George Trautman
Encyclopedia
George M. "Red" Trautman (January 11, 1890 - June 25, 1963) was an American
baseball
executive and college men's basketball
coach.
, Trautman was a three-sport letterwinner in football, basketball and baseball. After graduation he became an assistant athletic director
under Lynn St. John
. As assistant athletic director, Trautman was instrumental in helping to establish the Ohio Relays.
for three years. In those three years he had an overall record of 29-33.
, a minor league baseball
team. Three years later, Trautman was named president of the American Association
, the league in which the Red Birds played. He held that position from 1936 through 1945. Trautman moved the office of the league from Durham, North Carolina
to Columbus, Ohio
. In 1946 Trautman was named Executive Vice President of the Detroit Tigers
. After two seasons with the Tigers, Trautman was named President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. He held that position from until his death in 1963.
and the minor leagues. Territorial rights, which had been in dispute, were established so that if the major leagues took over a National Association city, compensation would be due to both the existing team and its league.
, awards the George M. Trautman Award to the Topps Player of the Year in each of sixteen domestic minor leagues.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
executive and college men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach.
Ohio State
As an undergraduate at the Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Trautman was a three-sport letterwinner in football, basketball and baseball. After graduation he became an assistant athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
under Lynn St. John
Lynn St. John
Lynn Wilbur "The Saint" St. John was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. The Union City, Pennsylvania native was the head basketball coach at Ohio State University from 1911 to 1919, and served as the school's second athletic director, a...
. As assistant athletic director, Trautman was instrumental in helping to establish the Ohio Relays.
Basketball
When St. John gave up his basketball coaching duties, he assigned them to Trautman. Trautman held the position of men's basketball head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for three years. In those three years he had an overall record of 29-33.
Honors
- Trautman was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of FameOhio State Varsity O Hall of FameThe Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame is the athletic hall of fame for The Ohio State University. Its purpose is to recognize individuals who have contributed to the honor and fame of the University in the field of athletics....
in 1978. - Trautman Field, named in honor of George Trautman, was the home field of the Ohio State baseball team from 1967 to 1996.
Professional baseball
In 1933 Trautman became president of the Columbus Red BirdsColumbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
, a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team. Three years later, Trautman was named president of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, the league in which the Red Birds played. He held that position from 1936 through 1945. Trautman moved the office of the league from Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. In 1946 Trautman was named Executive Vice President of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit 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...
. After two seasons with the Tigers, Trautman was named President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. He held that position from until his death in 1963.
Accomplishments
Under Trautman's leadership, a new relationship was forged between the major leaguesMajor 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...
and the minor leagues. Territorial rights, which had been in dispute, were established so that if the major leagues took over a National Association city, compensation would be due to both the existing team and its league.
George M. Trautman Awards
Each year, the Topps Company, in conjunction with Minor League BaseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, awards the George M. Trautman Award to the Topps Player of the Year in each of sixteen domestic minor leagues.
Trivia
- The Ohio State fight songFight songA fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
, "Buckeye Battle CryBuckeye Battle CryBuckeye Battle Cry, composed by vaudeville performer and songwriter Frank Crumit, is one of two fight songs of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Every football game in Ohio Stadium begins with Ramp entrance by The Ohio State University Marching Band, performed to Buckeye Battle Cry. The tradition of Script...
," was written by Trautman's brother-in-law, Frank CrumitFrank CrumitFrank Crumit was an American singer, composer. radio entertainer and vaudeville star. He shared his radio programs with his wife, Julia Sanderson, and the two were sometimes called "the ideal couple of the air."...
, a musical comedy star.