Dan Topping
Encyclopedia
Daniel Reid Topping was a part owner and president of the New York Yankees
baseball team from 1945 to 1964. Daniel Reid Topping was the son of Rhea Reid and Henry J. Topping. Rhea Reid, the daughter of Daniel G. Reid
, known as the "Tinplate King" for his vast wealth in the tin industry, was the mother of three sons, Daniel Reid Topping, Henry J. Topping (1914), and John Reid Topping (1921). Daniel Topping, along with Del Webb
and Larry MacPhail
, purchased the Yankees for $2.8 million from the estate of the late Jacob Ruppert
on January 25, 1945. MacPhail sold his share of the team to Topping and Webb in 1947, and the two sold controlling interest in the team to CBS in 1964
, after which Topping remained as team president until 1966, when he sold his remaining stake in the Yankees.
Topping also was co-owner, along with John Simms Kelly, of the National Football League
's Brooklyn Dodgers
starting in 1931, eventually owning the team outright. By the mid-1940s, Topping wished to move his football team from Ebbets Field
into the newer and larger Yankee Stadium
. Tim Mara
, owner of the New York Giants
, who played in the Polo Grounds
, held NFL territorial rights, and refused to permit this. Topping moved the team anyway, joining the newly formed All-America Football Conference. Topping's team retained most of its players during the jump and became the football New York Yankees
. The team was not one of the AAFC teams admitted to the NFL in 1950, and folded.
and lasted from 1937-1940. He was married to three-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sonja Henie
from 1940 to 1946. His fourth marriage was to actress Kay Sutton in 1946. From 1954-1958, he was married to Manhattan model Alice Lowthers. His final marriage was to Charlotte Lillard which lasted from 1957 until his death.
Topping fathered nine children, including Dan Topping, Jr.
former General Manager
of the Yankees, Rhea Topping a fly fisher, and Leigh Topping, daughter-in-law of future United States Secretary of the Treasury
Nicholas F. Brady
.
He died of complications from a lung ailment in Miami Beach, Florida
on May 18, 1974, at age 61 (less than a month from his 62nd birthday).
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
baseball team from 1945 to 1964. Daniel Reid Topping was the son of Rhea Reid and Henry J. Topping. Rhea Reid, the daughter of Daniel G. Reid
Daniel G. Reid
Daniel Gray Reid was an American industrialist and philanthropist known as the "Tinplate King".He was born in Richmond, Indiana, and in 1892 bought a nearby tin plate mill, with which he eventually combined every tin plate company in the country to form the American Tin Plate Company, with Reid as...
, known as the "Tinplate King" for his vast wealth in the tin industry, was the mother of three sons, Daniel Reid Topping, Henry J. Topping (1914), and John Reid Topping (1921). Daniel Topping, along with Del Webb
Del Webb
Delbert Eugene Webb was an American construction magnate, real estate developer and sports-team owner, who is most significant for founding and developing the retirement community of Sun City, Arizona.-Early life:...
and Larry MacPhail
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr. was an American lawyer, and an executive and innovator in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
, purchased the Yankees for $2.8 million from the estate of the late Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert, Jr. , sometimes referred to as Jake Ruppert, was a National Guard colonel; a U.S. Representative from New York; and brewery owner, who went on to own the New York Yankees...
on January 25, 1945. MacPhail sold his share of the team to Topping and Webb in 1947, and the two sold controlling interest in the team to CBS in 1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
, after which Topping remained as team president until 1966, when he sold his remaining stake in the Yankees.
Topping also was co-owner, along with John Simms Kelly, of 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...
's Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks...
starting in 1931, eventually owning the team outright. By the mid-1940s, Topping wished to move his football team from Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
into the newer and larger Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. Tim Mara
Tim Mara
Timothy James "Tim" Mara was the founder and administrator for the New York Giants of the National Football League. The Giants', under Mara, would win NFL championships in 1934, 1938, and 1956 and divisional titles in 1933, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1958, 1959.-Early life:Mara was born into poverty...
, owner of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who played in the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
, held NFL territorial rights, and refused to permit this. Topping moved the team anyway, joining the newly formed All-America Football Conference. Topping's team retained most of its players during the jump and became the football New York Yankees
New York Yankees (AAFC)
The New York Yankees were a professional American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and often played in front of sold-out crowds . They were owned by Dan Topping, who brought many of his Brooklyn...
. The team was not one of the AAFC teams admitted to the NFL in 1950, and folded.
Personal life
Topping was married six times. His first marriage was to heiress Theodora Boettger. His second was to actress Arline JudgeArline Judge
Arline Judge was an American actress who worked mostly in low-budget B movies, but gained some fame for marrying and divorcing seven times.-Career:...
and lasted from 1937-1940. He was married to three-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie
Sonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion . Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater...
from 1940 to 1946. His fourth marriage was to actress Kay Sutton in 1946. From 1954-1958, he was married to Manhattan model Alice Lowthers. His final marriage was to Charlotte Lillard which lasted from 1957 until his death.
Topping fathered nine children, including Dan Topping, Jr.
Dan Topping, Jr.
Daniel Reid Topping, Jr. is a former executive with the New York Yankees.The son of New York Yankees owner Dan Topping and actress Arline Judge, Topping joined the Yankees organiaztion in 1961. In his first season, he worked on the grounds crew, in the ticket office, and in publicity...
former General Manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Yankees, Rhea Topping a fly fisher, and Leigh Topping, daughter-in-law of future United States Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
Nicholas F. Brady
Nicholas F. Brady
Nicholas Frederick Brady was United States Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and is also known for articulating the Brady Plan in March 1989.-Early life:...
.
He died of complications from a lung ailment in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
on May 18, 1974, at age 61 (less than a month from his 62nd birthday).