GM Hendry dismissed by Cubs after nine years
Assistant GM Bush named to position on interim basis
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs dismissed general manager Jim Hendry on Friday. Assistant GM Randy Bush was named interim GM.
"We didn't win enough games," Hendry said during a news conference at Wrigley Field before an afternoon game against the Cardinals. "You don't win enough games, you can't fight change."
Named vice president and GM in July 2002, Hendry's teams went 749-748 during his time as GM. This season, though, the team is 16 games below .500 (54-70) and in fourth place, 18 1/2 games out in the National League Central.
In what might have been the best-kept secret in Cubs history, Hendry was informed by chairman Tom Ricketts on July 22 that he intended to make a change. But Ricketts wanted Hendry to continue through the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline and the signing of the team's 2011 Draft choices. The deadline for signing draftees passed Monday night.
"First and foremost, we just didn't win enough games," Ricketts said. "In a culture of accountability, we need to look at those results. Secondarily, our goal is to win the World Series, and to do that we have to get better."
Hendry, 56, had one year remaining on his contract. He departs as the third-longest tenured GM in the National League. He is the only GM in franchise history to oversee three postseason clubs (2003, 2007, 2008) and was the first Cubs GM to lead the franchise to consecutive postseason berths.
Hendry was the third-longest-tenured GM in franchise history behind John Holland (1957-75) and James Gallagher (1940-49).
"Nothing that's happened today should diminish Jim's great legacy as general manager of the Chicago Cubs," Ricketts said. "Three division titles during his tenure, a winning record from what I see on the press release, and we would like to thank him for his great service. We'll all miss seeing him every day at the office for sure."
Hendry joined the organization in November 1994 as the club's director of player development. After one year in that role, he added the title of scouting director and served in the dual role through the 1998 season when he was promoted to assistant GM.
Bush, 52, has been the assistant GM for the past five seasons. He joined the Cubs for the second time on Jan. 26, 2005, as a special assistant to the GM and was promoted to assistant GM on Dec. 20, 2006. Bush also worked for the Cubs in 1999 as a Minor League hitting coordinator. Between stints with the Cubs, Bush served as the head baseball coach at his alma mater, the University of New Orleans, from 2000-04.
A two-time World Series champion with the Minnesota Twins (1987 and 1991) as a first baseman/outfielder, Bush played all of his 12 big league seasons with the Twins from 1982-93 after being selected in the second round of the 1979 Draft.
Ricketts said that the search for a GM will begin right away, and that team officials will not comment on reports and rumors during the hiring process.
"I think that we have some terrific people in the organization who work very very hard and do absolutely excellent work," Ricketts said. "One of those people I think does excellent work is Randy Bush."
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