Branch Rickey
Catcher/Manager/Executive
Born: December 20, 1881
Died: December 9, 1965 (aged 83)
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 16, 1905 for the St. Louis Browns
Final game
August 25, 1914 for the St. Louis Browns
Career statistics
Batting average	.239
Home runs	3
Runs batted in	39
Teams
As Player Image File history File links Rickey. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. ... New York Yankees manager Joe Torre returning to the dugout (September 2005). ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Binomial name Icterus galbula (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Binomial name Icterus galbula (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird. ... Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. ... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ... St. Louis Browns (1905-1906, 1914) New York Highlanders (1907) As Manager Binomial name Icterus galbula (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... St. Louis Browns (1913-1915) St. Louis Cardinals (1919-1925) As General Manager Binomial name Icterus galbula (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, is a small icterid blackbird. ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... St. Louis Cardinals (1925-1942) Brooklyn Dodgers (1943-1950) Pittsburgh Pirates (1950-1955)
Career highlights and awards
World Series Champion: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942 National League pennant: 1928, 1930, 1947, 1949 Managerial Record: 597-664 Played major part in development of the farm system Signed Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers and helped integrate Major League Baseball in 1947
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Elected	1967
Election Method	Veteran's Committee

Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an innovative Major League Baseball executive best known for two things: breaking baseball's color barrier by signing the African-American player Jackie Robinson, and later drafting the first Hispanic superstar, Roberto Clemente; and creating the framework to the modern minor league farm system. His many achievements, and somewhat theatrical religiosity, earned him the nickname "The Mahatma". Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42, 53 Name Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1957) Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912) Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910), (1913) Brooklyn Grooms... Major league affiliations National League (1887–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 20, 21, 33, 40, 42 Name Pittsburgh Pirates (1891–present) Pittsburgh Innocents (1890) Pittsburg Alleghenies (1882–1889) (Also referred to as Infants in 1890) Ballpark PNC Park (2001–present) Three Rivers... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... In the 1926 World Series, the St. ... The St. ... The 1934 World Series matched the St. ... The 1942 World Series featured the defending champion New York Yankees against the St. ... The New York Yankees beat the St. ... The Philadelphia Athletics beat the St. ... The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in 7 games for their first title since 1943, and the 11th championship in team history. ... The 1949 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games for their second defeat of the Dodgers in three years, and the 12th championship in team history. ... The farm system is a slang term used in baseball to refer to the systematic control or ownership of minor league baseball clubs by major league teams, who move players from the lowest to the highest classification as they gain experience and enjoy success at each level. ... For the basketball player, see Jackie Robinson (basketball). ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1967 throughout the world. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. ... The baseball color line was the policy, unwritten for nearly its entire duration, which excluded African American baseball players from organized baseball in the United States before 1946. ... For the basketball player, see Jackie Robinson (basketball). ...  Countries where Spanish has official status. ... Roberto Clemente Walker (August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Major League Baseball right fielder and right-handed batter. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Minor League Baseball. ... The farm system is a slang term used in baseball to refer to the systematic control or ownership of minor league baseball clubs by major league teams, who move players from the lowest to the highest classification as they gain experience and enjoy success at each level. ... Mahatma is Sanskrit for Great Soul (महात्मा mahātmā: महा mahā (great) + आत्मं or आत्मन ātman (soul)). This epithet is applied to people like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, though sources vary on who first gave him this name. ...

Early life

Rickey was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, USA, the son of Frank W. and Emily Thompson Rickey. He was a catcher on the baseball team at Ohio Wesleyan and, in 1903, signed a professional contract with Terre Haute, Indiana of the Class B Central League, making his professional debut on June 20, 1909. However, Rickey was not ready for the rigors of the tough Central League and was assigned to Le Mars, Iowa of the Class D Iowa-South Dakota League. Later, he spent two seasons in the major leagues, debuting as a St. Louis Brown in 1905. He hit fairly well, hitting two home runs in the same game on August 6, but fielded poorly, a fatal flaw for a catcher. Sold to the New York Highlanders in 1907, Rickey could neither hit nor field while with the club, and his batting average dropped below .200. One opposing team stole 13 bases while Rickey was behind the plate, setting a record which still stands a century later. Rickey also injured his throwing arm and retired as a player after just one year. (During this period, Rickey also spent two seasons--1904 and 1905--coaching baseball and football and teaching at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.) The Carl D. Perkins Bridge across the Ohio River at Portsmouth Portsmouth is a city in Scioto County, Ohio, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio, Scioto and Little Scioto Rivers. ... Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio Wesleyan University (also Wesleyan or OWU) is a private, coeducational, selective liberal arts college located in Delaware, Ohio in the United States. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Le Mars is a city located in Plymouth County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,237. ... (For the 1901-02 American League team known as the Baltimore Orioles, see New York Yankees. ... See also: 1904 in sports, other events of 1905, 1906 in sports and the Sports timeline. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Yankees are a Major League baseball team based in The Bronx, New York City. ... Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. ... Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania which prides itself as being one of the oldest colleges in the United States. ...

For his undergraduate degree, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan, where he worked as the baseball coach while going to school. Ohio Wesleyan University (also known as Wesleyan or OWU) is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. ... The City of Delaware is located near the center of the state of Ohio, about 20 miles north of Columbus, Ohio. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (UM, U of M or U-M) is a coeducational public research university in the state of Michigan, and one of the foremost universities in the United States. ...

He returned to the big leagues in 1913, as a front office executive with the Browns. He was responsible for signing young George Sisler. Rickey became the team's manager for the final 12 games of the season, and managed the team for 2 more full seasons. But the Browns finished under .500 both years and no one was surprised when Rickey was fired in 1916 when new ownership took over the club. See also: 1912 in sports, other events of 1913, 1914 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Baseball The Brooklyn Dodgers the John McGraws New York Giants to win the World Series Football (Australian Rules) Victorian Football League - Fitzroy wins the 17th VFL Premiership (Fitzroy 7. ... George Sisler Michael Allen Sisler (March 24, 1893 - March 26, 1973), nicknamed Gorgeous George, was an American star in Major League Baseball, and one of the greatest fielding first basemen of all time. ... New York Yankees manager Joe Torre returning to the dugout (September 2005). ...

Rickey served in the military for a few years, then returned to St. Louis in 1919, this time with the Cardinals, to become team president and manager. In 1920, Rickey gave up the team presidency to the Cards' new majority owner, Sam Breadon. He then led the Cardinals on the field for another five seasons, before his firing early in the 1925 season. See also: 1918 in sports, other events of 1919, 1920 in sports and the list of years in sports. Baseball The Black Sox scandal -- Seven members of the Chicago White Sox take bribes to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds The Florida State League is founded with teams... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1920 throughout the world. ... Sam Breadon (July 26, 1876, New York, New York – May 8, 1949, St. ... See also: 1924 in sports, other events of 1925, 1926 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Baseball (Major League) Pittsburgh Pirates def. ...

His 6+ years as a manager were relatively mediocre, although the team posted winning records from 1921-23 and Rickey wisely invested in several minor league baseball clubs, using them to develop future talent for the Cardinals major league roster. He was 43 years old, had been a player, manager and executive in the Major Leagues and had shown no indication whatsoever that he would ever deserve to belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But even though he was not the first general manager in Major League Baseball history — his title was business manager — Rickey (as inventor of the farm system) would come to embody the position of the baseball operations executive who mastered scouting, player acquisition and development and business affairs — the definition of the modern GM. The term general manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. ... The farm system is a slang term used in baseball to refer to the systematic control or ownership of minor league baseball clubs by major league teams, who move players from the lowest to the highest classification as they gain experience and enjoy success at each level. ...

Rogers Hornsby replaced Rickey to become a player-manager, and in 1926, his first full year as manager, he led the Cardinals to their first World Series championship. Owner Breadon rewarded Hornsby by trading the fiery leader and star second baseman to the New York Giants for Jimmy Ring and Frankie Frisch, the latter spending a decade anchoring second for the Cardinals. Rogers Hornsby (April 27, 1896 in Winters, Texas - January 5, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois), nicknamed The Rajah, was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. ... See also: 1975 in sports, other events of 1976, 1977 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: February 15David Pearson won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Cale Yarborough Indianapolis 500 - Johnny Rutherford USAC Racing - Gordon Johncock won the season championship Formula One Championship... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... The position of the second baseman Second base redirects here. ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers NY, NY, 3, 4, 11, 24, 27, 30, 36, 42, 44 Name San Francisco Giants (1958–present) New York Giants (1885–1957) New York Gothams (1883–1885) Other nicknames Jints, Gigantes, G-Men Ballpark AT... Francis Frankie Frisch (September 9, 1898 - March 12, 1973), nicknamed the Fordham Flash, was an American Major League Baseball player of the early 20th century. ...

Farm system and other innovations

By 1930, Rickey's Cardinals, known as the "Gashouse Gang", were the class of the National League. They won 101 games in 1931 and won the World Series in seven games. The star of the Series that year was rookie Pepper Martin, one of the first Cardinal stars that came from Branch's minor league system. Soon, other minor league graduates joined the team, among them future hall of famers Dizzy Dean and Joe Medwick, and Dean's brother Paul. The Deans and Medwick were integral parts of the 1934 Cardinals, who won the franchise's third World Series title. // The St. ... The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. ... The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada and the worlds oldest extant professional team sports league. ... See also: 1930 in sports, other events of 1931, 1932 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing 24 hours of Le Mans: Earl Howe and Tim Birkin, driving an Alfa Romeo 8C. Louis Schneider wins the Indy 500. ... The St. ... Johnny Leonard Roosevelt “Pepper” Martin (February 29, 1904 - March 5, 1965) was a Major League Baseball player. ... Jerome Hanna Dizzy Dean (January 16, 1910 – July 17, 1974) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. ... Joseph Michael Medwick (November 24, 1911 - March 21, 1975), nicknamed Ducky, was an American player in Major League Baseball. ... Paul Dee Daffy Dean (August 14, 1913 – March 17, 1981) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... See also: 1933 in sports, 1935 in sports and the list of years in sports. Baseball July 10 - In the second Major League Baseball All-Star Game, played at the Polo Grounds in New York City, left-handed pitcher Carl Hubbell sets a record by striking out Babe Ruth, Lou...

Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis was concerned that Rickey's minor league system was going to ruin the game of baseball by destroying most existing minor league teams, and he twice released over 70 Cardinal minor leaguers in attempts to stop what he perceived to be a cover-up. Despite Judge Landis' best efforts, however, Rickey's minor league system stayed in existence, and similar systems were adopted by every major league team within a few years. Arguably, the farm system saved the minor leagues, by keeping them necessary after the television age began and minor league attendance figures declined. The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball. ... Kenesaw Mountain Landis Kenesaw Mountain Landis (November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922, and subsequently as the first commissioner of Major League Baseball. ... When a scandal breaks, the discovery of an attempt to cover up the evidence of wrongdoing is often regarded as even more scandalous than the original deeds. ...

Rickey continued to develop the Cardinals up until the early 1940s. In his final year at St. Louis, 1942, the Cardinals had their best season in franchise history, winning 106 games and the World Series title. The team was led by a new crop of players developed by the Cardinals, two of whom, Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial, became Hall of Famers; and several others, among them future MVP Marty Marion, who were among the best at their position during their eras. Even their manager Billy Southworth was a product of their farm system. See also: 1941 in sports, other events of 1942, 1943 in sports and the list of years in sports. Many sporting events did not take place because of World War II. // Baseball January 4: Hall of Fame election: Rogers Hornsby is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, getting 78... The 1942 World Series featured the defending champion New York Yankees against the St. ... Enos Bradsher Slaughter (April 26, 1916 - August 12, 2002) was an American baseball player. ... Stanley Frank Musial, original Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, nicknamed Stan the Man and The Donora Greyhound (born November 21, 1920 in Donora, Pennsylvania), is an American former player in Major League Baseball who played 22 seasons for the St. ... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 62 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... In the game of baseball, both amateur and professional, it is tradition to annually recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the players team. ... Martin Whiteford Marion (born December 1, 1917 in Richburg, South Carolina) is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball. ... William Harrison Southworth (March 9, 1893 - November 15, 1969) was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. ...

Rickey was a good friend of Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Larry MacPhail, himself a sound baseball man. MacPhail was drafted into the army to serve in World War II after the 1942 season, and the Dodgers hired Branch Rickey to replace him as President and GM, ending a tenure of over two decades with the Cardinals. Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42, 53 Name Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1957) Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912) Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910), (1913) Brooklyn Grooms... In Major League Baseball, the General Manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players. ... Leland Stanford Larry MacPhail, Sr. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Branch continued being an innovator in his time with Brooklyn. He was responsible for the first full time spring training facility, in Vero Beach, Florida, and encouraged the use of now-commonplace tools such as the batting cage, pitching machines, and batting helmets. While with the Dodgers, his son, Branch Jr., was the team's farm director. A Grapefruit League game at the LA Dodgers camp in Vero Beach, Florida In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of exhibition games which precedes the regular season. ... Vero Beach has been the Spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1948. ... A batting cage is an enclosed cage for baseball players to practice the skill of batting. ... A pitching machine is a machine that automatically pitches a baseball to a batter at different speeds and styles. ... A batting helmet is the protective headgear worn by batters in a game of baseball or softball. ... Wesley Branch Rickey Jr. ...

Breaking the color barrier

Rickey's most memorable act with the Dodgers, however, involved breaking baseball's color barrier, which had been in place since the mid-1880s, not as a written rule, but merely a policy. This policy had continued under a succession of baseball leaders, including Landis, who was openly opposed to integrating Major League Baseball for what he regarded as legitimate reasons. Landis died in 1944, and that fact along with changing public attitudes presented an opportunity. On August 28, 1945, Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract. On October 23, 1945, it was announced that Robinson would join the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' International League affiliate, for the 1946 season. He would end up as the league's batting champion, and led the Royals to a dominant league championship. The baseball color line was the policy, unwritten for nearly its entire duration, which excluded African American baseball players from organized baseball in the United States before 1946. ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... For the basketball player, see Jackie Robinson (basketball). ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Montreal Royals were a professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897-1917 and from 1928-60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League. ... The International League (IL) is a minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States and Canada. ... See also: 1945 in sports, other events of 1946, 1947 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Baseball January 23: Hall of Fame election: The writers vote again fails to select an inductee, despite a newly revamped voting process. ...

Branch Rickey signing Jackie Robinson for the Brooklyn Dodgers

People noted that Rickey's determination to desegregate Major League Baseball was born out of a combination of idealism and astute business sense. The idealism was at least partially rooted in an incident involving a team for which Rickey worked early on. An African-American player was extremely upset at being refused accommodation at the hotel where the team stayed because of his race. The business element was based on the fact that the Negro Leagues had numerous star athletes, and logically, the first Major League team to hire them would get first pick of the players at a reasonable price. At the time, Mexican brewery czar Jorge Pasquel was raiding the US for black talent (eg: Satchel Paige) as well as disgruntled white players, for the Mexican League with the idea of creating an integrated league that could compete on a talent level with the US major leagues. Image File history File links Branchjackie. ... Image File history File links Branchjackie. ... For the basketball player, see Jackie Robinson (basketball). ... The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team that played from 1890-1957. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Part of the History of baseball series. ... Leroy Robert Satchel Paige (July 7, 1906–June 8, 1982)[1] was an American baseball player who pitched in several different Negro Leagues and in Major League Baseball. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Five days before the start of the 1947 season, Rickey purchased Jackie Robinson's contract from the minor leagues. Amid much fanfare, Jackie debuted for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947, becoming the first African-American to play in modern major league baseball. Rickey's "Great Experiment", as it was termed, turned out to be a fantastic success. Robinson was baseball's first rookie of the year, and while he was often jeered by opposing baseball players, managers, and fans, he became extremely popular with the American public. His success became the crowning achievement of Rickey's illustrious career. His Dodgers would make the Series that year, losing in 7 games to the New York Yankees. But Rickey's vision and action had set the stage for the previously mediocre Dodgers to be contenders for decades to come. And it opened the door for other innovative leaders like Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians, who integrated the American League soon thereafter. See also: 1946 in sports, other events of 1947, 1948 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto racing Wally Parks founds the Southern California Timing Association, to better organize drag racing. ... is the 105th day of the year (106th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given to the best first-year players in the American and National Leagues. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... William Louis Veeck Jr. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 5, 14, 18, 19, 21, 42, 455 Name Cleveland Indians (1915–present) Cleveland Naps (1905-1914) Cleveland Bronchos (1902-1904) Cleveland Blues (1901) Ballpark Jacobs Field (1994–present) Cleveland Stadium (1932-1993)* a. ... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ...

Later career

Rickey continued to run the Dodgers until he resigned in 1950, with owner Walter O'Malley, in some ways, forcing him out. He was not out of a job long, however, as he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates to become their general manager. Unlike his years with St. Louis and with Brooklyn, his tenure with the Pirates was fairly uneventful. The Pirates were a struggling organization that lost 100 games in 3 consecutive years during his tenure, and he stepped down from the team in 1955, but not before drafting and signing Roberto Clemente. It would only be after he left that the Pirates would become contenders again. During his tenure, Rickey, along with three Pittsburgh-area businessmen, funded the incorporation of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is now the largest interdenominational school-based Christian sports organization in the United States. // August 23 — European Championships Marathon, Brussels, Belgium Mens Winner: Jack Holden (ENG) 2:32:14 December 10 — Fukuoka Marathon, Japan Mens Winner: Shunji Koyanagi (JPN) 2:30:47 May 21 — United States Mens Winner: — 2:45:55 July 22 — Netherlands Mens Winner: Adri Moons — 2:58... Walter Francis OMalley (October 9, 1903 – August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979. ... Major league affiliations National League (1887–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 20, 21, 33, 40, 42 Name Pittsburgh Pirates (1891–present) Pittsburgh Innocents (1890) Pittsburg Alleghenies (1882–1889) (Also referred to as Infants in 1890) Ballpark PNC Park (2001–present) Three Rivers... See also: 1954 in sports, other events of 1955, 1956 in sports and the list of years in sports. // [edit] Auto Racing NASCAR Championship - Tim Flock AAA Racing: Bob Sweikert won the Indianapolis 500 Bob Sweikert won the season championship Formula One Championship - Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina 24 hours... Mission The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a not-for-profit organization that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. ...

Rickey returned to baseball in 1959, this time as president of a proposed third major league, the Continental League. Major League Baseball was forced to intervene, and made an agreement with Rickey to disband the league in exchange for expansion of the existing leagues. See also: 1958 in sports, other events of 1959, 1960 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship — Lee Petty Indianapolis 500 — Rodger Ward USAC Racing — Rodger Ward Formula One Champion — Jack Brabham of Australia... The Continental League (or formally the Continental League of Professional Baseball Clubs) was a proposed third major league for baseball, announced in 1959 and scheduled to begin play in the 1961 season. ...

In the early 1960's, Rickey tried to make one more attempt with major league baseball, returning to the Cardinals as an unofficial "assistant" to owner Gussie Busch. This last attempt proved to be a failure, as Rickey was seen by the team and management as an aging, meddling outsider who was more concerned with his own advancement than the team's success. His sole year as Busch's confidante (where he misguidedly pushed Busch to fire manager Johnny Keane and replace him with Leo Durocher, which backfired when Keane led the Cardinals to the 1964 world championship) proved to be his last in major league baseball--a sad end to a tremendously influencial career. August Adolphus Gussie Busch, Jr. ... John Joseph Keane (November 3, 1911 - January 6, 1967) was an American baseball player and manager. ... Leo Ernest Durocher (July 27, 1905 — October 7, 1991), nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. ...

It should be noted that Branch Rickey did not pay the Kansas City Monarchs for Robinsons services, unlike Bill Veeck who paid Effa Manley for Larry Doby.

Death

Rickey became a public speaker in his later years. He collapsed in the middle of a speech in Columbia, Missouri as he was being elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He died a month later on December 9, 1965. Nickname: Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Boone Government  - Mayor Darwin Hindman Area  - City  59 sq mi (138. ... The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...

Honors

Rickey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1967. In 1997 he was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 62 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, is a semi-official museum operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of baseball-related... See also: 1966 in sports, other events of 1967, 1968 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Mario Andretti wins the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship — Richard Petty May 31-Indianapolis 500 — A.J. Foyt USAC Racing — A.J. Foyt won the season championship... The St. ...

Legacy

Branch Rickey is attributed with the famous quotation: "Luck is the residue of design." (Quoted by Larry King 7/12/2006.) His descendents also became involved in baseball: his son, Branch Jr., who died four years before his father, and Branch Rickey III, currently president of the Pacific Coast League. Wesley Branch Rickey Jr. ... Branch B. Rickey III serves as the president of the Pacific Coast League. ... The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. ...

External links

• Obituary, New York Times, December 10, 1965 Branch Rickey, 83, Dies in Missouri
• Hall of Fame biography
• Biography by Lee Lowenfish
• Biography by Murray Polner
• Baseball Reference - playing and managing statistics
• St. Louis Walk of Fame
• "It’s not the honor you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind." – Branch Rickey
  Click here for information on the Branch Rickey Award