Article

Paul Beeston

Published Online May 11, 2023

Last Edited May 11, 2023

Paul McGill Beeston, CM, baseball executive, accountant (born 20 June 1945 in Welland, ON). Paul Beeston was the first executive hired by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976. He rose through the club’s ranks to become president from 1989 to 1997. During that period, the Blue Jays won four division titles and two World Series. In 1997, Beeston was hired as the president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball (MLB). He returned to serve as Blue Jays president from 2008 to 2015 and was named the club’s president emeritus in 2016. A Member of the Order of Canada, Beeston has been inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Early Years and Education

Growing up in Welland, Ontario, Paul Beeston was a baseball fan who looked forward to trips to his family’s summer cottage in Forest, Ontario. He and his father often crossed the United States border to watch the Detroit Tigers.

After graduating from Welland Vocational High School in 1964, Beeston attended the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science. After completing his degree in 1967, he was hired by Coopers & Lybrand, an accounting firm. He earned his chartered accountant designation in 1971.

While in London, Ontario, Beeston became friends with Dr. Peter Fowler, an orthopedic surgeon who lived next door to Labatt’s president Don McDougall. Beeston was introduced to McDougall, who was spearheading his company’s bid to secure a Major League Baseball franchise for Toronto. After McDougall was successful in landing a team, he hired Beeston as his first executive.

Toronto Blue Jays (1976–97)

When Paul Beeston started with the Blue Jays in the role of vice-president, administration in 1976, he worked in a temporary office at the law firm of Herb Solway, who assisted McDougall in landing the franchise. Beeston was already working for the club when they hired Pat Gillick to lead their baseball operations department.

Beeston’s bosses soon discovered he possessed a winning combination of business savvy and charisma. Following the Blue Jays’ first season, he was promoted to vice-president, business operations. Mentored by Peter Hardy, chair of the Labatt’s and Blue Jays’ boards, Beeston helped forge a culture within the franchise that emphasized integrity, open communication and trust.

In 1984, Beeston was promoted to executive vice president, business. By this time, Beeston, often spotted with a cigar and wearing dress shoes with no socks, was a key participant in salary negotiations, alongside Gillick. As the Blue Jays developed into a contender in the mid-1980s, Beeston continued to be one of the most important members of the club’s front office. In 1989, he was promoted to the position of president and chief operating officer. That season, after the Blue Jays got off to a poor start, the club fired manager Jimy Williams and hitting coach Cito Gaston was named as his interim replacement. Beeston successfully lobbied for Gaston to become the full-time manager. Gaston led the Blue Jays to four division titles and two World Series wins.

In 1991, Beeston was named Blue Jays president and CEO. With the club seemingly on the cusp of a championship, he was dispatched to secure contracts with free agents and future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Jack Morris. Beeston was successful. The Blue Jays went on to capture their first World Series title in 1992.

Following the season, Beeston played a crucial role in the Blue Jays landing free agent and future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. The club repeated as World Series champions. Gillick left after the 1994 season, but Beeston continued as president and CEO. His negotiating skills enabled the Blue Jays to sign free agent Roger Clemens on 13 December 1996. Clemens proceeded to win back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards with the Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998.

In July 1997, with the team now owned by Interbrew (see Belgian Brewery Buys Labatt), Beeston departed to become president and chief operating officer (COO) of Major League Baseball.

Major League Baseball (1997–2002)

As president and COO of the league, Paul Beeston held the highest position a Canadian has ever had in Major League Baseball. His post made him second-in-command to acting commissioner Bud Selig. Beeston’s primary goal was to smooth the league’s relationship with the players and to return attendance to the levels it was at prior to the 1994 players’ strike.

As an MLB executive, Beeston was also an advocate for interleague play and for revenue sharing to assist the smaller market clubs. He also helped lay the groundwork for the sale of the Blue Jays by Interbrew to Rogers Communications in 2000. (See Rogers Buys Blue Jays.) Beeston resigned from the position in March 2002.

Toronto Blue Jays (2008–15)

Following the 2008 season, Paul Beeston returned to the position of president and CEO with the Blue Jays on an interim basis. Among his early decisions was to fire general manager J.P. Ricciardi on the second-last day of the 2009 season and replace him with Montreal native Alex Anthopoulos. After a year with the interim title, Beeston assumed the Blue Jays president and CEO position full-time.

Under Beeston’s leadership, Rogers gradually increased the team’s payroll. In 2015, Beeston assisted Anthopoulos in obtaining ownership approvals for deals for superstars David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the trade deadline, which helped propel the Blue Jays to their first playoff berth since 1993. Beeston retired following the 2015 season. He was named president emeritus of the club in September 2016.

Personal Life

Paul Beeston married his wife, Kaye, on 29 August 1969. The couple have two children, Aimee and David. David Beeston is the executive vice-president/chief strategy officer for the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Management.

Honours and Awards