LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — John Hart likes to use the word create. It is the essence of the job of general manager. You are shaping an organization, making sure that it stands for something. You want the impact of your leadership to last.

In his first job as general manager, Hart felt the force of John Schuerholz’s creation. The Braves, under Schuerholz, were the model franchise in the major leagues. They won 14 division titles in a row and captured the 1995 World Series over Hart’s Cleveland Indians.

Hart, 66, had created a powerhouse with the Indians, a team that had been so hapless it inspired a slapstick Hollywood comedy. He pioneered the strategy of giving long-term contracts to young players, locking in costs while avoiding salary arbitration. He also groomed a generation of young executives in Cleveland and, later, with the Texas Rangers.

“He made you feel important,” said Neal Huntington, who worked under Hart in Cleveland and is now general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “You wanted to do everything in your power to make sure you did your job to the best of your ability. It’s just his nature.