Jerry Reinsdorf
| Birthdate | 2/25/1936 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1981 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | White Sox |
| Position | Owner |
The White Sox owner since 1981, NBA Hall of Famer Jerry Reinsdorf owned the Bulls when Michael Jordan led them to six World Championships.
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Jerry Reinsdorf bought the White Sox in 1981 and the Bulls in 1985
Jerry Reinsdorf bought the White Sox in 1981 and the Bulls in 1985
Jerry Reinsdorf amassed his vast fortune through real estate. He parlayed his financial might into ownership of Chicago franchises in both Major League Baseball and the NBA.
When he purchased the White Sox in 1981 for $19 million, Reinsdorf had quite a task ahead. The previous three seasons the White Sox finished a combined 53 games under .500.
He quickly turned the team around, signing the likes of Carlton Fisk and Greg Luzinski. Reinsdorf also fortified the scouting department and tripled the team’s promotions budget.
His vision paid off. By 1983 the Sox made the postseason for the first time since 1959 and owned the best record in baseball.
Reinsdorf transformed the franchise and gave its fans hope. Under his leadership the White Sox won the division in ’83, ’93, 2000, 2005, and 2008. Their 2005 World Series title was the third in White Sox history and their first since 1917.
Many consider Reinsdorf the greatest owner in White Sox team history. Despite this, his most indelible contribution to the sporting world came as owner of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
After leading a group to buy the Bulls in 1985, Reinsdorf helped build the greatest NBA dynasty since the Boston Celtics.
From November 20, 1987 to November 4, 2000 the team sold out 610 straight games. In NBA history, only the Trailblazers (814) and Celtics (662) had longer streaks.
Before Reinsdorf took over, the Bulls had one division championship to their credit. With Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Coach Phil Jackson, Reinsdorf oversaw 6 NBA championship seasons from 1991-1998.
In 2016 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
In the collection is this letter signed by Reinsdorf, baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and White Sox Vice Chairman Eddie Einhorn. The trio invites 84-year old Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt to the 1983 All Star game held in Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
