Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson (January 5, 1864 – March 28, 1931), was an American executive in professional baseball who served as the founder and first president of the American League (AL). Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League ( AL) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in
Johnson developed the AL, a descendant of the minor league Western League, into a "clean" alternative to the National League, which had become notorious for its rough-and-tumble atmosphere. The Western League of Professional Baseball Clubs, simply called the Western League, was a Minor league baseball league founded in 1893 and focused in the The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball [1] To encourage a more orderly environment, Johnson provided unwavering support to the new league's umpires,[2] which later included Hall of Famer Billy Evans. William George Evans ( February 10 1884 &ndash January 23 1956) nicknamed "The Boy Umpire" was an American [3]
With the help of league owners and managers such as Charles Comiskey, Charles Somers and Jimmy McAleer, Johnson lured top talent to the AL, which soon rivaled the more established National League. Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey ( August 15, 1859 &ndash October 26, 1931) was a Major League Baseball player Charles Somers aka Charles W Somers (born October 13 1868 in Newark Ohio - June 29 1934 Put-in-Bay Ohio) was an James Robert "Loafer" McAleer (July 10 1864 &ndash April 29 1931 was an American Center fielder, manager, and stockholder in Major [4] Johnson ruled the AL with an iron fist until the 1920s, when a public dispute with Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis culminated in his forced resignation as league president. Kenesaw Mountain Landis ( November 20 1866 &ndash November 25 1944) was an American Jurist who served as a federal [2]
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The Western League
Johnson was born in Norwalk, Ohio. Norwalk is a city in Huron County, Ohio, United States. The population was 16238 at the 2000 census. He studied law at Marietta College, but didn't complete his degree. Marietta College is a Co-educational private college in Marietta Ohio, United States, He later became the sports editor of a paper in Cincinnati. [1] During this time, he befriended Charles Comiskey, who was then manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati Ohio, USA [1] At the suggestion of both Comiskey and Reds owner John T. Brush, Johnson was elected president of the Western League, a faltering minor league, at a reorganization meeting in 1893. John Tomlinson Brush ( June 15 1845 - November 26 1912) was an American sports executive who was the owner of the New York Giants Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North Champions National League: Boston Beaneaters National League final standings Events [1]
Johnson had criticized the National League for its rowdy atmosphere, which was driving away families and women. [1] He set about making baseball more friendly to both. Contrary to the practice of the time, he gave his umpires unqualified support and had little tolerance for players or managers who didn't give them due respect. In Baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game including beginning and ending the game enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds making [5] He fined and suspended players who used foul language on the field. Soon, the Western League was recognized as not only the strongest minor league, but the best-run league in all of baseball. [5]
Formation of the American League
Johnson, however, had a bigger plan–another major league. With the help of Comiskey, who bought the Sioux City franchise and moved it to St. Paul in 1894 after leaving the Reds, he began an ambitious plan of expansion. Sioux City (ˌsuːˈsɪti is a city located in northwest Iowa in the United States. Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U Champions Temple Cup: New York Giants defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 0 National League: Baltimore He got his chance after the 1899 season, when the National League dropped teams in Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville and Washington, D.C.[1] Johnson moved the Grand Rapids franchise to Cleveland, where they would eventually become the Indians. Champions National League: Brooklyn Superbas National League final standings Events Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. [1] He also had Comiskey move his St. Paul team to Chicago, where they eventually became the White Sox. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. [1] The latter move was made with the blessing of the NL, which saw Comiskey's team as a way to head off any attempt to revive the American Association. This article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891 [1] For the 1900 season, the Western League was renamed as the American League, although it remained a minor league. [1]
The 1900 season was an unqualified success, and Johnson received a 10-year contract extension. [1] In October, he withdrew the AL from the National Agreement (the formal understanding between the NL and the minor leagues). The final step came on January 28, 1901, when he declared the AL would operate as a major league. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Champions Major League Baseball American League: Chicago White Stockings National League: Pittsburgh Pirates He then upped the ante by placing teams in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə [1]
A baseball power
The NL then made a critical blunder by limiting salaries to $2,400–a low sum even by 1901 standards. Johnson, Comiskey and the other AL owners responded by raiding NL rosters, promising disgruntled players much higher salaries. In 1901, the AL's St. Louis Browns alone drew future Hall of Famers Jesse Burkett and Bobby Wallace. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Jesse Cail Burkett ( December 4, 1868 &ndash May 27, 1953) nicknamed "The Crab" was a Major League Baseball player Rhoderick John "Bobby" Wallace ( November 4, 1873 - November 3, 1960) was a Major League Baseball Pitcher [4]
Eventually, over 100 players "jumped" to the new league. After a two-year war in which the AL trounced the NL in attendance both seasons, the NL sued for peace. [1] Under a new National Agreement, the AL was formally recognized as the second major league. A three-man National Commission was set up, comprised of both league presidents and Reds owner Garry Herrmann. August "Garry" Herrmann ( May 3 1859 - April 25 1931) was an American executive in Major League Baseball who served Although Herrmann was nominal president of the commission, Johnson soon dominated the body. [1]
Johnson ruled the AL with an iron hand. He brooked no criticism, and made it very difficult for men he didn't like to buy into the league. For instance, when Harry Frazee bought the Boston Red Sox in 1917, Johnson tried almost from the start to drive him out. Fenway Park The Ruth sale cemented the Red Sox-Yankees alliance which was ironic given their historically bitter rivalry The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Chicago White Sox over New York Giants (4-2 Awards [6] At one point, Johnson even had ownership interests in the Cleveland and Washington teams. The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Downfall
The Frazee dispute planted the seed for Johnson's downfall. Eventually, the league divided into two factions, with the Red Sox, White Sox and New York Yankees on one side and the other five clubs (the Indians, Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators, known as the "Loyal Five") on the other. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By this time, Comiskey had become a bitter enemy of Johnson; the two men's once warm friendship had strained considerably. Johnson's authority eroded further that year when the Red Sox traded Carl Mays to the Yankees in defiance of a Johnson order to suspend him. Carl William Mays ( November 12 1891 &ndash April 4 1971) was one of the better right-handed Pitchers in Major League Baseball [7] The Yankees got an injunction to allow Mays to play. [7]
The final nail in Johnson's coffin proved to be the Black Sox Scandal. The Black Sox Scandal refers to a number of events that took place around and during the play of the 1919 World Series. Johnson blew off Comiskey's claims that his White Sox may have been on the take from gamblers. [2] However, when the scandal broke after the 1920 season, the White Sox, Red Sox and Yankees threatened to pull out of the AL and join a new 12-team National League. Champions World Series: Cleveland Indians over Brooklyn Robins (5-2 Awards and honors The enlarged league would include a new team in Detroit unrelated to the Tigers, who were owned by Johnson loyalist Frank Navin. Frank Joseph Navin ( April 18, 1871 – November 13, 1935) was the principal owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball However, Navin was in no mood for another war and persuaded the other five clubs to agree to appoint a new National Commission of non-baseball men. Federal District Court Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was appointed as chairman. However, Landis would only accept an appointment as sole Commissioner of Baseball, with unlimited power over the game. The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball. [8] The owners were still reeling from the damage to baseball's reputation due to the Black Sox Scandal, and readily agreed to Landis' demands. [8]
Under the circumstances, a clash between the iron-willed Johnson and the iron-willed Landis was inevitable, and it happened prior to the 1924 World Series. In the 1924 World Series, the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in seven games Landis banned two New York Giants from the Series for attempting to bribe members of the Philadelphia Phillies late in the season. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. After Frankie Frisch and two other Giants stars were implicated, only to be cleared by Landis, Johnson demanded that the Series be canceled. Francis "Frankie" Frisch ( September 9, 1898 — March 12, 1973) nicknamed the Fordham Flash, or The Old Flash He publicly criticized Landis for his handling of the affair, and Landis threatened to resign if the AL owners didn't rein Johnson in. After the Series, the AL owners promised to remove Johnson from office if he stepped out of line again. Johnson remained on good behavior for two years, even getting an extension of his contract to 1935 and a raise to $40,000 (he'd previously made $25,000). Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs (4-2 All-Star Game,
However, in 1926, Johnson criticized Landis for granting Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker an amnesty after evidence surfaced that they had fixed a game in 1919. Champions World Series: St Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees (4-3 Negro League World Series: Chicago Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb (December 18 1886 – July 17 1961 nicknamed " The Georgia Peach," was a baseball player and is regarded by historians Tristram E Speaker ( April 4, 1888 - December 8, 1958) nicknamed “Spoke” (a play on his last name and “Grey Eagle” (for his prematurely Landis demanded that the AL choose between him and Johnson. The AL owners were prepared to remove Johnson from office at their annual meeting in January 1927. Headline Event of the Year Murderers' Row lead New York Yankees to World Series victory However, Johnson was in ill health at the time, and the owners decided to put him on an indefinite sabbatical instead. Johnson tried to return in the spring and acted as if nothing had changed. However, the situation had become untenable, and Johnson was forced to resign at the end of the season. [2] He was replaced by Will Harridge, who served as AL president for the next 28 years. William Harridge ( October 16, 1883 - April 9, 1971) was an American executive in Professional baseball whose most significant [2]
Johnson died at age 67 in St. Louis, Missouri. [9] He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937 as one of its charter members. The 1937 process of selecting inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame was markedly different from the initial elections the previous year The athletic fieldhouse at Marietta College is named in his honor. Marietta College is a Co-educational private college in Marietta Ohio, United States, He was laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Indiana. The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union Will Harridge, who succeeded Johnson as AL president, summed up Johnson's legacy in the following terms: "He was the most brilliant man the game has ever known. He was more responsible for making baseball the national game than anyone in the history of the sport". [9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n What Every Fan Should Know: Ban Johnson and the Birth of the American League. At Home Plate. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
- ^ a b c d e League American. Baseball Library. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
- ^ "Billy Evans Dies in Miami at 71; Major League Umpire 22 Years", The New York Times, January 24, 1956. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- ^ a b Jimmy McAleer. Baseball Library. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece.
- ^ a b Bad to the Bone. The Deadball Era. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor.
- ^ "Says Ban Johnson Broke Agreement: Harry Frazee Recalls Famous Peace Pact Signed by Baseball Officials", The New York Times, January 1, 1922. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
- ^ a b Harry Frazee. BaseballLibrary. com. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
- ^ a b Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Baseball Library. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
- ^ a b Ban Johnson. National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
External links
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- BaseballLibrary - biography and career highlights
- Photo of gravesite
| Preceded by League established |
American League president 1901–1927 |
Succeeded by Ernest Barnard |
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