Bill DeWitt

William O. DeWitt Sr. was a longtime executive in Major League Baseball whose career spanned more than 50 years in the game. He was the father of William DeWitt, Jr., currently the managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Related Topics:
Major League Baseball - William DeWitt, Jr. - St. Louis Cardinals

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Ironically, the senior DeWitt began his baseball career with the Cardinals as a protégé of Branch Rickey, legendary business manager (later general manager) of the Redbirds from 1916-1942. Supposedly, DeWitt's first job was selling soda pop at the Cardinals' park. But DeWitt ultimately took a job with the city?s underdog American League team, the St. Louis Browns, where he rose to general manager and minority owner.

Related Topics:
Branch Rickey - American League - St. Louis Browns - General manager

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In 1944, under his leadership, the Browns won their only pennant ? losing to the Cardinals in the all-St. Louis 1944 World Series. (Although many baseball observers regard the Browns? pennant as tainted by the shortage of playing talent caused by World War II.)

Related Topics:
1944 World Series - World War II

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DeWitt and his brother Charlie (the Browns? traveling secretary) bought control of the club from majority owner Richard C. Muckerman in 1948 but the team?s struggles on the field and at the box office continued, and the DeWitts sold the Browns to Bill Veeck in 1951. (They would move from St. Louis and become the Baltimore Orioles in 1954).

Related Topics:
Bill Veeck - Baltimore Orioles

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DeWitt then served as assistant general manager of the New York Yankees and as president and general manager of the Detroit Tigers before replacing Gabe Paul as GM of the Cincinnati Reds in 1961. His timing was superb: the Reds won the National League pennant that season. Once again, DeWitt became an owner when his syndicate purchased the Reds from the Powel Crosley estate late in 1961.

Related Topics:
New York Yankees - Detroit Tigers - Gabe Paul - Cincinnati Reds - National League - Powel Crosley

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He led the team for another five seasons. The Reds contended for most of that time, and enjoyed a productive farm system, but DeWitt controversially (and disastrously) traded future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson to the Orioles in 1965, a deal that clouded his Cincinnati legacy. His group sold the Reds to another syndicate led by Cincinnati newspaper publisher Francis Dale during the 1966 campaign.

Related Topics:
Baseball Hall of Fame - Outfielder - Frank Robinson

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DeWitt?s last official post in baseball was as chairman of the Chicago White Sox in the late 1970s, working with the flamboyant Veeck once again. He died in 1982.

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