Salty Saltwell

Eldred R. "Salty" Saltwell (born April 14, 1924) was the general manager of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball in 1976.

Like a predecessor, John Holland, Saltwell had been a general manager in the minor leagues. He was the GM with minor league affiliates in Des Moines, Iowa, and Los Angeles. Saltwell came to Chicago in 1958 as a business manager. He was very loyal to owner Philip K. Wrigley and was made a vice president in 1972. The Chicago Tribune openly mocked the move and called Saltwell a hot dog vendor. Wrigley defended the decision by stating that Saltwell had the capacity to get rough, especially in contract negotiations. After his one season as Cubs' GM, on November 24, 1976, he was named secretary and director of park operations while field manager Jim Marshall was fired.

Saltwell was criticized for many questionable transactions. His first transaction was on October 28, 1975, when he traded shortstop Don Kessinger to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Mike Garman. He was the last player from the 1969 Cubs team. A challenge for Saltwell was that the fall of 1975 ushered in the era of free agency. Pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally successfully challenged a portion of the MLB Reserve clause.

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