Doubleday, former Mets owner, dies
Nelson Doubleday Jr., the Mets majority owner the last time the club won the World Series in 1986, died Wednesday. Hewas 81.
After heading a group of investors — along with Fred Wilpon — who bought the club in 1980 for $ 21.1 million, Doubleday presided over the rebuilding of the franchise, which had become a laughingstock over much of the previous decade. He remained a club owner until August 2002, when Wilpon bought out his shares following a bitter dispute.
Wilpon, who bought a one percent stake in the Mets in 1980, remains the team’s controlling partner, with his brother-in-law Saul Katz.
“We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Nelson Doubleday Jr.,” the Mets said in a statement. “Nelson had a love of baseball and the Mets. On behalf of everyone at the organization, we send our condolences and sympathies to his family.”
It was Doubleday who pushed for the Mets to sign Mike Piazza following the 1998 season. Piazza, who was traded to the club during that year, ultimately signed a $ 91 million contract with the Mets — at the time the richest in franchise history. With Piazza as the centerpiece of the lineup, the Mets reached the World Series in 2000, losing to the Yankees.
Doubleday was against building Citi Field — he pushed for a refurbishment of aging Shea Stadium— and was known as a handsoff owner who let his baseball people run the organization. It was a contrast to the larger than life George Steinbrenner, who ruled the Yankees from top to bottom across town.
“[ Doubleday] was a good baseball guy,” said former Mets second baseman Wally Backman. “He listened to his players. He cared about his players.”
Backman said that was evident by the parties Doubleday threw at his home in which players were invited.
Doubleday was known for his sometimes irreverent comments. After the team traded for hefty first baseman Mo Vaughn, who had knee problems, Doubleday quipped: “They made him lose weight so they didn’t have to feed him so much in the team lunch basket.”
Doubleday’s sale of his shares to Wilpon in 2002 came after an appraiser valued Doubleday’s stake at $ 135 million. Doubleday thought that figure was too low and departed the organization on bad terms with the Wilpon family.