On January 3, 1961 — Frank ‘Trader’ Lane assumes the post as the Kansas City A’s general manager and executive vice president. The former GM of the Indians will be best remembered by Cleveland fans for his controversial trade last season of popular outfielder Rocky Colavito to the Tigers in exchange for Harvey Kuenn, a swap that gave rise to the Colavito Curse, believed to bring a series of misfortune events to the Tribe over many decades.
The combination of Lane and volatile owner Charlie Finley led to an early end to his employment just eight months later. The lingering feud between the two over compensation would result in a lawsuit that took over three years to settle.
Due to his uncertain contract status, Lane was forced out of baseball during this period but found employment on May 7, 1962, as general manager of the National Basketball Association’s Chicago Zephyrs.
On January 8, 1965, Lane settled his lawsuit with Finley, accepting $113,000 plus the freedom to take another baseball front-office position. Early reports of his being part of an ownership group to buy the Boston Red Sox, as well as potentially serving as president of the Texas League, proved to be unfounded. Instead, the Baltimore Orioles hired him as a special assistant to general manager Lee MacPhail on March 7, serving primarily as a scout, a post he would hold for nearly six years.
