James Callahan (Pittsburgh Pirates NHL)
Encyclopedia
James F. Callahan was the owner of the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
and later the Pittsburgh Pirates
of the National Hockey League
. James, who had the reputation as a frugal businessman, was a lawyer
from Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood
.
In 1925, the Yellow Jackets were owned by former referee
Roy Schooley
. After winning the US Amateur Championship in 1924 and 1925, the Yellow Jackets are sold to Callahan who wanted to get the team into a professional league. Schooley sold the team to Callahan due to financial hardships. Callahan changed the team's name to the Pittsburgh Pirates, borrowing the nickname from Pittsburgh's professional baseball team
. Callahan was able to use the Pirates nickanme after he cashed in favor from Pirates owner, Barney Dreyfuss
. The Pirates would become the NHL's third U.S.-based
team on November 7, 1925 in joining the New York Americans
and the Boston Bruins
. Callahan's brother, who was a member of the Pittsburgh Police Department, offered used emblems from police jackets to place on the uniform sleeves.
On October 8, 1928 financial problems forced Callahan to sell the team to an ownership group which included Bill Dwyer
. However, because he already owned the New York Americans, Dwyer had ex-lightweight boxing champion, Benny Leonard
act as the team's owner.
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets
The Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets was an amateur hockey team that existed between . They evolved from being an amateur to a semi-pro team and are one the earliest sports organizations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Yellow Jackets played primarily in the United States Amateur Hockey Association...
and later the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)
The Pittsburgh Pirates were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League , based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1925–26 to 1929–30. The nickname comes from the baseball team also based in the city...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. James, who had the reputation as a frugal businessman, was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood
Lawrenceville (Pittsburgh)
Lawrenceville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located northeast of downtown, and like many of Pittsburgh's riverfront neighborhoods, it has an industrial past. Lawrenceville is bordered by the Allegheny River, Polish Hill, Bloomfield, the Strip District and...
.
In 1925, the Yellow Jackets were owned by former referee
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
Roy Schooley
Roy Schooley
Roy D. Schooley was a former treasurer for the City of Pittsburgh, as well as the founder of the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets hockey club, which later became the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Hockey League. In 1920, he assembled the first U.S...
. After winning the US Amateur Championship in 1924 and 1925, the Yellow Jackets are sold to Callahan who wanted to get the team into a professional league. Schooley sold the team to Callahan due to financial hardships. Callahan changed the team's name to the Pittsburgh Pirates, borrowing the nickname from Pittsburgh's professional baseball team
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...
. Callahan was able to use the Pirates nickanme after he cashed in favor from Pirates owner, Barney Dreyfuss
Barney Dreyfuss
Bernhard "Barney" Dreyfuss was an executive in Major League Baseball who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise from 1900 to 1932....
. The Pirates would become the NHL's third U.S.-based
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
team on November 7, 1925 in joining the New York Americans
New York Americans
The New York Americans were a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York from 1925 to 1942. They were the third expansion team in the history of the National Hockey League and the second to play in the United States. The team never won the Stanley Cup, but reached the semifinals...
and the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. Callahan's brother, who was a member of the Pittsburgh Police Department, offered used emblems from police jackets to place on the uniform sleeves.
On October 8, 1928 financial problems forced Callahan to sell the team to an ownership group which included Bill Dwyer
Bill Dwyer (mobster)
William Vincent Dwyer , known as "Big Bill" Dwyer, was an early Prohibition gangster and bootlegger in New York during the 1920s. He used his profits to purchase sports properties, including the New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Hockey League , as well as the Brooklyn...
. However, because he already owned the New York Americans, Dwyer had ex-lightweight boxing champion, Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard
Benny Leonard was an American lightweight boxer. He was named as number 8 on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years and number 7 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time....
act as the team's owner.