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McClatchy to step down at season's end
Pirates CEO has run the day-to-day
operations for 11 years
By Jenifer
Langosch / MLB.com
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Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy (right) chats with left fielder Jason
Bay during Spring Training. (Pirates)
| MLB Headlines |
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PITTSBURGH -- Though it was a decision Kevin McClatchy said he made
a few months ago, the Pirates' chief executive officer made the
official announcement on Friday that he will be stepping down from
his position with the team effective at the end of the season.
"Somebody asked why, and I keep referring to what John Madden
said," said McClatchy, who has been a cornerstone of the
organization since 1996. "John Madden said, 'You get about 10 years
in the frying pan and then burnout can take place.' It was the
right time for me to make that change. And at the same time, I
think it's the right time for the team."
McClatchy said Friday that the timing of the announcement was to
allow the organization ample time to find a replacement. Ideally,
the Pirates would like to have a new CEO in place shortly after the
end of the season to quicken the transition period and to allow
McClatchy's successor to have an influence over the team's
offseason spending and decisions.
Leading the search process for a replacement will be Pirates
chairman of the board Bob Nutting, who replaced McClatchy as the
team's principal owner during the offseason. Other than reiterating
that the search process will be an internal one and will begin
immediately, Nutting did not want to set a timetable or discuss
certain specifics regarding the search process. And at this time,
it is too early to begin speculating on possible candidates, he
said.
"I don't want to draw a box around or limit the candidate,"
Nutting said. "It's important that we look at a broad array [of
people] and that we get the right person who is going to commit to
Pittsburgh, who understands the plan we have in place and who is
going to be able to guide this team through."
McClatchy became the Pirates' principal owner before the 1996
season, leading an ownership group that played a large role in
ensuring that the Pirates would remain in Pittsburgh. At the time,
McClatchy was the youngest owner in baseball, and he held the
position as the Pirates' managing general partner until Nutting
became the principal owner and McClatchy took the title of CEO last
January.
In his 11 seasons leading the organization, McClatchy played a
key role in the plans to build PNC Park, as well as bringing the
All-Star Game back to Pittsburgh last year. Also during his tenure,
McClatchy helped guide the revitalization of the North Shore and
increased the Pirates' involvement in the Pittsburgh community.
McClatchy also recently accompanied MLB president and chief
operating officer Bob DuPuy to China as a handful of Major League
Baseball executives visited the country with the goal of finding a
way for MLB to open the 2008 season with exhibition games there.
The Pirates, led by McClatchy, appear to be one of the teams most
interested in being a part of those games in China.
However, even with all of the contributions that McClatchy has
made to the organization during his 11 seasons running the
day-to-day operations, he has never been able to lead the Pirates
to a winning season. Despite all that he accomplished, McClatchy
said that, like the fans, he has been disappointed that up to this
point, he hasn't accomplished that goal.
And while his decision to step down was based largely from a
personal standpoint, McClatchy said that the lack of the Pirates'
success during his tenure also partially dictated a need for a
change.
"I don't think you can ever disregard team performance and say
that had nothing to do with it," McClatchy said of his decision to
step down. "Obviously, you look at the wins and losses -- [it has]
been disappointing to me, and at the same time, I take
responsibility for that as the CEO of this organization. I think
that's part of the reason why change will be embraced.
"Our fans are terrific. I don't ever blame the fans for their
frustration. The only thing that I would say is that I don't think
the fans always know how frustrated I am and how much I truly
wanted to win. I think if they ever had a sense of that it might
change their opinion a little bit."
Nutting then added that he is hopeful that all of the
contributions McClatchy has made to the city won't be forgotten
once he leaves and won't be overshadowed by the team's lack of
success.
"I hope Pittsburgh takes an opportunity to celebrate the
accomplishments that Kevin has had here with this organization,"
Nutting said.
Both Nutting and McClatchy also said they believed that it was
important to let Pirates fans know that Friday's announcement was
in no way a sign that the team has waved a white flag this season.
The two said that they have been encouraged by the team's improved
play lately and are looking forward to watching a successful second
half of the year.
"If in any way I had given up on the season, it would have been
a resignation effective immediately," McClatchy said. "It's not
that way. I have a lot of faith that this team is going to continue
to improve."
McClatchy said that he has not decided what he plans to do
following the end of the season. However, don't expect his loyalty
to the team to waver after this year. He'll be back next season. He
may just have a new seat this time.
"I hope to get a chance to sit out there with Ross Morgan and
the Left Field Loonies and enjoy a baseball game," McClatchy said.
"No question about it."
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