Ex-Astros GM on other side of Series
LOS ANGELES — The general manager of the Astros during the most successful era in their history finds himself on the opposing side for the franchise’s second World Series appearance in 56 years.
Gerry Hunsicker, the architect of the Astros for nine seasons from 1996 through 2004, has worked as a senior advisor in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball operations department since Oct. 2012. He still resides in The Woodlands and follows the Astros closely. His worlds collide this week.
“I’m thrilled for the city for a lot of reasons, not just because I have ties to the organization but it’s still my hometown,” Hunsicker said. “With the added challenges that the city has faced with the current flood, et cetera, it’s just another example of how baseball can really rally a community together. It was fun to see the city excited again.”
Hunsicker, 67, watched the Astros clinch the pennant on television at his home after returning from Chicago, where he celebrated the Dodgers’ clinching victory over the Cubs. He flew to Los Angeles on Monday morning ahead of his team’s afternoon workout at Dodger Stadium.
After resigning from his GM post with the Astros following the 2004 season, Hunsicker worked for the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was tasked with being the right-hand man to a 28-yearold first-time head of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman. Hunsicker and Friedman, a Houston native, reunited in Los Angeles when the Dodgers hired Friedman away from the Rays in Oct. 2014.
Hunsicker joined the Dodgers a couple years ahead of Friedman. He was originally hired by Friedman’s predecessor, Ned Colletti, and team president Stan Kasten. He assists with various facets of baseball operations, on the major league side, the minor league side and come draft time the amateur side.
“At this point in my career, I’m kind of winding things down,” Hunsicker said. “I’m in more of a support role now than I’ve been in the past. I’m just here as another set of eyes and ears, another resource that the entire baseball department can use as they see fit.” Hunsicker said during the series he hopes to run into Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran, the link between the 2004 Astros that lost in Game 7 of the NLCS and this year’s Astros team.
“He’s quite a special person in my book,” Hunsicker said of Beltran. “Not just a baseball player but a very special
person.”