How Max Venable and Mary Cross Inspired White Sox Manager Will Venable’s Success

Will Venable was born into a family with a rich athletic legacy. His mother, Mary “Molly” (Cross) Venable, was a high school basketball standout, while his father, William McKinley “Max” Venable, excelled across multiple sports, especially baseball, where he built an impressive professional career.

Their shared love for sports had a profound impact on Will’s life, fueling his journey to become a notable figure in Major League Baseball.

Venable, a former MLB outfielder, played for teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers.

Known for his speed and agility, he consistently ranked among the top 10 in the National League for stolen bases and finished in the top four for triples in four seasons.

Venable is also a Princeton University alumnus and holds the record for the most career hits and home runs in the MLB among Princeton graduates.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fort Wayne TinCaps (@tincaps)

Debuting with the Padres in 2008, he played for eight seasons, retiring with the Dodgers in 2016.

Transitioning to a coaching career, he served as a first base coach and special assistant to Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein.

In 2021, he managed his first Major League game, stepping in for Alex Cora as interim manager of the Boston Red Sox when Cora tested positive for COVID-19. Later that year, the Texas Rangers recruited Venable as an associate manager.

Recently, Venable made headlines after being named the new manager of the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox dismissed previous manager Pedro Grifol after a challenging season, ending with a record-breaking 41–121 loss tally.

Venable finalized his contract with the Sox on October 28, just one day before his 42nd birthday, marking a new chapter in his career.

Though his accomplishments in baseball and management are well-known, many may not realize the influence his parents had on his journey.

Both athletes themselves, Molly and Max Venable served as inspiring figures for Will, shaping the passion and discipline that have been hallmarks of his career.

Will Venable’s Athletic Background Helped His Career

Will Venable was born on October 29, 1982, at Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae, California, just 15 miles north of San Francisco.

Raised in an athletic family, Will was inspired early on by his parents’ passion for sports.

His father, William McKinley “Max” Venable, was born on June 6, 1957, in Phoenix, Arizona. A multi-sport standout at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California, Max’s athletic talent led him to a career in professional baseball.

After being selected in the 1976 amateur draft, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers right out of high school, turning down football scholarship offers.

In 1978, the San Francisco Giants selected him in the Rule 5 draft, setting off a career that saw him play nine years in the National League with the Giants, Montreal Expos, and Cincinnati Reds, as well as three years with the American League’s Los Angeles Angels.

After his MLB career, Max expanded his influence internationally by coaching in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korean Baseball Organization.

Will’s mother, Mary “Molly” (Cross) Venable, was born on October 16, 1958, in San Francisco. An accomplished basketball player, she attended Dominican University in San Rafael, California.

Molly and Max married in May 1982 in Marin, California, and started a family soon after.

The couple’s second son, Winston James Venable, was born on March 31, 1987.

Winston followed a different path, becoming a professional football player in both the NFL, where he played for the Chicago Bears and the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes.

During Will’s early years, he lived in Japan while Max played in the Japanese league as a “gaijin,” or foreign player.

There, Will experienced the local baseball culture firsthand, including intense Little League practices that gave him a glimpse into the discipline and dedication required to succeed in the sport.

As a coach in minor league baseball, including the Pacific Coast and California Leagues, Max continued to immerse his sons in the sports world.

Will’s love for sports and athleticism were greatly shaped by his parent’s influence, particularly his father’s long career and dedication to the game, which encouraged Will to follow in his footsteps.

In Case You Did Not Know

• In high school, Will Venable believed his future as a professional athlete would more likely be in basketball than in baseball.
• Will is married to his wife, Kathryn, and together they have three daughters: a 9-year-old and 7-year-old twins.