Harry Dalton
| Birthdate | 08/23/1928 |
| Death Date | 10/23/2005 |
| Debut Year | 1966 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Angels, Brewers, Orioles |
| Position | Executive |
As GM for the Orioles, Angels, and Brewers, Harry Dalton helped his teams win five American League pennants and two World Series titles.
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Harry Dalton was the architect of Baltimore's first two World Series titles
Harry Dalton was the architect of Baltimore's first two World Series titles
Harry Dalton got his start as an office boy for the Orioles in 1954, their first season in Baltimore. He rose up the ranks in the front office, earning the role of scouting director in 1961 at age 32. During his time in the position, the Oriole farm system produced the likes of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Boog Powell, and Davey Johnson.
In 1965 Dalton ascended to the role of director of player personnel, the de facto general manager. His first order of business was the completion of a trade for Reds outfielder Frank Robinson. Dalton’s predecessor Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail had been in contact with his Cincinnati counterpart Bill DeWitt about the deal but unable to consummate it.
In one of the most lopsided deals in Major League history, Dalton sent Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson in return for Robinson. The trade brought the franchise great success. Robinson earned the AL’s Triple Crown, and the Most Valuable Player Award. In the World Series he hit two home runs in the four-game sweep of the Dodgers to earn the postseason MVP.
During his reign Dalton hired future Hall of Fame Earl Weaver as manager, drafted and developed Bobby Grich and Don Baylor, and acquired Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson. Dalton’s work helped the Orioles win the AL flag in ’66, ’69, ’70, and ’71 and the World Series crown in ’66 and ’70.
In the collection is this Topps 1966 Batting Leaders card. It is signed by the top three finishers shown on the card, Hall of Famers Robinson, Tony Oliva, and Al Kaline.
After leaving Baltimore, Dalton was hired away to the Angels by Gene Autry
After leaving Baltimore, Dalton was hired away to the Angels by Gene Autry
After much success in Baltimore, Angels owner Gene Autry hired Harry Dalton away from the Orioles in late 1971. One of his first moves in Anaheim was the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Dalton sent franchise favorite and six-time All Star Jim Fregosi in exchange for a five-player package that included the Ryan Express.
Despite another lopsided deal for a superstar, Dalton’s time with the Angels was not successful. In six full seasons the Halos never reached the break-even mark. After the 1977 season Dalton was replaced by former Dodger GM Buzzie Bavasi.
In the collection is a letter signed by Dalton as general manager of the Angels. In it he asks for an update on Dave Leonhard who Dalton says the Angels are looking at bringing up from the minors to the big club. The GM was familiar with Leonhard whose time in the majors coincided with Dalton’s tenure in Baltimore.
Leonhard won 16 games and saved five more for the Orioles from 1966-1972. Dalton never did promote Leonhard to the Angels that season. Leonhard was through as a big leaguer after the 1972 season though he did pitch professionally in the minor leagues until 1976.
Dalton's final GM job resulted in the Brewers first postseason appearances
Dalton's final GM job resulted in the Brewers first postseason appearances
Harry Dalton’s final GM job came with the Brewers from 1978-1991. When he started, the team had yet to post a winning season in eight years in Milwaukee. Soon he helped turn things around. His first year featured 93 wins. In 1979, they improved by two games and finished second to the AL champion Orioles.
Dalton’s Brewers had their third-straight winning campaign in 1980. Wanting to get over the hump, Dalton engineered another blockbuster deal. The GM sent four players to the Cardinals for Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons, and future Cy Young Award winner Pete Vuckovich.
Fingers posted a 1.04 ERA and led the league in saves to earn both the Cy Young and MVP awards. Simmons made the All Star team for the 7th time, and Vuckovich led the AL in wins. Dalton’s newly-acquired trio pushed the Brew Crew to their first postseason in 1981 where their season was ended by the Yankees.
In ’82 they were even better. Milwaukee won the division and beat Dalton’s former team the Angels in the ALCS. In the World Series, the Brewers dropped a seven-game thriller to Whitey Herzog’s St. Louis Cardinals. Dalton was named MLB Executive of the Year.
Dalton stayed in Milwaukee as GM through the ’91 season then as a consultant from ’92-’94. In 2003 he was inducted into the On July 24, 2003, Dalton was inducted into the Milwaukee Brewers Walk of Fame.
Dalton, who died in 2005 remains a candidate for Cooperstown. The executive has appeared multiple times on the Veterans Committee ballot.
In the collection is this letter written by Dalton’s great acquisition for the Brewers, Rollie Fingers. The reliever outlines what it means to him to have a plaque in Cooperstown.
Fingers writes, “As a baseball player it’s the ultimate accomplishment. Players may win a Cy Young or MVP Award, win a home run title, or a batting championship, but those are the awards that are won over the span of one year. The Hall of Fame is a career accomplishment that took me 22 years as a pro…Being honored as a Hall of Famer means you were the best at what you did and that your dreams came true.”
