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Ban Johnson

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	Topics Ban Johnson Topic Home Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson, was an AmericanUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... executive in professional baseballProfessional baseball The sport of baseball has several professional leagues throughout the world; that is, leagues where the players are paid to play.... who served as the founder and first president of the American LeagueAmerican League The American League is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada.... (AL). Johnson developed the AL, a descendant of the minor league Western LeagueWestern League (U.S. baseball) The Western League of Professional Baseball Clubs, simply called the Western League, was a minor league baseball leagu... , into a "clean" alternative to the National LeagueNational League The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues consti... , which had become notorious for its rough-and-tumble atmosphere. To encourage a more orderly environment, Johnson provided unwavering support to the new league's umpires, which later included Hall of Famer Billy EvansFacts About Billy Evans William George Evans was an American umpire in Major League Baseball, working in the American League from 1906 to 1927.... . With the help of league owners and managers such as Charles ComiskeyCharles Comiskey Charles Albert Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner.... , Charles SomersCharles Somers Charles Somers was an American executive in Cleveland, Ohio's coal industry who also achieved prominence in Major League Bas... and Jimmy McAleerJimmy McAleer James Robert McAleer was an American center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball who spent the bulk of his fourteen-... , Johnson lured top talent to the AL, which soon rivaled the more established National League. Johnson ruled the AL with an iron fist until the 1920s, when a public dispute with Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain LandisKenesaw Mountain Landis Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922, and subsequently as the fir... culminated in his forced resignation as league president. The Western League Johnson was born in Norwalk, OhioNorwalk, Ohio Overview Norwalk is a city in Huron County, Ohio, United States.... . He studied law at Marietta CollegeMarietta College Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, which was the first permanent settlement of the Nort... , but didn't complete his degree. He later became the sports editor of a paper in Cincinnati. During this time, he befriended Charles Comiskey, who was then manager of the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Summary The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio.... . At the suggestion of both Comiskey and Reds owner John T. BrushJohn T. Brush John T. Brush was the owner of the New York Giants in the first decades of the 20th Century.... , Johnson was elected president of the Western League, a faltering minor leagueMinor league baseball Minor baseball leagues are North American professional baseball leagues that compete at a level below that of Major League B... , at a reorganization meeting in . Johnson had criticized the National League for its rowdy atmosphere, which was driving away families and women. He set about making baseball more friendly to both. Contrary to the practice of the time, he gave his umpiresUmpire (baseball) In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing ... unqualified support and had little tolerance for players or managers who didn't give them due respect. 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. 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 after leaving the Reds, he began an ambitious plan of expansion. He got his chance after the season, when the National League dropped teams in Baltimore, Cleveland, LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky Louisville is Kentucky's largest city.... and Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America.... Johnson moved the Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, Michigan Overview Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S.... franchise to Cleveland, where they would eventually become the IndiansCleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians are a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.... . He also had Comiskey move his St. Paul team to ChicagoChicago Chicago is the largest city in the U.S.... , where they eventually became the White SoxChicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team that plays on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.... . 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 AssociationAmerican Association (19th century) The American Association was a baseball major league from 1882 to 1891.... . For the 1900 season, the Western League was renamed as the American League, although it remained a minor league. The 1900 season was an unqualified success, and Johnson received a 10-year contract extension. 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, , when he declared the AL would operate as a major league. He then upped the ante by placing teams in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. 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 BrownsBaltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.... alone drew future Hall of Famers Jesse BurkettJesse Burkett Overview Jesse Cail Burkett, nicknamed "The Crab", was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century.... and Bobby WallaceBobby Wallace (baseball) Rhoderick John "Bobby" Wallace was a Major League Baseball pitcher, infielder, manager, umpire and scout.... . 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. Under a new National Agreement, the AL was formally recognized as the second major league. A three-man National Commission was set up, composed of both league presidents and Reds owner Garry Herrmann. Although Herrmann was nominal president of the commission, Johnson soon dominated the body. 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 FrazeeFacts About Harry Frazee Harry Harrison Frazee was an American theatrical agent and producer and owner of the Major League Baseball Boston Red Sox fr... bought the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team in the American League.... in , Johnson tried almost from the start to drive him out. At one point, Johnson even had ownership interests in the Cleveland and WashingtonMinnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.... teams. 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 YankeesNew York Yankees The New York Yankees are a Major League Baseball team, based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York.... on one side and the other five clubs (the Indians, Philadelphia AthleticsFacts About Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California.... , St. Louis BrownsBaltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a Major League Baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.... , Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan.... and Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.... , known as the "Loyal Five") on the other. 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. The Yankees got an injunction to allow Mays to play. The final nail in Johnson's coffin proved to be the Black Sox ScandalBlack 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. However, when the scandal broke after the season, the White Sox, Red Sox and Yankees threatened to pull out of the AL and join a new 12-team National League. The enlarged league would include a new team in Detroit unrelated to the Tigers, who were owned by Johnson loyalist Frank NavinFacts About Frank Navin Frank Joseph Navin was an American accountant, lawyer, and professional sports owner.... . 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 owners were still reeling from the damage to baseball's reputation due to the Black Sox Scandal, and readily agreed to Landis' demands. 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 Series1924 World Series In the 1924 World Series, the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in seven games.... . Landis banned two New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California.... from the Series for attempting to bribe members of the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Summary The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... late in the season. After Frankie FrischFrankie Frisch Francis "Frankie" Frisch was an American Major League Baseball player of the early 20th century.... and two other Giants stars were implicated, only to be cleared by Landis, Johnson demanded that the Series be canceled. 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 and a raise to $40,000 (he'd previously made $25,000). However, in , Johnson criticized Landis for granting Ty CobbTy Cobb Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was a Hall of Fame baseball player.... and Tris SpeakerTris Speaker Overview Tristram E. Speaker, nicknamed Spoke and Grey Eagle, was an American baseball player known as an excellent defensive center... an amnesty after evidence surfaced that they had fixed a game in 1919. 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 . 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. He was replaced by Will HarridgeWill Harridge William Harridge was an American executive in Major League Baseball whose most significant role was as president of the Amer... , who served as AL president for the next 28 years. Johnson died at age 67 in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri St. Louis , sometimes written Saint Louis, encompasses an independent city in the U.S.... . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1937 The 1937 process of selecting inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame was markedly different from the initial elections the previou... as one of its charter members. The athletic fieldhouse at Marietta CollegeMarietta College Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, which was the first permanent settlement of the Nort... is named in his honor. He was laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in SpencerSpencer The name Spencer originated from the English word dispenser.... , IndianaIndiana Indiana, meaning the "Land of the Indians," is a state in the Great Lakes region of the Midwestern United States.... . 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". External links - biography and career highlights