Ed Barrow
Encyclopedia
Edward Grant Barrow was an American
manager and executive in Major League Baseball
, primarily with the New York Yankees
and the Boston Red Sox
. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.
in 1903, finishing fifth. He won the 1918 World Series
in his first year with the Red Sox, but managed the team only two more years as owner Harry Frazee
began selling the contracts of star players.
In 1920, he was hired by the New York Yankees
as the business manager, and he took control of building the roster, typically the responsibility of the field manager, building the Yankees into baseball's premier franchise and greatest dynasty as their top executive from 1921 to 1945. Barrow would use trades, the development of talent through a farm system and the outright purchase of players to build a Yankee team that would win 14 pennants and 10 World Series between 1921 and 1945.
After arriving with the Yankees, Barrow created a dynasty by finding players like Lou Gehrig
and Joe DiMaggio
. He purchased a small portion of the Yankees when Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston
sold his half of the team.
In 1930, while in charge of publicity for the Yankees, Barrow was demoted after assaulting New York sportswriter Bill Slocum
. He was also directed to apologize in person and in writing for his actions.
Barrow is also credited with discovering future Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner
in 1892.
Barrow, elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1953, died later that year in Port Chester, New York
at age 85. Barrow is interred in Kensico Cemetery
in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York.
On April 15, 1954, the Yankees dedicated a plaque to Barrow, which first hung on the center field wall at Yankee Stadium
, near the flagpole and the monuments to Babe Ruth
, Lou Gehrig
and Miller Huggins
, and later in the Stadium's Monument Park
. The plaque called him "Molder of a tradition of victory."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manager and executive in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, primarily with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.
Career
Barrow managed and co-owned the Toronto team in the Eastern League from 1900 to 1902 and got his first chance at managing in the major leagues with the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1903, finishing fifth. He won the 1918 World Series
1918 World Series
The 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two. The Series victory for the Red Sox was their fifth in five tries, going back to . The Red Sox scored only nine runs in the entire Series; the fewest runs by the winning team in World Series history...
in his first year with the Red Sox, but managed the team only two more years as owner Harry Frazee
Harry Frazee
Harry Herbert Frazee was an American theatrical agent, producer and director, and former owner of the Major League Baseball Boston Red Sox from 1916 to 1923.- Life as owner of the Red Sox :...
began selling the contracts of star players.
In 1920, he was hired by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as the business manager, and he took control of building the roster, typically the responsibility of the field manager, building the Yankees into baseball's premier franchise and greatest dynasty as their top executive from 1921 to 1945. Barrow would use trades, the development of talent through a farm system and the outright purchase of players to build a Yankee team that would win 14 pennants and 10 World Series between 1921 and 1945.
After arriving with the Yankees, Barrow created a dynasty by finding players like Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
and Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
. He purchased a small portion of the Yankees when Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston
Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston
Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston , popularly known as Cap Huston, was co-owner of the Major League Baseball team that became the New York Yankees with Jacob Ruppert from 1915 to 1922. They had purchased the club from Frank J. Farrell and William S. Devery...
sold his half of the team.
In 1930, while in charge of publicity for the Yankees, Barrow was demoted after assaulting New York sportswriter Bill Slocum
Bill Slocum
William L. "Bill" Slocum is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Slocum pleaded guilty and spent a month in federal prison for filing false reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and discharging raw sewage into Brokenstraw Creek while he was a...
. He was also directed to apologize in person and in writing for his actions.
Legacy
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
in 1892.
Barrow, elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1953, died later that year in Port Chester, New York
Port Chester, New York
Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967...
at age 85. Barrow is interred in Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery
Kensico Cemetery, located in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, was founded in 1889, when many New York City cemeteries were becoming full, and rural cemeteries were being created near the railroads which served the city...
in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York.
On April 15, 1954, the Yankees dedicated a plaque to Barrow, which first hung on the center field wall at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, near the flagpole and the monuments to Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
and Miller Huggins
Miller Huggins
Miller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships....
, and later in the Stadium's Monument Park
Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)
Monument Park is an open-air museum located at the new Yankee Stadium containing a collection of monuments, plaques, and retired numbers honoring distinguished members of the New York Yankees....
. The plaque called him "Molder of a tradition of victory."