Brad Corbett
Encyclopedia
Bradford G. Corbett was the owner of the Texas Rangers
of Major League Baseball
's American League
from 1974 to 1980. He is currently part owner of S&B Technical Products, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas
. Originally from Long Island, New York, Corbett had made a fortune in the oil business by producing and selling plastic PVC
piping. He had moved to Fort Worth, Texas
in 1968 and within two years had become a millionaire at the age of 32 after first securing a $300,000 Small Business Administration
loan. In 1974 he bought the Rangers from owner Bob Short
. Serving as (in effect) his own general manager
, he quickly set about spending a great deal of money on free agent players. This was during the advent of the free agency era and soon Corbett had signed such high-priced players as Bert Campaneris
, Doyle Alexander
, Doc Medich
, Richie Zisk
, and Mike Jorgensen
and traded for expensive talent like Bobby Bonds
, Al Oliver
, and Jon Matlack
.
Corbett was often emotional and erratic in his behavior. He cried openly after the Rangers lost on July 4, 1977 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B07040TEX1977.htm and told the assembled news media, "I'm selling this team because it's killing me! They are dogs on the field and they are dogs off the field." It had become obvious that Corbett knew little about how to run a baseball club as he would often fire managers (the Rangers had four managers in the 1977 season), storm into the locker room after games, and would trade players in a rapid and haphazard manner. Soon members of the media began to refer to the Rangers as "Brad's Big Top" and to the owner as "Chuckles the Clown." Ultimately Rangers players and fans began to be openly critical of Corbett's ownership style. The last straw seemed to occur when it became public that Corbett was trading players based upon the opinion of his young son, Brad Jr. At one point Corbett tried to win over fans at Arlington Stadium
by tossing baseballs to them from the press box only to have many of the fans respond by throwing the balls back at him. Shortly thereafter he sold the team to another self-made oil man, Eddie Chiles
.
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
from 1974 to 1980. He is currently part owner of S&B Technical Products, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Originally from Long Island, New York, Corbett had made a fortune in the oil business by producing and selling plastic PVC
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a plastic.PVC may also refer to:*Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor*Peripheral venous catheter, a small, flexible tube placed into a peripheral vein in order to administer medication or fluids...
piping. He had moved to Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in 1968 and within two years had become a millionaire at the age of 32 after first securing a $300,000 Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
loan. In 1974 he bought the Rangers from owner Bob Short
Bob Short
Robert Earl Short was an American sport teams owner and politician.-Biography:A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Short bought the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association in the late 1950s and moved the team to Los Angeles in 1960...
. Serving as (in effect) his own general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
, he quickly set about spending a great deal of money on free agent players. This was during the advent of the free agency era and soon Corbett had signed such high-priced players as Bert Campaneris
Bert Campaneris
Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco , nicknamed "Campy", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams, primarily the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics...
, Doyle Alexander
Doyle Alexander
Doyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...
, Doc Medich
Doc Medich
George Francis "Doc" Medich in Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972-1982...
, Richie Zisk
Richie Zisk
Richard Walter Zisk is a retired Major League Baseball player currently in charge of pro scouting in Florida for the Chicago Cubs.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
, and Mike Jorgensen
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is a former Major League Baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft...
and traded for expensive talent like Bobby Bonds
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
, Al Oliver
Al Oliver
Albert Oliver, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. Over the course of his 18-year career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Texas Rangers , Montreal Expos , San Francisco Giants , Philadelphia Phillies , Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays...
, and Jon Matlack
Jon Matlack
Jonathan Trumpbour Matlack is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...
.
Corbett was often emotional and erratic in his behavior. He cried openly after the Rangers lost on July 4, 1977 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B07040TEX1977.htm and told the assembled news media, "I'm selling this team because it's killing me! They are dogs on the field and they are dogs off the field." It had become obvious that Corbett knew little about how to run a baseball club as he would often fire managers (the Rangers had four managers in the 1977 season), storm into the locker room after games, and would trade players in a rapid and haphazard manner. Soon members of the media began to refer to the Rangers as "Brad's Big Top" and to the owner as "Chuckles the Clown." Ultimately Rangers players and fans began to be openly critical of Corbett's ownership style. The last straw seemed to occur when it became public that Corbett was trading players based upon the opinion of his young son, Brad Jr. At one point Corbett tried to win over fans at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
by tossing baseballs to them from the press box only to have many of the fans respond by throwing the balls back at him. Shortly thereafter he sold the team to another self-made oil man, Eddie Chiles
Eddie Chiles
Harrell Edmonds "Eddie" Chiles was the founder of the Western Company of North America and an owner of the Texas Rangers. He was also the paternal uncle of actress Lois Chiles....
.
Sources
- "Huffing and Puffing in Texas" Sports Illustrated. August 7, 1978 http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093941/1/index.htm
- The Impossible Takes A Little Longer by Phil Rogers. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1990.
- Seasons in Hell by Mike Shropshire.
- The Baseball Hall of Shame Volume 2.
- The Complete Handbook of Baseball 1980.