fired by the Reds on July 11, 1983. By that time "Robert T. Wag" had dismantled the Big Red Machine by, among other things, allowing Pete Rose to leave as a free agent to the Phillies. Wagner innovated the practice of Major League teams wearing green-trimmed uniforms on March 17 in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Wagner was the general manager of the Reds, and had green versions of the Reds' uniforms made. The Reds hosted the New York Yankees at Al Lopez Field on March 17, 1978. This was the first time a major league team wore green trimmed uniforms on March 17, a practice adopted in subsequent years by multiple major league teams on St. Patrick's Day. Wagner was named general manager of the Houston Astros in September of 1985 and continued the solidification of the already successful Houston team. His Astros won the 1986 National League West championship, clinching the division with a September 25 no-hitter by team pitching ace Mike Scott. Wagner resigned as general manager in 1987, following a power struggle with team manager Hal Lanier. Later years In 1988, MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and American League President Bobby Brown named Wagner a Special Assistant. Throughout the next decade, he served Brown and a succession of Commissioners as a top-level aide. Wagner retired to Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Gloria. There he served on the board of the Western Art Associates of the Phoenix Art Museum and as a vice-president of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America. Wagner was involved in a car accident in 1999 that resulted in trauma and injuries that required attention for the rest of his life. He died in Phoenix in 2006. References External links Former Reds President Wagner dies 1927 births 2006 deaths People from Central City, Nebraska Sportspeople from Nebraska Cincinnati Reds executives Houston Astros executives Major League Baseball executives Major League Baseball general managers St. Louis Cardinals executives