Henry Killilea
Encyclopedia
Henry J. Killilea was one the five men who founded baseball
's American League
as a major league in 1899. The other members of the group were his brother Matthew Killilea, Connie Mack
, Charles Comiskey
, and the leader of the effort, Ban Johnson
. Their first meeting was held in Killilea's Milwaukee home. He attended the University of Michigan.
For several years thereafter Killilea served as the league's legal counsel.
The American League
started play as a major league in 1901. Killilea owned the league's Milwaukee Brewers
franchise that first season, but during the offseason he sold the club, which was moved to St. Louis and renamed the St. Louis Browns
before the 1902 season. Killilea also owned the Boston Red Sox
from 1903 until 1904.
In 1928 he acquired the Milwaukee Brewers
, in this incarnation a minor-league American Association club.
Killilea died in a Milwaukee hospital on January 23, 1929, aged 62, from the effects of a heart attack
and then a stroke
earlier in the month.
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...
's 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...
as a major league in 1899. The other members of the group were his brother Matthew Killilea, Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
, and the leader of the effort, 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 ....
. Their first meeting was held in Killilea's Milwaukee home. He attended the University of Michigan.
For several years thereafter Killilea served as the league's legal counsel.
The 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...
started play as a major league in 1901. Killilea owned the league's Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (disambiguation)
The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.Milwaukee Brewers may also refer to:*Milwaukee Brewers , a U.S...
franchise that first season, but during the offseason he sold the club, which was moved to St. Louis and renamed the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
before the 1902 season. Killilea also owned the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from 1903 until 1904.
In 1928 he acquired the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
, in this incarnation a minor-league American Association club.
Killilea died in a Milwaukee hospital on January 23, 1929, aged 62, from the effects of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and then a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
earlier in the month.