Levine: Theo Epstein Humbled By Hall Of Fame Talk
By Bruce Levine--
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CBS) -- His Hall of Fame plaque won't be engraved for many years to come, but the die-casting with the name of Theo Epstein can be conducted now for later use. After Epstein masterminded the World Series championship run of the Chicago Cubs, there 's little doubt the team's president of baseball operations will someday be a first-ballot selection for induction into hallowed halls in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Epstein's resume now includes three championships in two of the most improbable cities to accomplish that feat. The Red Sox team he built brought Boston a title in 2004 after an 86-year drought, then the team won another one in 2007.
Epstein took over the Cubs' baseball operations in October 2011. Five years later, he brought the franchise a championship after 108 years of futility. Epstein's Cubs may be the top sports story of the last century.
"I give myself plenty of credit for time to still screw that up," Epstein joked about his unprecedented accomplishments. "We will see what happens. It means a lot that people that people I really respect in the industry would say that. I look at this as a reflection of the great, great organizations I have been able to work for. That and of course the wonderful people I have been able to work with."
Epstein has become a sort of modern-day Branch Rickey, the guru who built great baseball teams in St. Louis and Brooklyn in a management run that spanned from the 1920s to the 1950s. Rickey was influential in the creation of the modern-day farm system, and like him, Epstein wants to oversee sustained success and leave a legacy built by his baseball bunch.
"There is a lot left to accomplish for the fans of Chicago and the game of baseball," Epstein said. "We are setting out to do that. I don't take for granted what has come before or what we will try to do in the future. We will try to work extremely hard and sacrifice a lot to win again. That is what we plan on doing."
On Monday, Epstein was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year in a vote by front office members across the game. He was was truly appreciative of his peers voting him for the honor. Surprisingly, he'd never won it before.
Epstein should be around Chicago for a long stewardship. He recently signed a five-year deal that's believed to be the most lucrative contract in sports history for an executive, at around $10 million annually.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
