Rob Harris likes to accompany his son on at least one road trip each year. The treks are a way to see Scott, a baseball executive, in his element. A method of savoring a bit more time.
So last year in late August, Scott, then general manager for the San Francisco Giants, and Rob were out in the stands looking over Target Field in Minneapolis. It was early in the day, the ballpark empty and still. Then the phone rang.
Scott looked at his phone. He showed Rob the screen. Chris Ilitch, chairman and CEO of the Detroit Tigers, was calling.
Harris looked at his father. I think I better take this call.
A few days later, Harris flew to Detroit to meet with Ilitch and interview to be the Tigers’ president of baseball operations. He would replace Al Avila, who was fired about two weeks earlier.
In Detroit, Harris toured the town while he met with people like Ilitch and other members of the Tigers’ brass. He even met with Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman.
Ilitch’s wife, Kelle, took Harris’ fiancee, Elle, out looking at houses.
“Very Midwestern,” Rob says of the interview process.
The opportunity for Harris was immense: The chance to run a baseball team and do it in a historic baseball city.
The tradeoffs were also stark.
“I knew he was conflicted,” Rob said. “He had a…
