Harry Dalton, who built the Brewers' only pennant-winner, died Sunday at his home in Carefree, Ariz., from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 77.
Dalton spent more than four decades as a Major League executive with the Orioles, Angels and Brewers, including 14 seasons as Milwaukee's general manager from 1977-91.
When Dalton arrived in Milwaukee before the 1978 season, the young franchise had never posted a winning season. But bolstered by the addition of veterans like Rollie Fingers, Pete Vuckovich, Ted Simmons and Don Sutton, Dalton's Brewers posted nine winning seasons, won two division titles and advanced to the 1982 World Series against St. Louis.
The Brewers were the winningest team in the Majors over the five-year span from 1978-82. Dalton was the 1982 Executive of the Year and the Brewers won Baseball America's Organization of the Year honors in three straight seasons from 1985-87.
