Branch Rickey
American baseball player, manager, and executive (1881–1965)
Who was Branch Rickey?
Branch Rickey lived from December 20, 1881 to December 9, 1965. After struggling as a player, Rickey returned to college, graduating from the University of Michigan. Rickey also had a career in football, as a player for the professional Shelby Blues and as a coach at Ohio Wesleyan University and Allegheny College. He received the nickname "Mahatma" after sportswriter Tom Meany read an article describing Mahatma Gandhi as a combination of "your father and Tammany Hall." Life date details are sourced from the linked biography when available. Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, sports executive, and team owner. He was instrumental in breaking the baseball color line by signing black player Jackie Robinson. He was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. The Cardinals elected him to their team Hall of Fame in 2014.
Branch Rickey is a historical figure connected to thisDay articles. Public role summarized from the linked source. As more articles mention the same person, this page can collect those connections into a broader biographical and historical view.
Historical significance
He also created the framework for the modern minor league farm system, encouraged the major leagues to add new teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League, introduced the batting helmet, and created the standard 20-80 scouting scale. Rickey played 4 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders. Back in the major leagues in 1913, he embarked on a successful career variously as a manager, executive, and owner, starting with the St. Louis Browns, then the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Branch Rickey is connected to Jackie Robinson's Historic Debut — April 15, 1947, giving the biography a specific date and historical event on thisDay. Jackie Robinson's Historic Debut — April 15, 1947 is the current thisDay link for Branch Rickey.
