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Pirates general manager Neal Huntington
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Leadership Award: Pirates GM Neal Huntington navigated through uncertainty

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Leadership Award: Pirates GM Neal Huntington navigated through uncertainty

After trading away Travis Snider, a relatively productive fourth outfielder and a safety net to Gregory Polanco's first full year in the major leagues, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington alluded to the challenges of the job.

"Those are the challenges that small-market clubs have to [face]," he said after acquiring a minor league left-hander and a player to be named later from the Baltimore Orioles for Snider. "Every time, you've got to keep an eye on the future."

Huntington handled the challenges well enough in his first seven years in Pittsburgh, despite rocky periods along the way, to help the Pirates reach the playoffs for two consecutive years and end a 20-season losing streak. For that, he will receive the Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Leadership Award, presented by Dapper Dan Charities, at the Dapper Dan Dinner and Sports Auction Feb. 10 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

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DINNER INFORMATION

• What: 79th annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction, David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

• When: Feb. 10.

• Schedule: Cocktail reception and silent auction begins at 6 p.m., with dinner and awards to follow at 7 p.m.

• Tickets: Call 412-263-3850 or go online at post- gazette.com/dapperdan. Tickets are $150 for general seating and $250 for premium seating.

"I was humbled at being recognized in such a way by such a prominent organization with an amazing history of honorees before," Huntington said in December.

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Huntington took over the Pirates in September 2007, 15 years into their 20-year streak of consecutive losing seasons. He inherited Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker from the previous front office, but not much else. He rebuilt the minor league system in the early years. Two draft picks in his tenure, Pedro Alvarez in 2008 and Gerrit Cole in 2011, helped the Pirates finish better than .500 in 2013 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

Huntington also hired manager Clint Hurdle, a charismatic and energetic antidote to growing fan apathy and a sharp departure from previous manager John Russell. Extending McCutchen and Starling Marte provided cost certainty over young stars. Huntington also found value in a trade for A.J. Burnett before the 2012 season and by signing Russell Martin to a two-year, $17 million contract before 2013. Martin performed well enough in Pittsburgh to merit a five-year, $82 million contract from the Toronto Blue Jays beginning in his age 32 season. Burnett liked the Pirates enough that he returned, for $8.5 million, in what he says will be his last season.

"This is truly a recognition of what we've done over the last handful of years, the last two in particular, as an organization," Huntington said. "It's really an organization award. As such, I'm incredibly honored to accept it."

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The Pirates won 94 games in 2013, 88 in 2014 and reached the wild-card playoff game both years. They advanced to the National League Division Series before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games in 2013 and lost to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the wild-card game this past season.

"It shows signs that we're headed in the right direction," Huntington said. "At the same time, we know we're not done yet and we'll never be done."

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

First Published: February 1, 2015, 5:00 a.m.

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Pirates general manager Neal Huntington  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
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