The baseball community is grieving the loss of veteran executive Walt Jocketty, who died at the age of 74 after a 45-year career in the sport. Major League Baseball’s official X (formerly Twitter) account announced his passing on Saturday afternoon. Jocketty was best known for his tenure as general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1994 to 2007, during which he brought in iconic players like Mark McGwire, Albert Pujols, and Adam Wainwright. A three-time Executive of the Year, he also served as GM of the Cincinnati Reds from 2008 to 2015 and continued as an advisor to the team until the end of 2024.
Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt said that Walt was the team’s first general manager after they acquired the franchise and played a key role in guiding the baseball operations during some of the club’s most successful and unforgettable years. DeWitt added that while Walt will be deeply missed, his impactful career in baseball will be fondly remembered. Jocketty began his MLB career with the Oakland A’s in 1980, where he earned a World Series title in 1989 and contributed to developing the team’s farm system. After joining the Cardinals, he brought over several prominent figures from Oakland, including Mark McGwire and manager Tony La Russa.