Hall of Fame Inductees
Hall of Fame Inductees
Hall of Fame Inductees
Sydnor W. “Syd” Thrift ’49
Baseball
Induction: 1997
- Four-year letter-winner in baseball.
- All-State First Team in 1946.
- All-State Honorable Mention as pitcher and first baseman in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
- Following graduation, played in the New York Yankees farm system.
- Served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
- From 1953-56, was a high school teacher and coach as well as a part-time scout for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Became Pirates’ scouting supervisor in 1957.
- Left Pittsburgh following the 1967 season to join the Kansas City Royals as scouting director.
- Founded the Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy in 1970.
- Following two years with the Oakland Athletics, started a successful real estate business in Fairfax, Va.
- Became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985.
- General Manager of the Year in 1988 following a surprising second-place finish in the NL East.
- Named vice president of baseball operations for the New York Yankees in 1989.
- Joined the Baltimore Orioles in 1994, was the team’s vice president of baseball operations from 1999-2002.
- Served as a consultant to the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- Spent 50 years in professional baseball.
- In 1990, worked with sportswriter Barry Shapiro on the book The Game According to Syd.
- Received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Randolph-Macon.
- Received Distinguished Alumnus Award from Randolph-Macon.
- In 1995, received the Edwin Rommel Award for years of contribution to the sport of baseball.
- Inducted into the Middle Atlantic Major League Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Passed away on September 18, 2006 at the age of 77.