2010 E and B Gala Honoree Frank McCourt

Frank H. McCourt Jr. became the fourth owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers after receiving unanimous approval from Major League Baseball on January 29, 2004. Under his stewardship, the Dodgers have reached postseason play three of the past four years and four of the last six seasons. This is the only time the Los Angeles Dodgers have accomplished this feat, and just the second time in franchise history that the team has made the postseason four times in a six-year span. The Dodgers are the only National League team to reach the postseason in three of the last four, and four of the past six, seasons. During McCourt's tenure the franchise has drawn its four highest attendance totals.

Upon purchasing the club, McCourt established three core goals - to put a championship caliber team on the field each and every year; to provide the best fan experience in all of sports; and to become a model franchise in giving back to the community.

The 2009 club had the best record in the National League, won an NL West title for the second consecutive season, and swept its first-round opponent for the second time in as many years, reaching back-to-back National League Championship Series for the first time in 31 years (1977-78). Prior to McCourt purchasing the team, the franchise had not reached the NLCS or won a postseason game in the previous 15 years.

The team's success on the field can be primarily attributed to the organization's commitment to find the top amateur talent around the globe, to develop those players to play baseball "The Dodger Way", and to supplement that talent through free agency and trades, when necessary. McCourt has established a leadership trio with more than a century of sports and baseball experience, including President Dennis Mannion, General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Joe Torre.

In addition to the team's performance, the significant enhancements to Dodger Stadium have contributed to the record attendance. McCourt has invested $150 million in stadium improvements designed to allow Dodger Stadium, which is entering its 48th season, to thrive in modern times. In 2008, McCourt committed to save Dodger Stadium with the Next 50 project, a series of renovations and innovations that would in essence create a "new" Dodger Stadium designed to allow Major League Baseball's third-oldest ballpark to thrive for the next 50 years. Recent improvements include replacing all of the seats in the stadium bowl; installing a new playing surface, including drainage; renovating concourses with new and expanded concessions and other amenities; reconfiguring the parking lots to improve traffic flow (including a new transportation center); doubling the size of the Dugout Club; creating two new Baseline Box Clubs; significant upgrades to the video in-game experience; as well as numerous structural and voluntary seismic upgrades.

In 2009, another of McCourt's visions became a reality with the creation of Camelback Ranch - Glendale, a state-of-the-art year-round training facility in Arizona that brought Dodger Spring Training close to Southern California fans for the first time. The fans responded by setting a franchise record for attendance. The site was honored by Ballpark Digest with an Editor's Choice award, as the publication called Camelback Ranch "a bold re-imagining of the spring-training complex, bringing in the feel of a classic training camp with all the amenities of today... Camelback Ranch-Glendale provides plenty of great memory-making moments for fans old and young."

In 2008, McCourt enhanced the team's legacy of both embracing change and bringing baseball to other parts of the world by playing the first Major League Baseball games (exhibition) in China. This year, the Dodgers will return to the Far East for a set of exhibition games in Taiwan.

McCourt's commitment to the community is realized through the Dodgers Dream Foundation, which focuses on four key "bases" – first, recreation; second, education; third, health; and "home plate", the environment. Each base has a signature program: the Dodgers Dreamfields initiative has built or refurbished nine baseball fields around Los Angeles and is committed to building another 41; the Dodgers Scholars program is a collaboration with the Jackie Robinson Foundation and provides 42 college scholarships per year; ThinkCure! is the club's official charity, (in partnership with City of Hope and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles), from which nearly $1 million has already been granted; and to complete the community diamond, the organization recently announced its newest initiative, to "Think Blue, Act Green."

In addition to the front office staff and management team, McCourt relies on the guidance of three Special Advisors -- former pitching star and social pioneer Don Newcombe (appointed in 2009); medical pioneer Dr. Frank Jobe (appointed in 2008); and legendary Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda (appointed in 2006). While McCourt's vision has greatly benefited the franchise over the past six years, it expands beyond Dodger Stadium and two-time defending NL West Champions. In September 2008, McCourt purchased the Los Angeles Marathon with the goal of turning it into a world class race. This year he delivered a new stadium-to-sea course that will lead runners past a number of Los Angeles landmarks from Dodger Stadium through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. For his efforts, McCourt was honored by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce in January.

In 1977, the Boston native founded The McCourt Company (now the McCourt Group), which specializes in the development of major commercial real estate projects. His real estate development roots span five generations, and his family has been associated with many major Boston real estate projects, including the city's Back Bay, Logan Airport, and Boston's waterfront. McCourt earned a reputation as a visionary leader and influential businessman, leaving a positive and lasting impact on the city of Boston and revolutionizing Boston's new Seaport. Today, this booming area boasts a new convention center, hotels, offices, residential buildings and numerous commercial, government and cultural facilities. The McCourt Company moved to Los Angeles in 2006.

McCourt serves on the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, from which he graduated in 1975, and co-chaired Georgetown University's Third Century Campaign (New England Region), which raised more than $1 billion for the university. He is active in an array of educational, trade, civic and charitable organizations, including serving as President of the Dodgers Dream Foundation, and Founding Chairman of ThinkCure!.

He has four sons - Drew, Travis, Casey and Gavin, whom he has often said he hopes will someday take over as stewards of the Dodger franchise.