Major League Baseball Executive. Born in New York City on February 22, 1892, he was an accomplished pianist and musician, who served on the board of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for twenty years. He became involved in Major League Baseball through his marriage to Eleanor Fanny Dreyfuss, a daughter of longtime Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss. Learning the management of the team, he succeeded Dreyfuss as club president when he died suddenly in 1931. He lead the team from 1932 to 1946, until the ownership of the team came to a close when the Pirates were purchased by a syndicate headed by Indianapolis businessman Frank McKinney. During his reign as the Pirates president, he was noted for being one of the executives who vocally challenged Major League Baseball's color barrier. He died on January 15, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvainia, at age 79.
Major League Baseball Executive. Born in New York City on February 22, 1892, he was an accomplished pianist and musician, who served on the board of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for twenty years. He became involved in Major League Baseball through his marriage to Eleanor Fanny Dreyfuss, a daughter of longtime Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss. Learning the management of the team, he succeeded Dreyfuss as club president when he died suddenly in 1931. He lead the team from 1932 to 1946, until the ownership of the team came to a close when the Pirates were purchased by a syndicate headed by Indianapolis businessman Frank McKinney. During his reign as the Pirates president, he was noted for being one of the executives who vocally challenged Major League Baseball's color barrier. He died on January 15, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvainia, at age 79.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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