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Kevin Towers Passes Away

By Steve Adams | January 30, 2018 at 10:06am CDT

In a sudden piece of heartbreaking news, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reports that former Padres and Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers has passed away at the age of 56. Towers had been diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer back in December 2016.

Kevin Towers | Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Prior to his days as one of the game’s most prominent and recognizable executives, Towers broke into professional baseball as a player when he was selected by the Padres in the first round of the 1982 draft. A right-hander who starred at Brigham Young University, Towers would pitch in parts of eight minor league seasons that were slowed by injury before ultimately transitioning to the operations side of the game.

Well-respected for his scouting acumen, Towers parlayed his keen eye for player talent into a position as the Padres’ scouting director before ascending to their GM chair in 1996 — a position he’d occupy all the way through the 2009 season. That remarkable run is one of lengthier stints that any GM has enjoyed atop his organization in recent history.

San Diego won its division in two of Towers’ first three seasons at the helm and advanced to the World Series in 1998 under his watch. The Friars would go on to win the West on two more occasions under Towers’ guidance, taking home consecutive division crowns in the 2005-06 seasons. Never afraid to make a bold trade, Towers was affectionately referred to as the “gunslinger” for much of his career as a general manager.

Upon being dismissed after that 2009 season, Towers spent a year as a special assignment scout with the Yankees before being tabbed as the new general manager of the Diamondbacks. From 2010-14, Towers would hold that role, and it was during his tenure that the D-backs signed face of the franchise Paul Goldschmidt to one of the game’s best contracts.

Following his dismissal and replacement by the Dave Stewart/Tony La Russa regime, Towers joined the Reds as a special assistant to GM Dick Williams, specializing in player personnel — a role that he continued to hold even into his battle with cancer.

The immediate outpouring from the media, former players and others in the industry serves as a testament to Towers’ reputation as a venerable ambassador to the game of baseball, as well as to the love and respect that he fostered in more than three decades as a member of the MLB family. Yahoo’s Tim Brown has penned an especially poignant tribute to Towers, encapsulating the magnetic vigor that drew so many to him.

Our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the countless men and women both in the industry and the media whose lives he impacted over the course of a 35-year career in professional baseball.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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49 comments
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Comments

  1. walls17

    3 years ago

    RIP

    6 Like
    Reply
  2. fs54

    3 years ago

    Very sorry to hear that. My deepest condolences to his family and friends too.

    6 Like
    Reply
  3. 15bricknerw

    3 years ago

    Wow, rest in peace Mr. Towers. I can’t imagine how his family and loved ones feel right now.

    4 Like
    Reply
  4. demaroth

    3 years ago

    Wow, that’s incredibly sad. He presided over many of the Padres’ best seasons and teams, and seemed like a great guy. He’ll be missed by many Padres fans.

    2 Like
    Reply
  5. kchammy

    3 years ago

    So sad. So young. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family

    4 Like
    Reply
  6. Phillies2017

    3 years ago

    Rest in Peace KT

    Like
    Reply
  7. FMTRIBE

    3 years ago

    RIP. Met him at the Padre’s Fantasy Camp. Really a good guy

    4 Like
    Reply
  8. SoftballMike

    3 years ago

    We hung out with KT and his wife a few years ago at Fiesta Del Sol in Solana Beach. He bought all of our drinks for us after just meeting them. Super funny and happy, and his wife was just as nice and funny. RIP Kevin, and prayers and good thoughts for your family.

    6 Like
    Reply
    • SoftballMike

      3 years ago

      One of the stories he told us was that he was really close to getting Pujols for Carlos Hernandez!

      Like
      Reply
  9. dymez

    3 years ago

    R.i.p

    1 Like
    Reply
  10. Michael Chaney

    3 years ago

    Wow, this is terrible to hear. RIP Kevin.

    3 Like
    Reply
  11. brewcrew08

    3 years ago

    Far too young. Prayers and thoughts to his family. RIP.

    3 Like
    Reply
  12. ThatBallwasBryzzoed

    3 years ago

    Wasn’t aware he had cancer. RIP.

    Like
    Reply
  13. jimmertee

    3 years ago

    Wow, so young. Agreed with in full Steve Adams. Amen.

    2 Like
    Reply
  14. mannyl101

    3 years ago

    R.I.P very sad

    1 Like
    Reply
  15. Gobbysteiner

    3 years ago

    So young! Only 56? Wow. Reminder that life doesn’t last forever and for us to cherish every moment. So sad and RIP Mr towers. Condolences to his family.

    3 Like
    Reply
  16. Paul Heyman

    3 years ago

    RIP KT.

    2 Like
    Reply
  17. start_wearing_purple

    3 years ago

    Very sad. RIP.

    2 Like
    Reply
  18. TJECK109

    3 years ago

    Wow. Sad and shocking. RIP

    1 Like
    Reply
  19. RunDMC

    3 years ago

    Towers supplied my Braves with Justin Upton from ARZ. He was one of the good ones. RIP and my condolences to the Towers, Pads/Dbacks family.

    1 Like
    Reply
  20. 619bird

    3 years ago

    That is sad news. Im sure Darrin Smith will have a tribute to him today on mighty 1090.

    2 Like
    Reply
  21. bringinthereliefpitcher

    3 years ago

    Probably the best GM the padres had that I can remember.

    Ill never forget the time when I was in middle school my friends and I were dialing random numbers to prank call people and we dialed Kevin Towers number.

    3 Like
    Reply
    • lowtalker1

      3 years ago

      Trader jack comes in first but he is top 3. Rest in piece Kevin towers

      Like
      Reply
      • lowtalker1

        3 years ago

        Rest in peace*

        Like
        Reply
    • saavedra

      3 years ago

      I think it’s more likely that you and your friends were the ones getting pranked…

      Like
      Reply
      • bringinthereliefpitcher

        3 years ago

        We dialed his office number, least we think. It went to voicemail and said hello, you’ve reached the office of Kevin Towers of the San Diego Padres. I am not in at the moment, please leave a message and I will return your call at my earliest convenience- or something to that effect.

        Must of been a pretty elaborate counter prank.

        2 Like
        Reply
        • saavedra

          3 years ago

          Then you should have left a voicemail claiming to be another GM and ask about that guy Tony Gwynn.

          Like
          Reply
  22. gav1

    3 years ago

    So sad.Rip

    1 Like
    Reply
  23. outinleftfield

    3 years ago

    RIP KT. Our prayers of comfort go out to his family at this rough, rough time. He was one of the truly good guys in the game. Always had time to talk baseball. So young. Cancer is a MF.

    Like
    Reply
  24. rememberthecoop

    3 years ago

    Only 56. It is a damn shame. RIP.

    2 Like
    Reply
  25. beersy

    3 years ago

    I saw Towers back in 2003 in the stands at a Rockies game in Denver. I went up to him, asked for an autograph, he signed in a heartbeat. I thanked him and he thanked me back. I asked him about the Jason Kendall rumors swirling at the time and he said, “if the Pirates would take Jarvis, the deal would be done today”. The deal never did come to fruition, but it was cool that he was so open with a young Padre fan. Towers seemed like a real genuine guy and it is a shame he is gone so soon. RIP KT.

    2 Like
    Reply
  26. Core4

    3 years ago

    Sooo sucks! Great GM for along time.

    1 Like
    Reply
  27. ThePriceWasRight

    3 years ago

    RIP. Truly sad to hear but everyone should remember the positive impact he had on the game.

    1 Like
    Reply
  28. czontixhldr

    3 years ago

    Sad. So young. RIP.

    Like
    Reply
  29. dartvard

    3 years ago

    Deepest condolences to the Towers family, baseball has lost a good one.

    Nicely written piece Steve.

    Like
    Reply
  30. Harry h

    3 years ago

    Rest in peace Kevin my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family you were a game changer you will be missed.

    Like
    Reply
  31. ronaldreagan

    3 years ago

    lmao

    Like
    Reply
    • bosox90

      3 years ago

      Classy.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • lysander

      3 years ago

      mental midget

      Like
      Reply
      • Yoda

        3 years ago

        Last gm that would tell things straight. F off

        Like
        Reply
      • ronaldreagan

        3 years ago

        please do not use the m word, very rude

        Like
        Reply
  32. LAAUSC

    3 years ago

    My friends and I were at a spring training game in Arizona and we recognized Kevin Towers sitting behind the plate in the first few rows. A ball was fouled off straight back and went through the netting and beamed him right in the head. Everyone rushed over to make sure he was alright. After getting his bearings security walked him out to get him checked out. Tough guy and a good GM … RIP

    Like
    Reply
  33. Yamsi12

    3 years ago

    Now he can make terrible trades/signings in heaven or hell.

    Like
    Reply
    • lysander

      3 years ago

      So, when will you be 12?

      Like
      Reply
    • One Fan

      3 years ago

      What is your problem Yasmi12? So uncalled for. You have no class.

      Like
      Reply
    • beersy

      3 years ago

      You are the definition of an a$$hole..

      Like
      Reply
      • Yamsi12

        3 years ago

        I at least mentioned he could be in heaven, you never know….

        Like
        Reply
    • Yoda

      3 years ago

      Whatever trade he made you didn’t like I’m sorry.
      Maybe a bad time to vent that frustration.

      1 Like
      Reply
  34. xabial

    3 years ago

    The only thing I knew about Mr. Towers was that he worked with the Yankees, as a special assignment scout before landing another GM job, with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two thoughts:

    1) I didn’t know he was sick…

    2) 56? Wtf— Rest in Peace, Mr. Towers.

    Like
    Reply

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