On August 19, 2011 — Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts fires general manager Jim Hendry, the man who brought the perennial losers within five outs of the World Series in 2003 and built back-to-back division winners in 2008 and 2009, after 9 years on the job. Hendry’s success was achieved at the cost of a massive payroll, however, and the team is now on the hook for a number of expensive contracts to underachieving former stars, while headed for a second consecutive 5th-place finish. His players send Hendry out a winner as pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin hits a walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Cubs a 5 – 4 win over the Cardinals on his last day. Assistant GM Randy Bushis named to take over in the interim but is not in line to succeed Hendry.
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Sources:
Baseball Reference August 19
National Pastime August 19
Retro Sheet
Hall of Fame
SABR Games Project
Replay The Game