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Dave Dombrowski began his baseball career with the Chicago White Sox in 1978. He joined their minor league organization as an administrative assistant. From the start, he showed a strong work ethic and a passion for baseball.

By his late 20s, he climbed the ranks to become assistant general manager under Roland Hemond. The baseball lifer recognized Dombrowski’s potential. Hemond mentored Dombrowski, sharing invaluable insights about the game from a front office perspective.

In 1985 Hemond was kicked upstairs when Ken Harrelson was named GM. Though Hemond’s title was vice president of baseball operations, he left the club six month later to become a consultant to Commission Peter Ueberroth.

Harrelson took command had purged the front office, costing Dombrowski his job. Despite the setback, he remained determined. His reputation in baseball had grown, and opportunities quickly arose. Soon after leaving Chicago, he landed a position with the Montreal Expos.

Shown here is a document signed by baseball lifer Hemond. The document calls up Bucky Dent up from Triple-A Iowa. The document is dated June 1, 1973, the same day Dent played his first big league game.The White Sox GM from 1970 through 1985, Hemond was twice named Sporting News MLB Executive of the Year, first in 1972 and again in 1983.

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Dave Dombrowski joined the Montreal Expos front office as director of player development for the 1987 season under Bill Stoneman. The following season on July 5, he became Montreal’s general manager at age 31, making him the youngest GM in the big leagues.

Though his career puts Dombrowski in the Cooperstown conversation, not all of his moves were positive. On May 25, 1989, Dombrowski traded Randy Johnson to the Seattle Mariners. The Expos sent Johnson, along with Brian Holman and Gene Harris, in exchange for Mark Langston and Mike Campbell.

At that time, Johnson had pitched only 11 big league games. With the Expos, he recorded a 3-4 record, a 4.69 ERA, and struck out 51 batters over 55 2/3 innings. Though he possessed great potential, the Big Unit had yet to tame the strike zone.

Langston was a three-time league leader in strikeouts and a bonafide ace. He was also a free agent at the end of the year and left Montreal.

After leaving Canada, Johnson emerged as a dominant pitcher, achieving a Hall of Fame career. He accumulated 303 wins and an astonishing 4,875 strikeouts. His powerful left arm and 6’11” height made him one of baseball’s most-intimidating strikeout artists.

More than 8,000 pitchers have taken the mound in a Major League game, but only 14 have ever recorded a 300-strikeout season. In the collection is the game-used lineup card from Randy Johnson’s 300th strikeout of the 1993 season.

Signed by the Big Unit, the card also features the signature of manager Lou Piniella. Though the Mariners lost the game in 12 innings, Johnson did his part, allowing only two runs in ten innings of work. He struck out 13 and finished the game with 301 Ks. It was the first of his MLB-record six 300-strikeout campaigns.

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On September 19, 1991, the expansion Florida Marlins made a significant move by hiring Dave Dombrowski as the franchise’s first general manager. Nineteen months away from playing their first game, the Marlins and Dombrowski starting building.

The GM quickly and consistently accumulated key pieces. In 1992, Dombrowski drafted catcher Charles Johnson. A year later in June of 1993, he traded for slugger Gary Sheffield, boosting the lineup significantly. After the 1995 season, ace pitcher Kevin Brown signed as a free agent.

During the 1996 offseason, Dombrowski made impactful moves by signing Bobby Bonilla and Moises Alou. He also traded for Cliff Floyd in March, 1997.

Perhaps his most crucial decision came when he hired future Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland for the 1997 season. This partnership along with a talented roster ignited a magical run, culminating in the Marlins’ first championship.

Unfortunately, team owner Wayne Huizenga demanded deep payroll cuts shortly after the championship. Dombrowski faced the challenging task of overseeing this exodus. As star players departed, the team struggled to maintain its competitive edge. For the rest of Dombrowski’s tenure, the Marlins never reached a break-even point. His time with the franchise ended in 2002, but his legacy of building a championship team remained.

In the collection is a press pass good for access to all areas for all games of the 1997 World Series. Dave Dombrowski adds his autograph as the GM of the championship squad.

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At the start of his baseball career, Dave Dombrowski built a strong bond with White Sox third base coach Jim Leyland. This friendship and mutual respect blossomed as they navigated the challenges of the game. Later, when Dombrowski became the general manager of the Marlins, he reached out to Leyland to pilot his club. Their collaboration led to a triumphant 1997 World Series victory.

Leyland departed in 1998 to manage the Rockies. He spent one season in the Mile High City then he retired at age 54.

In early 2002, Dombrowski also moved on from Florida, securing a new role as president and CEO of the Detroit Tigers. Before his arrival, the Tigers struggled for fourteen seasons without playoff appearances. They only reached the playoffs four times between 1946 and 2005.

In his fourth season in Detroit, Dombrowski convinced the now-61-year-old Leyland to come out of retirement and manage the team. This reunion sparked success. Over their eight years together, the Tigers made five playoff appearances and won four consecutive American League Central division titles. Their teamwork brought the team to four American League Championship Series, including three straight from 2011 to 2013.

Dombrowski and Leyland’s leadership led to two AL pennants, won in 2006 and 2012. Their shared vision and commitment revitalized the Tigers, transforming them into a competitive force in baseball. Together, they etched their names in the franchise’s history, creating a legacy of achievement and camaraderie.

In the collection is a plaque presented to Leyland by the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce saluting Leyland for winning the Manager of the Year Award with the Pirates in 1990. It features a picture of a young Leyland who has affixed his signature near the bottom on the plaque. Leyland was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024.

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On July 2, 1999, Marlins GM Dave Dombrowski signed 16-year-old Miguel Cabrera from Maracay, Venezuela. This bold move laid the groundwork for Cabrera’s impressive career.

The year after Dombrowski left the Marlins, Cabrera made his first major league appearance with Florida. After debuting on June 20, he played 87 games that season. He hit 12 homers and drove in 68 runs, showcasing his exceptional potential. Cabrera’s performance earned him a fifth-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting and propelled the Marlins to a World Series title.

In December 2007, Dombrowski, now GM of the Tigers, traded for Cabrera. This acquisition sparked a remarkable partnership between the slugger and Detroit. Cabrera played 16 seasons in the Motor City, becoming a franchise icon. He captured four batting titles and two MVP awards during his tenure. In 2012, Cabrera made history by winning baseball’s first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

Cabrera played a crucial role in leading Dombrowski’s Tigers to four straight postseason appearances from 2011 to 2014. This impressive run included three consecutive trips to the ALCS. In 2012, Cabrera and Dombrowski celebrated their second league championship pennant. Their collaboration transformed the Tigers into a powerhouse and etched Cabrera’s name in baseball history.

In the collection is your ticket to the night Miguel Cabrera hit his 400th home run. It puts you in the Right Field Box in section 133, row 28, seat 13, the perfect place to witness history. Cabrera has signed the ticket which comes with JSA Authentication.

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On August 18, 2015, the Red Sox hired Dave Dombrowski as president of baseball operations. Success quickly followed.

In Dombrowski’s first full season of ’16, the Red Sox won the American League East. However, they quickly found elimination in the playoffs against the Indians. During the offseason, Dombrowski traded for Chris Sale and Boston repeated as division champions. After another early playoff exit, Dombrowski fired manager John Farrell, replacing him with Alex Cora.

In 2018, the Red Sox achieved a franchise-record 108 wins. Mookie Betts played the key role. He topped all big league position players in batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.640), and WAR (10.7). The Sox dominated the postseason, going 11-3 and capturing the World Series title. This campaign marked Dombrowski’s fourth pennant with his third different team and his second World Series title.

Not all of Dombrowski’s Boston tenure was positive. The Red Sox faced scrutiny and received a hefty fine for participating in a scandal involving electronically stealing signs. After an extensive investigation, Dombrowski was cleared of any and all wrongdoing.

Shown here is a ticket that allowed a fan into Fenway Park on July 2, 2014. In that contest Betts hit his first career home run, had first multi-hit game, and his first two big league RBI. On the reverse are two holograms authenticating both the ticket and the signature. The MLB hologram shows that Mookie signed this on February 22, 2024. The Fanatics hologram also verifies Betts’ signature.

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After Dave Dombrowski left Boston, the Philadelphia Phillies hired him as president of baseball operations on December 11, 2020. The Phillies faced a decade-long playoff drought, so they banked on Dombrowski’s proven track record. His past successes inspired confidence, and he did not disappoint.

In his second season, Dombrowski led the Phillies to a National League championship. This marked his fifth pennant-winning season, following flags with the Marlins, Red Sox, and two in Detroit. His leadership transformed the team and reignited their competitive spirit.

The Phillies continued to thrive under Dombrowski’s guidance. In 2023, they reached the National League Championship Series once again. The following year, they clinched the NL East title, showcasing their growth and consistency.

Many analysts now believe that Dombrowski’s impressive body of work positions him for election into the Hall of Fame. Shown here is Dombrowski’s business card as the Phillie President, Baseball Operations. The executive with multiple pennants and World Series wins added his signature.