Future Hall of Famer and Reds adviser Walt Jocketty passes away after battle with illness

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, former Cardinals General Manager and longtime Reds front office member Walt Jocketty, who Nightengale called "one of the finest, nicest, and genuine executives in all of baseball" passed away on April 26 at the age of 74 after "battling series health issues the past two years."

Jocketty joined the Reds' front office in 2008 as a special adviser, after being divisively ousted from the Cardinals organization despite his successful efforts in revitalizing the St. Louis franchise. He was elevated from that role to Reds GM in April 2008, which he stayed in until the end of the 2015 before a brief stint as the Reds' President of Baseball Operations. During his stint as GM, the Reds won the NL Central twice and reached the postseason three times,

In 2016, he became an executive advisor to the CEO, a role he assumed until his passing on Saturday and despite shakeups in the Reds' front office structure as recently as 2024.

World Series-winning GM with Cardinals and current Reds adviser Walt Jocketty passes away

Jocketty's career began with the Oakland Athletics in 1980, where he oversaw minor league operations and played a large role in the creations Arizona Rookie League and Dominican Summer League. He moved on to the Rockies for a short time in 1994 as their Assistant General Manager before being hired by the Cardinals, where his career experienced something of a renaissance.

With Jocketty as their GM, the Cardinals ruled the NL Central for six seasons, reached the postseason seven times, and won the World Series in 2006. Despite his departure after 2007, the Cardinals continued on their run of dominance on the back of the team he'd built — the likes of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainright, and Scott Rolen — and wracked up 10 more postseason appearances with another Fall Classic win in 2011.

Although he saw fewer successes with the Reds, he was at the helm when Cincinnati broke their 15-year postseason drought in 2010, just three years into his tenure as their GM. He'll be remembered as a giant of the NL Central and will be missed by Reds fans.