Departing Tom Kayser Leaves A Lasting Legacy

After 25 years as the president of the Texas League, Tom Kayser made it known at last year’s Winter Meetings that 2016 would be his final season. Former Rangers executive Tim Purpura is taking over in 2017, but it’s clear that Kayser will leave a lasting imprint after a quarter century in the TL.

Throughout those 25 years, the Texas League and minor league baseball have seen an immeasurable amount of change.

“It’s like going from the horseless carriage to interstellar travel,” Kayser said, before noting how the sport has gone from an afterthought to, in some cases, the centerpieces of downtown rebirths.

“We went places because they would take us in, as opposed to places that were particularly attractive,” he said. “ . . . Now, my lord, everything that we have, for the most part, is just smaller versions of major league operations.”

Kayser won’t officially vacate his post until February, but he is looking forward to both getting time to enjoy life away from baseball, and also seeing where the league and the game itself goes in the future.

He departs as Baseball America’s Minor League Executive of the Year, having strengthened the Texas League even as the league has gone through significant movement, including seeing Round Rock move up to Triple-A.

Executive Of The Year

2002 Randy Mobley, President, International League

2003 Chuck Domino, GM, Reading Phillies (Eastern)

2004 Chris Kemple, GM, Wilmington Blue Rocks (Carolina)

2005 Jay Miller, President, Round Rock Express (Pacific Coast)

2006 Alan Ledford, President/GM, Sacramento River Cats (Pacific Coast)

2007 Mike Moore, President, Minor League Baseball

2008 Naomi Silver, CEO, Rochester Red Wings (International)

2009 Ken Young, President, Norfolk Tides (International)

2010 Monty Hoppel, GM, Midland RockHounds (Texas)

2011 Todd Parnell, Vice President, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern)

2012 Bob Richmond, President, Northwest League