Marty Kuehnert

Marty Kuehnert (July 19, 1946 – November 8, 2024) was an American sports executive who was a senior advisor to the Japanese professional basketball team Sendai 89ers and Japanese professional baseball team Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. He was also the team's first general manager and Nippon Professional Baseball's first foreign general manager.

Biography Early life and career Marty Kuehnert grew up in Los Angeles, California, and later graduated from Stanford University. While at Stanford, he participated in an exchange student program at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. While in Japan, Kuehnert met Tsuneo Harada who soon asked him to be the general manager of the Lodi Orions, a Class A Minor League team in the California League and the first Japanese-owned professional franchise in North America. Kuehnert ran the team for two seasons, during which he was named the 1973 California League Executive of the Year. He later went on to be the president and part-owner of another Minor League team, the Birmingham Barons.

Nippon Professional Baseball career After Kuehnert ran the Lodi Orions, he returned to Japan in 1974 and became the director of sales and promotions for the Taiheiyo Club Lions, a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team based in Fukuoka. While in Japan, Kuehnert continued to excel in sports management and commentary. He went on to write several books, was a sports journalist for major Japanese newspapers, and had his own TV show. Following a 6–22 start, just over a month into the season, the Eagles removed Kuehnert as general manager and demoted to the role of an advisor.

Other activities Kuehnert was the vice-president of Sendai University, a school that focuses on preparing students to become coaches. He also taught sports management and sports media classes at Sendai University and Tohoku University.