Ford Frick
Encyclopedia
Ford Christopher Frick was an American
sportswriter and executive who served as president of the National League
from to and as the third Commissioner of Major League Baseball
from 1951 to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970. Besides Frick's election to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee
in , the Hall created the Ford C. Frick Award
in , and presents the award annually to a baseball broadcaster for major contributions to the game.
Ford Frick is interred in Christ Church Columbarium in Bronxville, New York
.
in Indiana
, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity. He had begun his career as a midwestern sportswriter and had moved to New York City
to work with William Randolph Hearst
's newspapers. Later he pioneered the daily radio sports report, broadcasting sports scores and news. In , he became the National League's public relations director, and then became president of the league later that year.
in Cooperstown, New York
. Later, during his tenure as National League president, when several members of the St. Louis Cardinals
planned to protest Jackie Robinson
's breaking of baseball's color barrier
, Frick threatened any players involved with suspension. In , he succeeded Happy Chandler
as commissioner of baseball. Frick's critics accused him of favoring the NL in his rulings, such as how the 1960s expansion teams would be stocked.
Frick's most highly criticized decision as commissioner was to convince baseball record-keepers to list the single-season home run records of Babe Ruth
and Roger Maris
separately in , based on the length of the season played. Later, it was revealed that Frick had served as a ghostwriter
for Ruth earlier in his career. Ultimately, the "asterisk" was struck from the record book, as Frick had no real authority over how the records were presented.
Frick has an award
named after him given to recognized broadcasters in the MLB.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportswriter and executive who served as president of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from to and as the third Commissioner of Major League Baseball
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
from 1951 to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970. Besides Frick's election to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee
Veterans Committee
The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...
in , the Hall created the Ford C. Frick Award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
in , and presents the award annually to a baseball broadcaster for major contributions to the game.
Ford Frick is interred in Christ Church Columbarium in Bronxville, New York
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
.
Early life
Frick attended DePauw UniversityDePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity. He had begun his career as a midwestern sportswriter and had moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work with William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's newspapers. Later he pioneered the daily radio sports report, broadcasting sports scores and news. In , he became the National League's public relations director, and then became president of the league later that year.
National League President and Baseball Commissioner
In the late 1930s, Frick played a central role in establishing the National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, 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...
in Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
. Later, during his tenure as National League president, when several members of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
planned to protest Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
's breaking of baseball's color barrier
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
, Frick threatened any players involved with suspension. In , he succeeded Happy Chandler
Happy Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
as commissioner of baseball. Frick's critics accused him of favoring the NL in his rulings, such as how the 1960s expansion teams would be stocked.
Frick's most highly criticized decision as commissioner was to convince baseball record-keepers to list the single-season home run records of 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...
and Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
separately in , based on the length of the season played. Later, it was revealed that Frick had served as a ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
for Ruth earlier in his career. Ultimately, the "asterisk" was struck from the record book, as Frick had no real authority over how the records were presented.
Frick has an award
Ford C. Frick Award
The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford Christopher Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball...
named after him given to recognized broadcasters in the MLB.