Cedric Nelson Tallis (July 29, 1914 – May 8, 1991) was an American executive in Major League Baseball who served as the first general manager of the expansion Kansas City Royals and later played an important role in the New York Yankees' dynasty of the late 1970s.

Tallis recruited a management team that included future GMs John Schuerholz, Lou Gorman, Syd Thrift, Jack McKeon and Herk Robinson.

Under Burke, players signed and developed during Tallis' tenure—such as Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett—would mature to help Kansas City dominate the American League West Division during the latter part of the 1970s.

During Tallis' administration, the Yankees continued their aggressive role in baseball free agency (notably signing Hall of Fame relief pitcher Goose Gossage).

The following year, however, the Yankees suffered the tragic loss of catcher and team captain Thurman Munson in an August plane crash and finished fourth, 13+1⁄2 games in arrears of the Baltimore Orioles.