Harry Pulliam
Encyclopedia
Harry Clay Pulliam was an American
baseball
executive who served as the sixth President of the National League
, from 1903 until his death (see New York Times obit http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_P/Pulliam.Harry.Obit.html), in the period in which the NL and the fledgling American League
settled their hostilities and formed a National Agreement which led to the creation of the World Series
. He was born in Scottsburg, Kentucky
. Baseball was halted in both the American and National Leagues for the first time in baseball history on the day he was buried. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia
. A special baseball card was created in his honor and distributed at the World Series. He was the first person honored by baseball with all players wearing arm bands for 30 days.
His most controversial decision came late in the season, following a game between the New York Giants
and Chicago Cubs
in which Giants first baseman Fred Merkle
(at 19 the youngest player in the major leagues), standing on first base, saw his team score a run to win the game and became so excited that he failed to step on second base, thus nullifying the run and leaving the game tied. The excited spectators ran onto the field in joy, thinking the Giants had won. Home plate umpire Hank O'Day
deemed it impossible to restore order on the field to resume the game, and ruled that the run did not count. Due to darkness, the game was declared a tie. His decision was submitted to the league president, Pulliam, who agreed with the umpire. The game was later replayed (due to the Giants and Cubs finishing the season with identical records atop the National League), with the Cubs winning to capture the pennant. They went on to win the World Series
that year, and Merkle has been blamed for the loss ever since.
It has been written that the pressure of the 1908 decision resulted in Pulliam taking several months off, and his discussion of retirement. One evening after returning to his old job, he sat in his office in the New York Athletic Club (where he lived) and shot himself once in the head. He died a day later at 40 years of age.
Regarding players, Pulliam selected Honus Wagner
to play for the Louisville Colonels
. When the National League contracted in 1899, Pulliam moved to Pittsburgh and convinced Wagner to come with him. In his book, Wagner credited Pulliam with arranging for him to stay with Pittsburgh and not leave for another franchise. Wagner stayed with Pittsburgh until retirement.
Originally a newspaper writer covering the Cubs for the Louisville Commercial, Pulliam quickly advanced through the ranks and was considered one of the leading authorities on the game and history of baseball. Soon after receiving a promotion to city editor of the Commercial, Pulliam met the owner of the Louisville Colonels, Barney Dreyfuss
. Dreyfuss liked Pulliam and hired him away from the newspaper, appointing him first to the position of club secretary, then quickly moving him to club president of the Colonels. Pulliam negotiated an ownership position of the Colonels. He followed Dreyfuss when he purchased the Pittsburgh Pirates
, and accepted the position of team president.
When clubs contracted in late 1901, Pulliam was unanimously elected president of the National League in 1902. He acted as president, secretary
and treasurer
of the league from 1902 until 1907, when the stress of all three positions caught up with him. He remained president until his suicide, when he shot himself in the head in his New York City apartment.
He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
. His level of admiration and importance to baseball can best be described by those in attendance at his funeral. The honorary pallbearers included Ban Johnson
, president of the American League, John Heydler
, secretary and treasurer of the National League, the secretary of the National Baseball Commission, and the presidents of the Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals
, Brooklyn Dodgers
and Philadelphia Phillies
. Pulliam's axiom "Take Nothing For Granted In Baseball" is still used this day. In fact, this quote of Pulliam's was printed in a New York Times article in 1922, thirteen years after his death.
Upon his death, organized baseball passed an amendment that each year on the first day of the World Series, a special honorary baseball card with Pulliam's likeness be distributed to everyone involved with the baseball organization and that flowers be delivered to his grave on that same day. This tribute continued until the late 1920s. In its amendment, the baseball commission wrote, "Organized baseball never had a more zealous and devoted sponsor."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
executive who served as the sixth President of 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...
, from 1903 until his death (see New York Times obit http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_P/Pulliam.Harry.Obit.html), in the period in which the NL and the fledgling American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
settled their hostilities and formed a National Agreement which led to the creation of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. He was born in Scottsburg, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Baseball was halted in both the American and National Leagues for the first time in baseball history on the day he was buried. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. A special baseball card was created in his honor and distributed at the World Series. He was the first person honored by baseball with all players wearing arm bands for 30 days.
His most controversial decision came late in the season, following a game between the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in which Giants first baseman Fred Merkle
Fred Merkle
Frederick Charles Merkle , also known as "Bonehead" Merkle, was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball...
(at 19 the youngest player in the major leagues), standing on first base, saw his team score a run to win the game and became so excited that he failed to step on second base, thus nullifying the run and leaving the game tied. The excited spectators ran onto the field in joy, thinking the Giants had won. Home plate umpire Hank O'Day
Hank O'Day
Henry Francis O'Day was an American right-handed pitcher, umpire and manager in Major League Baseball who worked as a National League umpire for 30 years between 1895 and 1927, and was the only person in major league history to appear as a player, manager and umpire. His 3,986 total games as an...
deemed it impossible to restore order on the field to resume the game, and ruled that the run did not count. Due to darkness, the game was declared a tie. His decision was submitted to the league president, Pulliam, who agreed with the umpire. The game was later replayed (due to the Giants and Cubs finishing the season with identical records atop the National League), with the Cubs winning to capture the pennant. They went on to win the World Series
1908 World Series
The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....
that year, and Merkle has been blamed for the loss ever since.
It has been written that the pressure of the 1908 decision resulted in Pulliam taking several months off, and his discussion of retirement. One evening after returning to his old job, he sat in his office in the New York Athletic Club (where he lived) and shot himself once in the head. He died a day later at 40 years of age.
Regarding players, Pulliam selected Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
to play for the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
. When the National League contracted in 1899, Pulliam moved to Pittsburgh and convinced Wagner to come with him. In his book, Wagner credited Pulliam with arranging for him to stay with Pittsburgh and not leave for another franchise. Wagner stayed with Pittsburgh until retirement.
Originally a newspaper writer covering the Cubs for the Louisville Commercial, Pulliam quickly advanced through the ranks and was considered one of the leading authorities on the game and history of baseball. Soon after receiving a promotion to city editor of the Commercial, Pulliam met the owner of the Louisville Colonels, Barney Dreyfuss
Barney Dreyfuss
Bernhard "Barney" Dreyfuss was an executive in Major League Baseball who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise from 1900 to 1932....
. Dreyfuss liked Pulliam and hired him away from the newspaper, appointing him first to the position of club secretary, then quickly moving him to club president of the Colonels. Pulliam negotiated an ownership position of the Colonels. He followed Dreyfuss when he purchased the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and accepted the position of team president.
When clubs contracted in late 1901, Pulliam was unanimously elected president of the National League in 1902. He acted as president, secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
and treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of the league from 1902 until 1907, when the stress of all three positions caught up with him. He remained president until his suicide, when he shot himself in the head in his New York City apartment.
He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. His level of admiration and importance to baseball can best be described by those in attendance at his funeral. The honorary pallbearers included Ban Johnson
Ban Johnson
Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson , was an American executive in professional baseball who served as the founder and first president of the American League ....
, president of the American League, John Heydler
John Heydler
John Arnold Heydler was an American executive in Major League Baseball.-Biography:Born in La Fargeville, New York, he began working as a printer, eventually being employed at the U.S. Government Printing Office....
, secretary and treasurer of the National League, the secretary of the National Baseball Commission, and the presidents of the Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Brooklyn Dodgers
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...
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Pulliam's axiom "Take Nothing For Granted In Baseball" is still used this day. In fact, this quote of Pulliam's was printed in a New York Times article in 1922, thirteen years after his death.
Upon his death, organized baseball passed an amendment that each year on the first day of the World Series, a special honorary baseball card with Pulliam's likeness be distributed to everyone involved with the baseball organization and that flowers be delivered to his grave on that same day. This tribute continued until the late 1920s. In its amendment, the baseball commission wrote, "Organized baseball never had a more zealous and devoted sponsor."