Jerry Reinsdorf
(1936 - )
Jerry Reinsdorf (born February 25, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York) is the owner of Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. He has been the head of the White Sox and Bulls for over 20 years. He was, for many years, an attorney, certified public accountant and real-estate developer.
Recently, he helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series and, in the process, collected his seventh championship ring overall (the first six were all with the Bulls in the 1990s), becoming the third owner in the history of North American sports to win a championship in two different sports.
Jerry Reinsdorf begins his 25th season as chairman of the Chicago White Sox, the second-longest ownership tenure in franchise history behind club founder Charles Comiskey (1901-31) and the second-longest as a controlling owner among the 30 Major League clubs. During Reinsdorf’s 24 seasons as chairman of the White Sox, the team has captured American League division championships three times, including an AL Central title in 2000. The Sox, who also won division titles in 1983 and 1993 and were in first place in 1994 at the conclusion of the strike-shortened season, have gone 1,930-1,829 (.513) during his 24-year tenure. Since heading the limited partnership that purchased the White Sox in January 1981, Reinsdorf has been involved in Major League Baseball initiatives at an industry-wide level. He continues as a member of Major League Baseball’s Executive Council, served as chairman of baseball’s Ownership Committee and was a member of the board of directors of the Player Relations Committee, Inc.
Reinsdorf is co-chairman of the Equal Opportunity Committee. Since the formation and implementation of the Diverse Business Partners (DBP) Program in 1998, Major League Baseball and its clubs have purchased more than $260 million in goods and services from minority and women-owned businesses, and the White Sox annually rank among baseball’s leaders in the DBP program.
Reinsdorf remains a member of the Legislative, Labor Policy, Realignment, Long-Range Labor Planning and Relocation committees. As chairman of the Relocation Committee, Reinsdorf was involved in Major League Baseball’s decision to return baseball to Washington, D.C. in 2005. He was a member of the American League Presidential Search Committee, the Expansion Committee, which designated the last two expansion teams, and the Strategic Planning Committee. Reinsdorf is a member of the board of MLB Properties and MLB Enterprises, as well as MLB Advanced Media, L.P., the interactive media company of Major League Baseball, responsible for creating and maintaining the Web sites of each club and MLB.com.
During his career in professional sports, Reinsdorf, who also is chairman of the Chicago Bulls, has been responsible for the construction of two new sports facilities in Chicago, Comiskey Park (1991), now U.S. Cellular Field, and the United Center (1994). Over the past five offseasons, Reinsdorf, the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority have undertaken dramatic offseason renovations to U.S. Cellular Field with the goal of improving the ballpark experience for White Sox fans.
Reinsdorf expanded his involvement in professional sports in March 1985 by purchasing controlling interest in the Chicago Bulls. During his tenure as chairman of the Bulls, the team has captured six World Championships for Chicago (1991-93, ’96-98). In addition to initiating the building of new Comiskey Park, Reinsdorf spearheaded construction of two major facilities for the Bulls. The United Center, home for the Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, opened for the 1994-95 season, and the Bulls began using the Sheri L. Berto Center, their state-of-the-art training facility, in 1992.
Both of Reinsdorf’s sports franchises have donated millions of dollars to causes in the Chicago community through a variety of efforts, including Chicago White Sox Charities and CharitaBulls. Twice during his tenure, Chicago White Sox Charities has made $1 million donations to the Chicago Park District. Chicago White Sox Charities also provides annual ongoing support to programs such as Special Olympics and the Inner City Little League. In addition to rebuilding all of the city’s baseball diamonds and backstops during the 1990s, White Sox Charities recently made a $1 million contribution to build four ballfields – one for baseball, one for girls’ softball, one for Little League baseball and one Miracle Field – in Mt. Greenwood Park on Chicago’s southwest side. The Miracle Field, which is a field specifically designed for children with special needs, is the third field of its kind built in the last year in the Chicago area with funds from Chicago White Sox Charities. Under Reinsdorf, the goal of community initiatives for both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls is to improve the quality of life for Chicagoans of all ages, races and genders.
Reinsdorf has played a critical role in the development of the west side area surrounding the United Center and was responsible for introducing an innovative reading program to the Chicago Public Schools. Through the new Chicago Bulls/Chicago White Sox Training Academy, which opened in 2001, and outreach efforts such as White Sox Training Centers and Chicago Bulls Basketball Schools, Reinsdorf’s franchises promote sports to thousands of youth each year while instilling a love of the game in future fans.
Reinsdorf was the 1997 recipient of the Order of Lincoln Award, and his many contributions to the community have been recognized by such organizations as Keshet, the Interfaith Organizing Project, the American Academy of Achievement, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago, the Chicago Jewish Sporting Hall of Fame, the National Jewish Sporting Hall of Fame and the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. In addition, he is the recipient of the Chicago Park District’s 1990 Chicagoan of the Year Award, the 1992 PUSH Bridgebuilder Award, the National Italian-American Friendship Award, Northwestern University’s Award of Merit, the U.S. Air Force American Spirit Award and a honorary degree in humane letters from Illinois College. Reinsdorf was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1993 and the 1997 Mayor’s Medal of Honor.
In 1998, he was honored with the Guardian of Children Award from the Jewish Council for Youth Services. As chairman of the White Sox, he was instrumental in initiating Chicago White Sox Charities, the arm of the baseball organization that raises funds for cancer research, children’s and senior programs. Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities has twice conferred its Hallmark Award to Reinsdorf in recognition of his efforts. In addition to his sports interests, Reinsdorf is an attorney, a certified public accountant, a specialist in real estate securities, a registered mortgage underwriter and a certified review appraiser. In December 1987, Reinsdorf completed employment as chairman of the board of a real estate investment firm he co-founded in the early 1970s and sold to American Express. Currently, he is a partner in Bojer Financial, Ltd., a land investment company. He is a former member of the board of directors of Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc., the Northwestern University Law School Alumni Association, LaSalle Bank, Equity Office Properties and numerous other corporations and charities. He is presently a trustee of Northwestern University.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on February 25, 1936, Reinsdorf graduated from George Washington University in Washington D.C. and earned a law degree from Northwestern University after moving to Chicago in 1957. Reinsdorf and his wife, Martyl, have four children and seven grandchildren.
Courtesy of: