George Chauncey (executive)
Encyclopedia
George Chauncey was an American businessman in the later part of the 19th century. He was a native of Brooklyn, New York and a baseball fan. He got into the sport by financing the formation of a team in the Players League
of 1890 that became known as Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
after Manager
and Shortstop
John Montgomery Ward
. Chauncey also financed the construction of a stadium for the Wonders in Brownsville
, called Eastern Park
. The team and the league lasted only one season. In 1891, Chauncey arranged a merger of his team with the National League
's Brooklyn Grooms
. The deal saw him accumulate a large share of the Grooms stock and he convinced the other owners to leave their previous home at Washington Park for his facility at Eastern Park
.
http://books.google.com/books?id=iefbwP_Wx88C&pg=PA232&lpg=PA232&dq=%22george+chauncey%22+brooklyn&source=web&ots=ZYiSzyBa-d&sig=2sJvpPvT6TE7uzsBV5A0aYSSKDo#PPA232,M1
He also insisted that manager Bill McGunnigle
, who had just won two league championships, be fired and replaced with Ward http://books.google.com/books?id=BOZyd7v1cDAC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=%22george+chauncey%22+brooklyn&source=web&ots=Z2I6dZtW20&sig=iwIiUiLih3BFsnZRZlKifi9Y6OM#PPA30,M1, which the other owners, desperate for his cash, agreed to.
Chancey's time as owner of the Brooklyn team came to an end in 1897 when he sold his shares in the team to the other owners Ferdinand Abell
and Charles Byrne
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/history/owners.jsp.
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
of 1890 that became known as Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
The Brooklyn Ward's Wonders was a team who played in the Players' League in 1890. The team's nickname derived from its superstar shortstop, hall of famer John Montgomery Ward. The team finished with a 76-56 record, good enough to finish in second place. Other notable players for Brooklyn that...
after Manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and Shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
. Chauncey also financed the construction of a stadium for the Wonders in Brownsville
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
, called Eastern Park
Eastern Park
Eastern Park was a baseball park in Brooklyn, New York in the 1890s. It was bounded by Eastern Parkway to the north ; the Long Island Railroad and Vesta Avenue to the east ; Sutter Avenue to the south ; and Powell Street to the west...
. The team and the league lasted only one season. In 1891, Chauncey arranged a merger of his team with the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's Brooklyn Grooms
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. The deal saw him accumulate a large share of the Grooms stock and he convinced the other owners to leave their previous home at Washington Park for his facility at Eastern Park
Eastern Park
Eastern Park was a baseball park in Brooklyn, New York in the 1890s. It was bounded by Eastern Parkway to the north ; the Long Island Railroad and Vesta Avenue to the east ; Sutter Avenue to the south ; and Powell Street to the west...
.
http://books.google.com/books?id=iefbwP_Wx88C&pg=PA232&lpg=PA232&dq=%22george+chauncey%22+brooklyn&source=web&ots=ZYiSzyBa-d&sig=2sJvpPvT6TE7uzsBV5A0aYSSKDo#PPA232,M1
He also insisted that manager Bill McGunnigle
Bill McGunnigle
William Henry McGunnigle was an American baseball manager for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Pittsburgh Pirates and Louisville Colonels...
, who had just won two league championships, be fired and replaced with Ward http://books.google.com/books?id=BOZyd7v1cDAC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=%22george+chauncey%22+brooklyn&source=web&ots=Z2I6dZtW20&sig=iwIiUiLih3BFsnZRZlKifi9Y6OM#PPA30,M1, which the other owners, desperate for his cash, agreed to.
Chancey's time as owner of the Brooklyn team came to an end in 1897 when he sold his shares in the team to the other owners Ferdinand Abell
Ferdinand Abell
Ferdinand A. Abell was one of the original founders of the team that became the Brooklyn Dodgers. A Rhode Island casino owner, he put up most of the money to form the team in 1883 and also was the leading financing behind the building of Washington Park, the home of the ballclub.He stuck primarily...
and Charles Byrne
Charlie Byrne (baseball)
Charles H. Byrne was a New York realtor who was one of the original founders of the team that became the Brooklyn Dodgers....
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/history/owners.jsp.