Walt Jocketty, the former general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, passed away at the age of 74 on April 25, 2025, in the Phoenix area.

Jocketty had been facing health issues for several years prior to his death.

He is credited with hiring Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa and acquiring star players like Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen, and Albert Pujols, which revitalized the franchise.

The Cardinals publicly honored Jocketty after his death, expressing condolences to his family and friends through a social media post.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, and their two children, Ashley and Joey, with Joey working as a professional scout for the Reds.

John Mozeliak, who succeeded Jocketty as GM in St. Louis, acknowledged his significant impact on the organization and their eventual friendship despite the circumstances of his departure.

Throughout his career, Jocketty was recognized as MLB Executive of the Year three times and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

After leaving the Cardinals, Jocketty joined the Cincinnati Reds, where he guided the team to three postseason appearances during his tenure.

His roster decisions led to a resurgence in attendance at Busch Stadium, attracting over 3 million fans annually during his leadership.

Jocketty began his baseball career with the Oakland Athletics in 1980 and became the Cardinals' general manager in 1994, where he was instrumental in the team's turnaround.

Jocketty achieved significant success with the Cardinals from 1994 to 2007, leading the team to seven playoff appearances, two National League pennants, and a World Series championship in 2006.

His death was confirmed by former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who spoke with Jocketty's wife, Sue, and was announced by the Cardinals, who held a moment of silence before their game against the Brewers.