Astros President of Business Operations PAM GARDNER resigned from her role and will become a special adviser to Owner JIM CRANE. Gardner was the longest tenured female exec in MLB, serving 23 years with the club, including 11 in the role of president (Astros). In Houston, David Barron noted Gardner's resignation, along with the dismissal of President of Baseball Operations TAL SMITH in November, consolidates the organizational chart with GEORGE POSTOLOS as the "sole president in charge of day-to-day operations as the Crane era begins." Postolos said that Gardner is “not being replaced as president of business operations and that her duties will be distributed among other executives.” In addition to her role as an adviser to Crane, she “will remain on the board of directors for the Astros in Action Foundation and will represent the team on the Greater Houston Partnership board.” Gardner said that she also “plans to write and speak on leadership and mentoring issues” (CHRON.com, 1/19). MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart noted under Gardner's leadership, Comcast SportsNet Houston was formed in the fall of '10 and “will televise Astros and Rockets games beginning in 2012-13, as well as other team programming.” She also “played a major role in the building of Minute Maid Park, and oversaw the completion of the Urban Youth Academy in northwest Houston” (MLB.com, 1/19). Gardner was part of SportsBusiness Journal's "Game Changers: Women in Sports" feature in October.
