Temple University Athletics
Temple's Ed Wade Named General Manager Of Houston Astros
9.21.07 | Baseball
Sept. 21, 2007
HOUSTON - Temple graduate and former baseball letterwinner Ed Wade '77 has been named the general manager of the the Houston Astros, team chairman and CEO Drayton McLane announced yesterday. Wade is the 11th general manager in franchise history and earned varsity letters in in 1974 and 1975 under Hall of Fame head coach Skip Wilson.
Wade currently serves as a professional scout for the San Diego Padres. He spent eight seasons as the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1998-2005 and was named to the post on March 17, 1998. He replaced Lee Thomas as acting general manager on Dec. 9, 1997.
"Ed Wade is an experienced baseball executive with a strong track record," said McLane. "He built a talented organization in Philadelphia with ballplayers that remain among the elite players in the game today. We look forward to his leadership as we continue our quest toward a World Series championship."
Wade acquired a strong collection of talented players while with Philadelphia via draft, trades, and free agency. Under his watch, the Phillies drafted future All-Stars such as Chase Utley (also NL Silver Slugger in 2006), left-hander Cole Hamels, and 2006 NL Most Valuable Player and 2005 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard (All-Star and Silver Slugger in 2006). The club also drafted outfielder Pat Burrell (1998), right-handed pitcher Brett Myers (1999) while developing All-Stars such as shortstop Jimmy Rollins and left-handed pitcher Randy Wolf during Wade's tenure.
The Phillies selected outfielder Pat Burrell in 1998, who has 216 home runs for the club to date. Other Major League talents drafted or developed while Wade was the Phillies general manager include players such as Michael Bourn, Ryan Madson, Carlos Ruiz, Johnny Estrada, Jason Michaels, Marlon Byrd, and Marlon Anderson.
Additionally, the Phillies selected outfielder Shane Victorino in the Rule 5 Draft at the 2004 Winter Meetings. In his first full season as a starting outfielder in 2007, Victorino is tied for 5th in the NL with 37 stolen bases (with Rollins) and has hit .283 with 11 home runs.
Wade also signed free-agent first baseman Jim Thome in the offseason preceding the 2003 season, who hit 106 home runs for Philadelphia from 2003-05. That same offseason, he acquired right-handed pitcher Kevin Millwood, who pitched a no-hitter for the Phillies and won 23 games in two seasons for the club, including 14 in 2003. During the offseason that followed the 2003 season, Wade acquired left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner from the Astros. Wagner appeared in the 2005 All-Star game for the Phillies and saved 59 games in two seasons for the club (2004-05).
The 51-year-old Wade began his baseball career in 1977 as an intern in the Phillies public relations department. In 1977, he was named public relations assistant for the Astros and was promoted to public relations director in 1979. In 1981, he left Houston to become the public relations director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he remained with that club for five seasons.
In 1986, Wade returned to Houston to work as an associate for Tal Smith Enterprises, a firm which has provided consulting services to 26 of the 30 Major League clubs. The most recognized functions have been in the preparation of arbitration cases, the financial appraisal of franchise, contract negotiations and other baseball-related matters.
Wade worked for the company until May 5, 1989, when he rejoined the Phillies as assistant to the general manager. In 1995, he was promoted to assistant general manager, and he served in that role until assuming the general manager duties for Philadelphia in 1998.
Photos and press release courtesy of the Houston Astros.
