 11/01/2004 12:00 PM ET
Hunsicker resigns as Houston GM
Will remain with team, Purpura named to post
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| Gerry Hunsicker is the most successful GM in Houston's history. (Alyson Footer/MLB.com)
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HOUSTON -- Gerry Hunsicker, the most successful general manager in the history of the Houston franchise and the architect of five playoff teams during his nine years with the Astros, resigned on Monday.
Tim Purpura, Houston's assistant GM and director of player development, who has been with the club for the last 11 years, will assume the role of general manager, effective immediately.
Since Hunsicker took over as GM in 1996, the Astros are 701-595, the sixth-best winning percentage (.541) in baseball. Only three GMs have been in their current post for more seasons than Hunsicker, who will remain with the team as an advisor.
| Houston Astros records under Hunsicker |
| Year |
Record |
Finish |
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| 2004 |
92-70 |
2nd * |
Lost to STL in NLCS. |
| 2003 |
87-75 |
2nd |
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| 2002 |
84-78 |
2nd |
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| 2001 |
93-69 |
1st |
Lost to ATL in NLDS |
| 2000 |
72-90 |
4th |
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| 1999 |
97-65 |
1st |
Lost to ATL in NLDS |
| 1998 |
102-60 |
1st |
Lost to SD in NLDS |
| 1997 |
84-78 |
1st |
Lost to ATL in NLDS |
| 1996 |
82-80 |
2nd |
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| * Wild Card winner. |
Hunsicker signed Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens last winter, and acquired center fielder Carlos Beltran in June. Pettitte missed most of the year because of injury, but the Astros went 36-10 down the stretch to win the National League Wild Card spot, beat Atlanta in the Division Series and came within one game of reaching the World Series before falling in seven games to St. Louis in the NLCS.
Hunsicker traded for or signed such talents as Clemens, Pettitte, Randy Johnson, Octavio Dotel, Moises Alou, Carl Everett, Vinny Castilla, Jose Lima, Sean Berry, Adam Everett and Mike Williams. He also re-signed Houston icons Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio to extensions, and oversaw a farm system that has produced the likes of Lance Berkman, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Morgan Ensberg.
Hunsicker filled several roles for the organization from 1978 to 1981, including traveling secretary, minor league pitching coach, scout and assistant to the general manager. From 1981 to 1983, he worked for Tal Smith Enterprises in Houston and was involved in preparing salary arbitration cases.
From 1984 until he joining the New York Mets staff in 1988, Hunsicker was a vice president for Paine Webber in Houston.
Hunsicker, 53, is a member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the St. Joseph's University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jim Molony is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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