Gussie Busch
Encyclopedia
August "Gussie" Anheuser Busch, Jr. (March 28, 1899 – September 29, 1989) was an American
brewing
magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch
Companies into the largest brewery in the world as company chairman from 1946–75, and became a prominent sportsman as owner of the St. Louis Cardinals
franchise in Major League Baseball
from 1953 until his death.
, Busch was the grandson of brewery founder Adolphus Busch
and grandfather of former CEO August Busch IV
. He succeeded his older brother Adolphus Busch III
as President and CEO. He began using the Clydesdale
team as a company logo in the 1930s. Such Clydesdales were presented to his father pulling a Budweiser beer wagon to commemorate the end of Prohibition
.
championships (1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987) and three World Series (1964
, 1967
and 1982
). In , the Cardinals' board of directors retired the uniform number 85, his age at the time.
Although the Cardinals were the dominant baseball team in St. Louis, in their owner, Fred Saigh
, was in financial and tax difficulty, and the club did not even own its own ballpark (it was a tenant of the "stepchild" St. Louis Browns
in Sportsman's Park
). Amid rumors of a move to Milwaukee
or Houston
, Anheuser-Busch bought the Redbirds, and after the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954, it also purchased the ballpark, renaming it Busch Stadium (but only after a failed attempt to name the ground Budweiser
Park). Busch Memorial Stadium
opened in 1966; it was replaced in 2006 by the current stadium
bearing that name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
brewing
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
Companies into the largest brewery in the world as company chairman from 1946–75, and became a prominent sportsman as owner 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...
franchise 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...
from 1953 until his death.
Early life and career
Born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Busch was the grandson of brewery founder Adolphus Busch
Adolphus Busch
Colonel Adolphus Busch was the German-born co-founder of Anheuser-Busch with his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser. His great-great-grandson, August Busch IV is now on the board of Anheuser-Busch InBev.-Biography:...
and grandfather of former CEO August Busch IV
August Busch IV
August Anheuser Busch IV is the former CEO of Anheuser-Busch who ended the family control of the company in 2008 when it was sold to InBev.-Early life:...
. He succeeded his older brother Adolphus Busch III
Adolphus Busch III
Adolphus Busch III was a brewing magnate who was the President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch from 1934-1946. He was the grandson of Adolphus Busch, the founder of the company and the oldest of 5 children of August A. Busch, Sr.. His younger brother August A. "Gussie" Busch, Jr. succeeded him as...
as President and CEO. He began using the Clydesdale
Clydesdale (breed)
The Clydesdale is a breed of draught horse derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Although originally one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed. Often bay in colour, they show significant white markings due to the presence of...
team as a company logo in the 1930s. Such Clydesdales were presented to his father pulling a Budweiser beer wagon to commemorate the end of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
.
St. Louis Cardinals
As chairman, president or CEO of the Cardinals from the time the club was purchased by the brewery in until his death, Busch oversaw a team that won six National LeagueNational 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...
championships (1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987) and three World Series (1964
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
, 1967
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
and 1982
1982 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1982 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Brewers' left-hander Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits. The Brewers' offense was led by Paul Molitor, who had a World Series-record five hits and two RBIs...
). In , the Cardinals' board of directors retired the uniform number 85, his age at the time.
Although the Cardinals were the dominant baseball team in St. Louis, in their owner, Fred Saigh
Fred Saigh
Frederick Michael Saigh Jr. was the part-owner, then sole owner, of the St. Louis Cardinals of American Major League Baseball from 1948 through 1953.- Pre-Cardinals years :...
, was in financial and tax difficulty, and the club did not even own its own ballpark (it was a tenant of the "stepchild" St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
). Amid rumors of a move to Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
or Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Anheuser-Busch bought the Redbirds, and after the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954, it also purchased the ballpark, renaming it Busch Stadium (but only after a failed attempt to name the ground Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
Park). Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
opened in 1966; it was replaced in 2006 by the current stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
bearing that name.
Death
Busch died at age 90 in St. Louis on September 29, 1989. Seven years later in 1996, Anheuser-Busch sold the Cardinals to a group of investors led by William DeWitt, Jr.William DeWitt, Jr.
William O. DeWitt, Jr. is an American businessman and currently the managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals. He served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board during the George W...