Salty Saltwell

Who is Salty Saltwell?

Eldred R. "Salty" Saltwell 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, California. 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.