RRosternomics
𝕏
HD

Harry Dalton

Aug 23, 1928 (West Springfield, MA) – Oct 23, 2005 · died at 77

General manager for the Orioles, Angels, and Brewers (1966–1991).

7 seasons with salary-era data across 3 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Overview

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs0
Record564–568
Win %0.498
-3.7GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±5.2163rd/195 execs
6.0Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)119th/195 execs
-4.6Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)61st/195 execs
30%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)61st/195 execs
$1MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track171st/195 execs
$1MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)171st/195 execs
$0MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade145th/195 execs
$0MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees125th/195 execs
-34.1TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total163rd/195 execs
+1.9WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)66th/195 execs
1.13Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)121st/195 execs
-19Roster surplus $M74th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Brewers GM 1978–1991 7 +1.9 +0.28 -34.1 -44.3 +190.7 -20.2 -105.2 -0.9 1.13 0.498 ––– -19
▸ Angels GM 1972–1977 0 +0.0 – +0.0 +0.0 +0.4 +11.6 -0.1 +0.0 – – ––– –
▸ Orioles GM 1966–1971 0 +0.0 – +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 – – ––– –
Career total (1985+ data) 7 +1.9 -34.1 -44.3 +191.1 -8.6 -105.3 -0.9 1.13 0.498 –– – -19

Roster Construction

How the roster was sourced

by valueby volume

Share of acquired fWAR by channel vs. league average.

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+191.1
Trade-8.6
Free agency-105.3
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.9
Sourcing mix: 80% draft · 3% FA · 17% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Harry Dalton's seasons. Bars = his rosters; the black line = the league-average player at each slot. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge.

Players acquired — 120 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Teddy Higuera P MIL Draft 1985 8 +26.7 +3.3 –
Jeff Cirillo 3B MIL Draft 1991 8 +25.9 +3.2 –
Chris Bosio P MIL Draft 1982 6 +20.5 +3.4 –
Brian Downing C/DH/OF ANA Trade 1977 6 +16.9 +2.8 –
Jaime Navarro P MIL Draft 1987 6 +14.3 +2.4 –
B. J. Surhoff C/OF MIL Draft 1985 9 +14.2 +1.6 –
Bill Wegman P MIL Draft 1981 10 +13.7 +1.4 –
Greg Vaughn OF MIL Draft 1986 7 +10.4 +1.5 –
Dave Nilsson C MIL Intl FA 1987 8 +10.0 +1.2 –
Cal Eldred P MIL Draft 1989 8 +9.7 +1.2 –
Darryl Hamilton OF MIL Draft 1986 6 +9.4 +1.6 –
Dan Plesac P MIL Draft 1983 7 +9.1 +1.3 –
John Jaha 1B/DH MIL Draft 1984 7 +8.0 +1.1 –
Rob Deer OF MIL Trade 1985 5 +7.9 +1.6 0.3
Juan Nieves P MIL Intl FA 1983 3 +5.4 +1.8 –
Greg Brock 1B MIL Trade 1986 5 +4.6 +0.9 7.7
Willie Randolph 2B MIL Free agency 1991 1 +4.0 +4.0 1.9
Tim Leary P MIL Trade 1985 2 +3.0 +1.5 –
Charlie O'Brien C MIL Trade 1986 3 +2.8 +0.9 1.7
Mike Birkbeck P MIL Draft 1983 4 +2.6 +0.6 –
Pat Listach SS MIL Draft 1988 3 +2.5 +0.8 –
Bill Schroeder C MIL Draft 1979 2 +2.5 +1.2 –
Ángel Miranda P MIL Intl FA 1987 3 +2.4 +0.8 –
Mark Knudson P MIL Trade 1986 3 +2.1 +0.7 3.6
Don August P MIL Trade 1986 3 +2.0 +0.7 –
Chuck Crim P MIL Draft 1982 5 +2.0 +0.4 –
Glenn Braggs OF MIL Draft 1983 4 +1.7 +0.4 –
Darren Holmes P MIL Trade 1990 2 +1.7 +0.8 0.4
Bill Krueger P MIL Free agency 1989 2 +1.6 +0.8 0.3
Ernie Riles 3B/SS MIL Draft 1981 2 +1.6 +0.8 –
Steve Sparks P MIL Draft 1987 1 +1.6 +1.6 –
Tom Filer P MIL Trade 1988 3 +1.5 +0.5 2.4
John Henry Johnson P MIL Trade 1986 2 +1.4 +0.7 –
Bill Spiers 3B/SS MIL Draft 1987 5 +1.4 +0.3 –
Rick Cerone C MIL Trade 1986 1 +1.4 +1.4 0.3
Danny Darwin P MIL Trade 1985 2 +1.3 +0.6 –
Dave Parker OF MIL Free agency 1989 1 +1.2 +1.2 0.3
Gary Sheffield OF MIL Draft 1986 2 +1.2 +0.6 –
Ted Simmons C MIL Trade 1980 1 +1.0 +1.0 –
Mike Felder OF MIL Draft 1981 4 +0.8 +0.2 –
Dennis Powell P MIL Trade 1990 1 +0.8 +0.8 0.2
Ray Burris P MIL Trade 1984 1 +0.6 +0.6 –
Rick Dempsey C MIL Free agency 1991 1 +0.6 +0.6 0.3
Tony Fossas P MIL Free agency 1989 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.2
Daryl Sconiers 1B/DH ANA Draft 1977 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Doug Henry P MIL Draft 1985 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Mike Ignasiak P MIL Draft 1988 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Troy O'Leary OF MIL Draft 1987 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Ray Searage P MIL Trade 1985 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Dave Stapleton P MIL Intl FA 1983 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Rick Wrona C MIL Free agency 1990 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.1
Len Barker P MIL Free agency 1987 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.3
Paul Householder OF MIL Trade 1984 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Pete Vuckovich P MIL Trade 1980 2 +0.3 +0.2 –
Chris George P MIL Draft 1988 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Odell Jones P MIL Free agency 1987 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.5
Joey Meyer 1B/DH MIL Draft 1983 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Paul Mirabella P MIL Free agency 1987 2 +0.2 +0.1 1.8
Chuck Porter P MIL Trade 1985 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Rick Waits P MIL Trade 1983 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Candy Maldonado OF MIL Trade 1991 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.1
Billy Bates 2B MIL Draft 1985 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Kevin Brown P MIL Trade 1990 2 +0.1 +0.0 –
Bryan Clutterbuck P MIL Draft 1981 2 +0.1 +0.0 –
Jaime Cocanower P MIL Intl FA 1978 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Ray Krawczyk P MIL Free agency 1988 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Pete Ladd P MIL Trade 1981 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Jeff Peterek P MIL Intl FA 1985 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Ron Robinson P MIL Trade 1990 2 +0.1 +0.1 0.6
Jay Aldrich P MIL Draft 1982 – -0.0 – –
Mike Capel P MIL Free agency 1989 – -0.0 – –
Tom Edens P MIL Free agency 1989 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Narciso Elvira P MIL Draft 1990 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Dave Engle C/OF MIL Free agency 1989 – -0.0 – –
Randy Ready 2B/3B/OF MIL Draft 1980 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Steve Stanicek DH MIL Trade 1986 – -0.0 – –
Dale Sveum 3B/SS MIL Draft 1982 3 +0.0 +0.0 –
Mark Clear P ANA Free agency 1975 – -0.1 – –
George Canale 1B MIL Draft 1986 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
LaVel Freeman DH MIL Draft 1983 – -0.1 – –
Brian Giles 2B/SS MIL Rule 5 1984 – -0.1 – –
Jim Hunter P MIL Trade 1986 – -0.1 – –
Jim Kern P MIL Trade 1985 – -0.1 – –
Alex Madrid P MIL Draft 1983 – -0.1 – –
William Suero 2B MIL Trade 1991 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Randy Veres P MIL Draft 1985 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Jim Adduci 1B/OF MIL Trade 1984 – -0.2 – –
Mark Clear P MIL Free agency 1987 2 -0.2 -0.1 0.4
Brad Lesley P MIL Trade 1984 – -0.2 – –
Doug Loman OF MIL Draft 1978 – -0.2 – –
Julio Machado P MIL Trade 1990 1 -0.2 -0.2 0.1
Jim Olander OF MIL Trade 1990 – -0.2 – –
Jim Austin P MIL Trade 1989 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Mark Ciardi P MIL Draft 1983 – -0.3 – –
Mark Kiefer P MIL Draft 1987 3 -0.3 -0.1 –
Brad Komminsk OF MIL Trade 1987 – -0.3 – –
Bruce Ruffin P MIL Trade 1991 – -0.3 – –
Dion James OF MIL Draft 1980 – -0.4 – –
Mark Lee P MIL Free agency 1990 1 -0.4 -0.4 0.1
Jim Paciorek 1B/3B MIL Draft 1982 – -0.4 – –
Mark Brouhard OF MIL Rule 5 1979 – -0.5 – –
Bobby Clark OF MIL Trade 1983 – -0.5 – –
Dave Huppert C MIL Trade 1985 – -0.5 – –
Steve Kiefer 3B MIL Trade 1986 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.5
Ed Núñez P MIL Free agency 1990 1 -0.5 -0.5 0.1
Duane Singleton OF MIL Draft 1990 – -0.5 – –
Franklin Stubbs 1B/OF MIL Free agency 1990 – -0.5 – –
Marshall Boze P MIL Draft 1990 – -0.6 – –
Alex Diaz OF MIL Trade 1991 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
Edgar Díaz SS MIL Intl FA 1982 – -0.6 – –
Rollie Fingers P MIL Trade 1980 – -0.7 – –
Mike Matheny C MIL Draft 1991 2 -0.7 -0.3 –
Tim McIntosh C/OF MIL Draft 1986 1 -0.7 -0.7 –
Bob Gibson P MIL Intl FA 1979 – -0.8 – –
Rick Manning OF MIL Trade 1983 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Gus Polidor 3B/SS MIL Trade 1988 – -0.8 – –
Carlos Ponce 1B/OF MIL Intl FA 1980 – -0.8 – –
Juan Castillo 2B MIL Intl FA 1979 – -1.3 – –
Terry Francona 1B/OF MIL Free agency 1989 – -1.3 – –
Billy Jo Robidoux 1B MIL Draft 1982 – -1.4 – –

WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.

Graphs

drag to zoom · double-click to reset
Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.