The Detroit times., 1914-01-10
BASEBALL HEADS
ARE NEARLY ALL
SELF-MADE MEN
President Navin, of the Detroit
Club, Prepared Himself for
Lawyers Career
LANNIN, NEW RED SOX
OWNER, WAS BELLBOY
James Gaifney. of Boston Ma
tiOnals. At One Time Drove
Milk Wagon

II iSEBALL magnates are as a gen.
* eral thing self.made men. IL
- Is surprising 20 note the mum.
Der OF men who made money through
their own efforts In business and
then invested their fortunes in the
national game.
frank Navin. president OF the De-
rot Tigers. prepared himself for law
/ eetore he managed 10 secure an in
terest IN the Detroit club when II was
cheap.
The natural increment OF the value
OF the club since he took hold OF IL
due TO excellent management, the
winning OF trio OF American league
penrants and the growth OF Detroit
! would alone make him wealthy
/ NaVin Was fortunate in that he had
/ In partnership with him young mil
liunaire who was willing TO take a
chance, Bill Yawkey
Thirty years ago. when the game
was just beginning 10 amount 10
| something Ben Shibe, OF the Ath.
letics, thought he saw good prospects
Tor man who would make baseballs
/
and began TO supply all the baseballs
used By the National league Then.
when the great firms OF Spaldng and
Reach were organized, he obtained
the contract 10 make all the baseballs
Tor both. He was taken In later as a
partner hy both companies. and he
continues 10 make all the basehalls
sold by them and used officially by the
National and American leagues
The latest recruit to the ranks OF
clup owners Is shining example or
tne sell-naue man. Joseph j IAnnin,
VINO now controls half OF the stock OF
Tue boston Red SoN. began his career
as peIiboy In hotel. OF which he
DScdHIe owner by saving his tips. He
also II now the proprietor OF several
other hotels. including me big Car.
den CITY hotel on Long Island. one of
the besr obstetrics in the east outside
of New York city and he also a. well
endowed with real estate In and
around Boston-all bought with mon
! ey earned from the nest.egg Of his
bellbOy's tips
James T.. Garney. head OF the Bos.
' ''t'"fH' has Ndu varied
{ career He began as a milk wagon
, driver later became a policeman
worked up in the force and then 70.
j signed 10 become an alderman H.
: now is one OF the ruling snirjts in
New York Democratic political al
fairs
The soda water clerk on the list IS
tItt
: chicago Cubs He tended fountain
q In Cincinnati during the years OF his
youth. and then drummed no on tho
side "A lucrative business selling mod.
crate priced jewelry To hrs customers
Harry y. Hampstead. president of
!. the New York Giants, was salesman
IL the late John Il. Brush's enterprise
( in Indianapolis known as THE When
Clothing Store" He sold oyercoats.
/ trousers, vests, overalls and jumpers
!. Later he married daughter OF Mr.
/. Brush and was put in charge OF the
. store. where he showed so much abil-
ity that his fatherin-law beuueathed
I his interest in the Giants to him at
his death
Charles r. Ebbetts knocked
8 around Brooklyn as boy and final.
: y landed the position OF head ticket
n seller In the grandstand OF the Brook.
lyn baseball club % years ago. From
= there he worked up by gradual steps
until now he is president OF the club.
. a position he has held continuously
, since 1898.
William F. Baker, owner OF tho
Philadelphia Nationals. held posi.
ton In the civil service In Brooklyn
when young man. Later he was civil
service commissioner of BROOKLYN and
then became deputy police commits
sloner OF New York under Mayor Nc
Clellan, subsequently being promoted
10 the position OF police commission.
or. Besides his baseball venture. he
also is interested In a big wholesale
millinery establishment at the pres
ent time.
Barney Dreyfuss used TO be whisky
drummer In Louisville He made so
much money that he was able to buy
stock in the old Louisville club OF
the National league, OF which he be.
came president in 1899. the last year
the club was In the league He went
to the Pittsburgh club as its presi.
cent and owner in 1900, and he has
been there ever since.
August Hermann, pres ident OF the
CipcinnatR Reds. and also chairman OF
the national commission, was employ.
led In minor way In political affairs
In Cincinnati before he became head
OF the baseball club lie was SORT
of canvasser or agent OF political
leaders in certain phases OF the work
FRIENDS SAY MILBURN
WILL BE ON-POLO TEAM