LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers announced on Friday that Bob Wolfe, their executive vice president and chief operating officer, is set to retire at the end of this year, his 14th with the team and his 47th overall as a professional sports executive.
Wolfe's career in professional sports has long been intertwined with that of Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten. Wolfe and Kasten both joined the Dodgers in 2012, when the franchise was purchased by Guggenheim Baseball Management. They had previously worked together with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, as well as two other MLB franchises: the Braves and the Nationals.
According to the Dodgers, Wolfe has seen his teams win 26 division titles, nine league pennants and four World Series championships during his time as an executive.
“Having worked 47 years in team sports, I’ve been more entertained than anyone deserves,” Wolfe said in a team release. “It’s been a privilege to ride the coattails of so many on- and off-the-field Hall of Famers, will-be Hall of Famers and should-be Hall of Famers. With Stan always providing the vision, I’ve had the latitude to work closely with the talented individuals and departments that make these organizations grow and succeed.”
As executive vice president and COO, Wolfe was responsible for everyday administrative and operational duties, as well as bigger-picture business strategies for the Dodgers. He was a liaison between the team and MLB, as well as a board member of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
Wolfe will remain with the organization as an advisor after his retirement.
“Bob’s entire career has been characterized by growth, innovation and success, and all reinforced by his steady day-to-day guidance,” Kasten said in a team release. “It is hard to imagine operating without him at my side, but the fact that we are going to proceed in a seamless fashion is exactly what you would expect from Bob’s style of leadership. As difficult as it is to think of him retiring, no one deserves it more.”