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. Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, sports executive, and team owner.
Career and public life
He was instrumental in breaking the baseball color line by signing black player Jackie Robinson. 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. He was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. Rickey played 4 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders.
Historical significance
After struggling as a player, Rickey returned to college, graduating from the University of Michigan. 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 Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals elected him to their team Hall of Fame in 2014.