Phi Delta Theta has a very proud history in the world of sports. Be it amateur, collegiate, or professional athletics, many Phis have made an impact as players, coaches, managers, and fans alike. For this reason, the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame was created in 2010.
In order to be enshrined in the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame, an alumnus must have had an impact on the world of sports while living and exhibiting the three Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity.
In November, the largest gathering in recent memory of Arizona Alpha alumni and students met at the Graduate Hotel. Nearly two hundred brothers and guests attended to celebrate one hundred years of the Arizona Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at the University of Arizona. Brian Smith, ’87, opened the dinner with an invocation. Speakers included Chapter President Spencer VanDenBroeke, ’25, and Province President Vianney Careaga, ’18, who gave the storied history of the chapter. During the Legionnaire ceremony, twelve brothers were presented their Golden Legion (fifty-year) pins, twenty-nine with their Silver Legion (twenty-five year) pins, and Brother Brit Burns, ’67, received his Palladian pin as he celebrated his fifty-fifth year as a Phi. General Council Member-at-Large Mike Ogg provided a Fraternity update, and Executive Director of Iron Phi Steve Good inducted president of baseball operations of the St. Louis Cardinals, John Mozeliak, ’91, into the Sport’s Hall of Fame. Watch their celebration recap video.
About John Mozeliak
Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, John began his baseball life as pitcher and first basemen for the Fairview High School baseball team.
Following high school, Mo attended the University of Arizona, where he was initiated into the Arizona Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, before transferring to and graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Mo began his career in baseball in 1993 with the Colorado Rockies where he worked in a variety of positions in baseball operations before being hired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995.
Following time in the Cardinals’ scouting department, where he oversaw the drafting of talent such as Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, John spent six seasons as Assistant General Manager for the team, before being named the Cardinals’ 12th general manager in 2007.
In 2011, Mo engineered a series of late-season moves that transformed the Cardinals and saw the team go from 10 ½ games back in late August to winning the franchise’s 11th World Championship.
That year, Baseball America named the Cardinals the Organization of the Year, the first time the franchise had received the honor.
Personally, Mo was the recipient of the MLB.com GIBBY Executive of the Year award.
In 2017, John was named the Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations, the first to be named to that position in franchise history,
Under Mo’s leadership, the Cardinals have created a culture of retaining key players that has resulted in six National League Central division titles, 10 postseason appearances, two World Series appearances, a World Series title, 15 consecutive seasons with a winning percentage above 500, and honors for having the #1 minor league system.
John lives in St. Louis with his wife, Julie, daughter, Allyson, and son, Will.
Outside of baseball, he serves as a National Trustee for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Congratulations, Mo, for your induction into the Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame!
