MESA, Ariz. -- When the Tribune Co. hired Dallas Green after the 1981 season to be the Cubs' executive vice president and general manager, Green had the same expectations that the current front office had when it took over. Green wanted to build a strong farm system, acquire some key players to augment that, and win a World Series.
Green did build a Cubs team that reached the postseason in 1984, a first for the franchise since 1945, but never got to the World Series. A true baseball man, Green died Wednesday at the age of 82.
"He had a vision, and knew what was going to happen," said Cubs coach Dave Martinez, who was drafted by the team in 1983. "He was trying to build an organization within and he really did that. In '89, all those guys who were there were still some of his guys. Looking back, he was one of the guys who really created what's happening today in the game."
When Green took over the Cubs, his slogan was "Building a New Tradition," and he hired several coaches and scouts from his previous organization, the Phillies, including Lee Elia, John Vukovich and Gordon Goldsberry. Green traded for Ryne Sandberg, and in 1984, acquired Dennis Eckersley from the Red Sox for Bill Buckner. That year, he sent prospects Mel Hall and Joe Carter to the Indians for relief pitcher George Frazier, catcher Ron Hassey and pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe went 16-1 with the Cubs that season, helping to lead them to the National League East title.
The Cubs' Jim Frey won NL Manager of the Year in '84, Sutcliffe won the Cy Young Award, and Sandberg was named Most Valuable Player.
"When you talk about a baseball man, that expression gets overused sometimes," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "Dallas Green was the quintessential baseball man. He was a player, wins a World Series as a manager [with the Phillies], came close to winning one with the Cubs as an executive. Not a lot of people can say that.
"He had a reputation for a great baseball mind. The ability to do all those different things in the game, there's not many people you can point to who have that ability. He'll obviously be missed."

Hoyer noted it was a sad week for Chicago with the passing of Green and former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause.
"The '80s were a pretty good decade for Chicago sports and we lost the reasons for that happening," Hoyer said.
Hoyer noted the similarities between what the current front office wanted to do with the Cubs and what Green tried to accomplish.
"When we first got to Chicago, you look back and you think about what other times in the history of the Cubs people tried to do something similar to what we were doing," Hoyer said. "Him taking over in the '80s and building the '84 team was the most similar. Some of those great trades he made and gutsy trades he made are pretty similar. Obviously, if it weren't for a couple big breaks, they could've ended the curse a lot earlier. That was a heck of a team in '84 that he built."
Green also was a strong proponent for lights at Wrigley Field, and battled with the city of Chicago, threatening to move the team to the suburbs. Shortly before Green left the Cubs, the Chicago city council and Mayor Harold Washington approved a change to an ordinance to allow the team to install lights in 1988.
"Dallas Green had an eye for talent," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "Our fans can credit him for acquiring and drafting several of the most accomplished players to wear a Cubs uniform, including Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux and Ryne Sandberg, as well as All-Stars like Shawon Dunston, Mark Grace and Rick Sutcliffe.
"Green was not afraid to make bold moves in pursuit of winning, and in 1984, led the Cubs to their first postseason appearance since the 1945 World Series," Ricketts said. "He will forever hold a meaningful place in Chicago Cubs history. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as we mourn his passing."
Doug Dascenzo, who played for the Cubs from 1988-92, and is a current Minor League outfield instructor, said Green was "awesome to be around."
"He made sure we did everything the right way," Dascenzo said. "I feel it still lingers throughout the organization to the present. All those guys back then built a certain fundamental type of structure and we keep carrying it on. He's one of those guys you'll never forget."
Martinez recalled Green calling him into his office in the fall after instructional league. The outfielder was ready to head home.
"He called me in and said, 'Son, what are your plans for the winter?' I said, 'I'm going to go home and get a little rest,'" Martinez said. "He looked me in the eyes and said, 'You're going to go to winter ball.'
"I said, 'What? Dallas, I've had about 700 at-bats this year,'" Martinez said. "He said, 'Well, you're going to get 900.' Off I went. He said, 'Trust me, it'll help you in the long run,' and it did. I matured a lot in winter ball and in '87 I was able to break camp with the team.
"He gave me a chance to play in the big leagues," Martinez said. "He's a good baseball man."