EDINA, Minn. — Former Minnesota Twins executive George Brophy, a key figure in signing and developing many of the team's top players, died Friday, Nov. 20. He was 72.

  Brophy died at his home from aplastic anemia, a blood disease he had battled for 13 years.

  Brophy worked for the Twins from 1960 to 1985 and was the team's vice president of minor leagues and scouting from 1970 to 1985, making roster moves that helped the Twins win the the 1987 World Series. He worked as a special assignment scout for the Houston Astros until 1996.

  Former Twins owner Calvin Griffith said Brophy was skilled at finding talented and inexpensive players.

  ``He was an encyclopedia,'' Griffith said from his home in Melbourne, Fla. ``He knew everything about every dang player in the league and how good they were. Whatever he wanted to do, I went along with it.''

  Brophy's funeral Mass is scheduled for Monday at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.