THE FORTY YEAR DUPE
Behind the Great Wall of Flushing
I - PAYSON ERA COMES TO AN END
What begins in 1962, and culminates in 1969, slowly starts to unravel in the decade ahead. Sadly, in 1972, beloved manager Gil Hodges passes away. He is followed three years later by the Ol' Perfessor Casey Stengel and team founder Mrs. Joan Payson. Organizationally speaking, Bing Devine and Whitey Herzog are no longer procuring young talent for the club. Charge of the front office and baseball operations by the mid-1970s are essentially left in the hands of M. Donald Grant. Fan favorites Rusty Staub, Tug McGraw, and Tom Seaver are traded.
(Grant).. "doesn't know beans about baseball." - Whitey HerzogMinority owner M. Donald Grant seemingly has no compunction playing the fan perceived role of villain. The deconstruction of the "Amazin" and "Ya Gotta Believe" Mets continues under general manager Joe McDonald. Meanwhile, Joan Payson's daughter and heiress Lorinda de Roulet has her own qualms as a baseball magnate. The aptly labeled Dark Years (1977-1979) are distressing times for Mets fans, young and old. Ed Kranepool, the last vestige of the Miracle Mets, in 1979, announces his retirement, officially punctuating the end of a nineteen-year-long era.
II - A CONTENTIOUS PARTNERSHIP (1980-2002)
By 1980 the Payson Estate puts the Mets up for sale. Ed Kranepool submits a bid, but Lorinda de Roulet (as Kranepool describes the process) decides to sell within her inner social circle, including none other than Fred Wilpon. Along with his brother-in-law, he, Saul Katz, each put up $650,000 as part of a record 21.1 million dollar bid for a major league team. Now all they need is someone to put up a majority share and unwittingly agree to become a non-managing partner. John Pickett, the (then) owner of the New York Islanders, brings Fred Wilpon in contact with publishing titan Nelson Doubleday who ironically agrees to put up 80% of the purchase price without first reading the fine print. He would come to learn of his misstep the hard way.
Within a few years, the team embarks on its greatest span of sustained success. From 1984 through 1990, no National League team wins more games than the Mets. They capture two division titles and win one World Series. After a ten year intermission, the Mets return to the playoffs in 1999 and in 2000 clinch the organization's fourth ever National League pennant.
However, the business relationship of 22-years, which begins amicably (at best), quickly deteriorates to the point Doubleday grows to loathe whom he comes to view as his duplicitous partner. In 1986, Nelson Doubleday was selling his family's publishing business to Bartelmann's. As part of Doubleday's own reorganization, Nelson, Fred Wilpon, and Saul Katz agree to become equal partners in purchasing the Mets from Doubleday and Co. for $85 million (and an agreement to assume $25 million in team liabilities). Soon after, the New York Times wrote that it was quite possible Doubleday and Fred Wilpon (and Saul Katz) would not have become 50-50 partners, had Doubleday been aware of the clause in their original agreement which provides Wilpon the right of first refusal on any sale of the team. The issue of Fred Wilpon's right of refusal resurfaces in 1992 when an irate Nelson Doubleday makes a veiled threat to sell his half of the Mets in protest after a majority of MLB owners vote in favor to oust commissioner Fay Vincent.
Otherwise, the two continue bickering over a great many issues, some more famously than others. Whereas Nelson Doubleday thinks it is business-wise to extend Mike Piazza, Fred does not. Instead of investing in one of baseball's premier players, Fred is hell-bent on building a new ballpark. Doubleday knows they can't afford such a grand undertaking and instead proposes to renovate Shea Stadium.
Nelson's growing animosity towards Fred escalates to a point where they occupy separate boxes during games until Doubleday just stops attending. After years of infighting, they ultimately deem their differences irreconcilable, and by 2002 Nelson Doubleday declares he is done with baseball. A contentious court battle ensues over the team's fair market valuation resulting in Doubleday being forced to settle on a buyout far below his expectation.
On the way out Nelson Doubleday takes some parting shots at his former partner and son, whom he likens to a "little Pharaoh" and scoffs at the notion of Jeff "learning how to become a baseball man." Doubleday implores media and fans, ".. run for the hills!" because Fred Wilpon, "is going to run the Mets into the ground."
Very similar to Whitey Herzog's assessment of M. Donald Grant, is it not?
Most, if not all, Mets fans would agree Nelson Doubleday was the more astute of the two partners and possessed the higher baseball acumen. But with his exit, so went Fred's check and balance, the front office's operational conviction, and, above all, ownership's Mets-centric sensibilities and team pride!
III - ROAD TO RUIN
With Doubleday out of the way, Fred Wilpon focuses his full attention on building Citi Field. Fred owns the blueprints to Ebbets Field. He slaps them on his architect's desk and says to him, this is what he wants.
But how is Fred Wilpon going to satisfy his payment to Nelson Doubleday and still afford to build a new ballpark when his former partner already publicly declared the plan unfeasible?
In 2015, the New York Times wrote that Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz used their accounts with Bernie Madoff to persuade lenders into refinancing certain loans. This permits them to buyout Nelson Doubleday (according to the lawsuit filed against the Mets owners by the trustee for the victims of Madoff's fraud).
In 2015, the New York Times wrote that Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz used their accounts with Bernie Madoff to persuade lenders into refinancing certain loans. This permits them to buyout Nelson Doubleday (according to the lawsuit filed against the Mets owners by the trustee for the victims of Madoff's fraud).
In a separate 2011 article, former Mets general manager Frank Cashen acknowledged to the New York Times, it was his understanding that several million of his deferred compensation had been invested with Mr. Madoff. This suggests Bernie Madoff was no stranger to those in and around the Mets front office and that Fred Wilpon and company by this time were already hedging and manipulating accounts.
Fred's next move is firing Steve Phillips and ordering interim general manager Jim Duquette to cease spending.
Lastly, Fred promises lenders that Citi Field will be packed annually with 3.5 million fans.
After two seasons, Fred replaces Duquette with Omar Minaya. Ownership is agreeable to Omar's payroll increases as long as their realigned Madoff accounts continue sustaining the load, which they do right up until Dec. 8, 2008, when the most egregious investment Ponzi scheme in American history is revealed. The Mets organization is financially devastated. Meanwhile, the grand opening of Citi Field, replete with all its inherent debt, is just four months away.
Loans, secondary loans, and refinanced loans get ownership nowhere. By 2012, the Wilpons are left with little choice but to sell limited minority shares in the team. During this time, Steve Cohen initially purchases his shares in the Mets (as do notables Anthony Scaramucci and Bill Maher). The sale staves off creditors for a fleeting moment. All these years later, the Wilpons remain hundreds of millions in debt. Never able to fully recover, on September 14, 2020, forty years after submitting their initial bid to purchase the club, Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, and Saul B. Katz finally agree to sell the New York Mets baseball club to Steve Cohen.
Fred's next move is firing Steve Phillips and ordering interim general manager Jim Duquette to cease spending.
Lastly, Fred promises lenders that Citi Field will be packed annually with 3.5 million fans.
After two seasons, Fred replaces Duquette with Omar Minaya. Ownership is agreeable to Omar's payroll increases as long as their realigned Madoff accounts continue sustaining the load, which they do right up until Dec. 8, 2008, when the most egregious investment Ponzi scheme in American history is revealed. The Mets organization is financially devastated. Meanwhile, the grand opening of Citi Field, replete with all its inherent debt, is just four months away.
Loans, secondary loans, and refinanced loans get ownership nowhere. By 2012, the Wilpons are left with little choice but to sell limited minority shares in the team. During this time, Steve Cohen initially purchases his shares in the Mets (as do notables Anthony Scaramucci and Bill Maher). The sale staves off creditors for a fleeting moment. All these years later, the Wilpons remain hundreds of millions in debt. Never able to fully recover, on September 14, 2020, forty years after submitting their initial bid to purchase the club, Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon, and Saul B. Katz finally agree to sell the New York Mets baseball club to Steve Cohen.
Eighteen years after gaining full control of the Mets from Nelson Doubleday; twelve years post-Bernie Madoff implosion; Fred and Jeff Wilpon leave the Mets behind after running the club into the ground, just as Doubleday prophesied.
Doubleday's departure and Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme are separated by a mere six years.
Six ...
IV - FRED WILPON'S CONCATENATED GENERAL MANAGERS
Keep in mind Fred Wilpon is the managing partner. How he and Jeff run the front office proves as defective as their finances. They maintain what they call a collegial condition wherein all executives in the loop hold some sway. But we know that really means over-involvement and mass meddling. Frank Cashen would have never allowed such a thing. Thus the list of ensuing general managers hired after Cashen's retirement proves beyond a reasonable doubt how Fred refuses to operate outside his sphere of comfort and competence.
Keep in mind Fred Wilpon is the managing partner. How he and Jeff run the front office proves as defective as their finances. They maintain what they call a collegial condition wherein all executives in the loop hold some sway. But we know that really means over-involvement and mass meddling. Frank Cashen would have never allowed such a thing. Thus the list of ensuing general managers hired after Cashen's retirement proves beyond a reasonable doubt how Fred refuses to operate outside his sphere of comfort and competence.
Before stepping down after the 1991 season, Frank Cashen has already stocked the front office with Al Harazin, Gerry Hunsicker, and Joe McIlvaine. Cashen would later recruit Steve Phillips, who, in turn, recruits into the front office, Jim Duquette and Omar Minaya.
Before the 1992 season, Fred and Frank Cashen select Al Harazin as the next general manager. The decision alienates Joe McIlvaine, who takes the general manager's position in San Diego, and Gerry Hunsiker, who accepts the general manager's post in Houston. Here in Flushing, the 1992-1993 Mets go down as the worst team money can buy. As such, Al Harazin is relieved of his duties. But instead of vetting out a new general manager, Fred gets on the phone to Gerry Hunsiker, begging for his return. After being rebuffed, Fred gets on the phone to Joe McIlvaine, who acquiesces. Joe becomes notorious for going on scouting trips without informing Fred and for not returning his calls. This infuriates Fred, as it goes against his collegial office structure. McIlvaine is fired. But instead of vetting out a new general manager, the job is handed to Steve Phillips. Meanwhile, Omar Minaya accepts the general manager's position in Montreal.
Under Phillips, the Mets in 2000 return to the World Series, but the partnership between Doubleday and Wilpon is soon ending. By 2003, the Mets are a last-place club with the highest payroll in the National League. Fred freezes team spending until the deal with Nelson Doubleday is closed. In the meantime, Steve Philips, for various reasons, is fired. Fred then tasks Jim Duquette as general manager while he tries to restore financial order. Before the 2004 season is through, Fred Wilpon is again ready for a new general manager. But instead of vetting out a new executive during the off-season, Fred places a call to Omar Minaya's office requesting his return to Flushing. Minaya gladly accepts the Mets offer. He is the general manager when the Bernie Madoff news breaks. Omar's run ends after the 2009 season.
A long concatenate of organizationally familiar, if not inbred, executives is finally broken. Moving forward, Jeff Wilpon is poised to play a leading role in vetting out the next general manager. However, despite conducting an extensive (albeit feeble) search, Commissioner Bud Selig intercedes by politely imposing Sandy Alderson upon the Mets in light of their fast worsening Madoff condition. Although unsolicited, Alderson represents the first executive/general manager since Frank Cashen, who is not previously associated with the Mets. Alderson's not-so-secret mission is to keep the National League's New York City member club afloat in light of ownership's dire financial straits.
After an "old school" rebuild in 2015, the Mets clinched their fifth ever National League pennant. But their success is short-lived. During the 2018 season, Sandy Alderson steps down, citing health concerns. Rumor has it Jeff was already contemplating Alderson's dismissal. Be that as it may, Jeff Wilpon decides the team will finish out the season with himself, John Ricco, and Omar Minaya (back with the organization) serving together as general manager.
Because that makes perfect sense ...
V - THE COO
Sandy Alderson was clearly a hockey stick thrown into Jeff's bicycle spokes. But opportunity presents itself again when the Mets general manager steps down. After conducting another disingenuous vetting process, Jeff Wilpon hires Brodie Van Wagenen, an agent and a personal friend of his, to be the next general manager.
And there's the rub ...
Instead of competently hiring a well respected and proven executive (such as the available and highly touted Chaim Bloom, per se), Jeff takes the safe route in hiring someone he trusts on a personal level - general manager experience be damned. Jeff ultimately employs someone who will let him meddle till his heart's content.
Nelson Doubleday never thought much of Jeff. All these years later, we have a better understanding of why. He's straight out of a textbook: nepotism, elitism, hubris, lack of practical experience, lack of leadership and interpersonal skills, certainly no self-awareness, lack of accountability and novice superintendence, not to mention his spoiled petulance to the very last insofar as closing out negotiations and final transfer of the team ... everything you'd expect from the owner's son.
"..little Pharaoh."
VI - THE RECORD (2003-2020)
Three Playoff Appearances: 2006, 2015-2016
- Eighteen seasons under Wilpon's ownership
- One National League pennant
- Two N.L. East titles
- One Wild Card
- Seven winning seasons
- Eleven losing seasons
- Overall Record: 1,381-1,426 (.491) w/ six games left in 2020
VII - LEGACY LOST
Picture if you will ...
A Brooklyn kid and Dodgers fan grows up in the neighborhood of Bensonhurst. He pitches a no-hitter for Lafayette High School. Playing to his left is first baseman, Sandy Koufax. This kid matures into a prominent real estate developer. In 1980, he and partner Nelson Doubleday rescue Mets fans from the Dark Years. Fans are thankful. By 1986, the Mets are world champions, and for the rest of the decade, dominate the local baseball scene. After capturing another pennant, Nelson Doubleday decides to retire. Fred Wilpon assumes full ownership of the club. Mets fans are again grateful and appreciative that their favorite baseball club remains a family-run organization and not owned by some cold corporate Death Star conglomerate. Within a few years, the Mets are back in the playoffs and go on a wildly successful three-year run. They recapture the heart of New York City and closeout Shea Stadium gloriously. In 2009, the Wilpons open the doors to brand new Citi Field, a thoughtfully constructed monument to Mets baseball and its National League heritage. Joan Payson, Gil Hodges, and Tom Seaver commemorative statues mark the third base, home plate, and first base exterior. The interior rotunda is a grand museum dedicated to Mets baseball, with additional life-size commemorative statues of Casey Stengel and Willie Mays in his Mets uniform. Other tasteful hints of the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field are easily detectable by the observant fan. Once inside, one can cross the Shea Bridge and visit the New York City Negro Leagues Museum with prominent exhibits featuring Jackie Robinson and a host of others. Fans give their new home a rave review, and the symbiotic relationship with ownership continues. Happy fans keep packing Citi Field to the tune of 3.5 million per season. None of which is lost on Fred and Jeff Wilpon, who continually reinvest into the club while driving down debt on Citi Field. The Mets return to the World Series in 2015 and have since remained a top National League contender. I was 13-years old when Fred and Nelson Doubleday originally purchased the club. Forty years later and I'm now 53-years old. I've been fortunate to be a fan of a well-run organization. Moving forward, Jeff and the family are more than welcome to occupy the next forty years of my life. After all, good owners are hard to come by. Fred Wilpon has been a local hero to us; a Brooklyn kid does good.
As if ...
They do nothing of the kind.
The Wilpons have impacted forty years of my life. At this point, it's best if they just leave.
Story over.
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