Arthur B. McBride
Encyclopedia
Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride (20 March 1888-10 November 1972) was the founder of the Cleveland Browns
professional football team. McBride was a real estate developer and operator, active in Chicago, Cleveland and Florida. He also operated taxicab companies in Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Ohio, a printing company, and a horse racing
news wire syndicate that sold information to bookmaker
s. He is perhaps best known, however, for his role as a pioneering owner in the National Football League
(NFL).
, where his son was a student. After Dan Reeves
rejected his 1942 offer to buy the NFL's Cleveland Rams
, in 1944 McBride purchased the Cleveland franchise in Arch Ward
's newly created All-America Football Conference
(AAFC). This team was the origin of the first Cleveland Browns.
McBride aggressively promoted his new team and spared no expense. He hired legendary football coach Paul Brown
away from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station during World War II, agreeing to pay Brown $20,000 per year plus 15% of the team's profits once it started operating, plus $1,000 per month until the end of the war.
McBride left the football side of the team to Brown and handled the business end himself. Although the AAFC floundered, under McBride and Coach Brown the Cleveland Browns were financially successful. After the AAFC's demise, McBride's Browns, the San Francisco 49ers
and the original Baltimore Colts
were admitted to the NFL in 1950. McBride sold his controlling interest in the team in June 1953 for $600,000 to a group headed by David Jones which included Ellis Ryan, an insurance man and former president of the Cleveland Indians
, Saul Silberman, owner of the local horse race track later known as Thistledown Racecourse, and Homer Marshman, the attorney who had founded the Cleveland Rams
. The price tag was twice as large as any that had been brought by any other pro football team before that.
McBride contributed to the lexicon of football with the term "taxi squad." Browns' players who were not on the active roster, due to injury or other reason, were temporarily put on the McBride's payroll as taxi drivers, though it is unclear if any of them actually drove cabs.
Aside from football, some believed McBride's horse racing syndicate venture was not entirely above-board. In January 1951, McBride testified in nationally televised hearings before the Senate Crime Investigating Committee
, which questioned his Continental Press Service, a nationwide distributor of horse racing news, about his alleged ties to organized crime and participation in illegal gambling. McBride denied the connections, claimed he never broke the law, and was never charged with any crime. Congress later passed legislation making such wire services illegal.
McBride was married to the former Mary Jane Kane. They had 3 children: Arthur B., Jr., Edward, and Jane. McBride died in Cleveland and was buried in Cleveland's Holy Cross Cemetery.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
professional football team. McBride was a real estate developer and operator, active in Chicago, Cleveland and Florida. He also operated taxicab companies in Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Ohio, a printing company, and a horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
news wire syndicate that sold information to bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
s. He is perhaps best known, however, for his role as a pioneering owner in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL).
Biography
McBride became a football fan in 1940 after attending a college game at the University of Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, where his son was a student. After Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves (NFL owner)
Daniel "Dan" Reeves was the owner of the Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams from 1941 to his death in 1971.In addition to the controversial move of the Rams from Cleveland to Los Angeles, Reeves is remembered for being the first NFL owner to sign an African-American player in the post World War II era...
rejected his 1942 offer to buy the NFL's Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
, in 1944 McBride purchased the Cleveland franchise in Arch Ward
Arch Ward
Arch Ward was the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune and personal friend of the owner, Robert R. McCormick. He created the MLB All-Star Game, the All-America Football Conference , the Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament and the College All-Star Game. Ward was twice offered the job as...
's newly created All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC). This team was the origin of the first Cleveland Browns.
McBride aggressively promoted his new team and spared no expense. He hired legendary football coach Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
away from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station during World War II, agreeing to pay Brown $20,000 per year plus 15% of the team's profits once it started operating, plus $1,000 per month until the end of the war.
McBride left the football side of the team to Brown and handled the business end himself. Although the AAFC floundered, under McBride and Coach Brown the Cleveland Browns were financially successful. After the AAFC's demise, McBride's Browns, the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and the original Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
were admitted to the NFL in 1950. McBride sold his controlling interest in the team in June 1953 for $600,000 to a group headed by David Jones which included Ellis Ryan, an insurance man and former president of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Saul Silberman, owner of the local horse race track later known as Thistledown Racecourse, and Homer Marshman, the attorney who had founded the Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
. The price tag was twice as large as any that had been brought by any other pro football team before that.
McBride contributed to the lexicon of football with the term "taxi squad." Browns' players who were not on the active roster, due to injury or other reason, were temporarily put on the McBride's payroll as taxi drivers, though it is unclear if any of them actually drove cabs.
Aside from football, some believed McBride's horse racing syndicate venture was not entirely above-board. In January 1951, McBride testified in nationally televised hearings before the Senate Crime Investigating Committee
Kefauver hearings
The United States Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce was a special committee of the United States Senate which existed from 1950 to 1951 and which investigated organized crime which crossed state borders in the United States...
, which questioned his Continental Press Service, a nationwide distributor of horse racing news, about his alleged ties to organized crime and participation in illegal gambling. McBride denied the connections, claimed he never broke the law, and was never charged with any crime. Congress later passed legislation making such wire services illegal.
McBride was married to the former Mary Jane Kane. They had 3 children: Arthur B., Jr., Edward, and Jane. McBride died in Cleveland and was buried in Cleveland's Holy Cross Cemetery.