming-improve-farm-system-international-spending-blog-entry-1.1826474

  3. Joe Janish July 1, 2014 at 9:51 pm
    Wilpon Curse.
  4. DaveSchneck July 1, 2014 at 10:36 pm
    Thank you Mr. Cashen and RIP.