Raymond Joseph Cannon
Encyclopedia
Raymond Joseph Cannon was an attorney
, baseball player and Democratic politician who represented Wisconsin's
4th congressional district
in the Congress from 1933 to 1939.
Born in Ironwood, Michigan
, Cannon lost both of his parents when he was six months old and he spent most of his early life in an orphanage
. He attended Marquette University Law School
in Milwaukee and was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin
. From 1908 to 1922, he also worked as a part-time semi-professional
baseball
pitcher
. He became an early sports attorney
whose clients included Jack Dempsey
. After the Black Sox Scandal
, he was retained by one of the blacklisted players, Happy Felsch
(a Milwaukee native), who sued Charles Comiskey
and the Chicago White Sox
for back pay, World Series money, and damages. Felsch's teammates Buck Weaver
, Shoeless Joe Jackson
, and Swede Risberg
also became Cannon’s clients.
In 1922, he helped put together the short-lived National Baseball Players Association of the United States, one of several unsuccessful attempts to create a union
for pro ball players. It is believed that his association with the Black Sox hurt the NBPA, and may have contributed to its collapse.
Cannon ran for Congress successfully in 1932 and held his seat for three terms. A Roman Catholic, Cannon planned to introduce, in 1934, after Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia called for a Catholic boycott of all films, a congressional bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans which would introduce Government oversight of film censorship. Cannon later ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1940 and 1942.
.)
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...
, baseball player and Democratic politician who represented Wisconsin's
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
4th congressional district
Wisconsin's 4th congressional district
Wisconsin's 4th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin, encompassing a part of Milwaukee County and including all of the city of Milwaukee and its working-class suburbs of Cudahy, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee,...
in the Congress from 1933 to 1939.
Born in Ironwood, Michigan
Ironwood, Michigan
Ironwood is a city in Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about south of Lake Superior. The population was 6,293 at the 2000 census. The city is on US 2 and is situated opposite the Montreal River from Hurley, Wisconsin. It is the westernmost city in Michigan, situated on the same line...
, Cannon lost both of his parents when he was six months old and he spent most of his early life in an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
. He attended Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
in Milwaukee and was admitted to the bar in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. From 1908 to 1922, he also worked as a part-time semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He became an early sports attorney
Sports law
Sports law is an umbrella term used to describe the legal issues at work in the world of both amateur and professional sports. Sports law overlaps substantially with labor law, contract law, competition or antitrust law, and tort law. Issues like defamation and privacy rights are also an integral...
whose clients included Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
. After the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
, he was retained by one of the blacklisted players, Happy Felsch
Happy Felsch
Oscar Emil "Happy" Felsch was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox from 1915 to 1920. He is probably best known for his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal....
(a Milwaukee native), who sued 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 Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for back pay, World Series money, and damages. Felsch's teammates Buck Weaver
Buck Weaver
George Daniel "Buck" Weaver was an American shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox...
, Shoeless Joe Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Joseph Jefferson Jackson , nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball in the early part of the 20th century...
, and Swede Risberg
Swede Risberg
Charles August "Swede" Risberg was an Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1917 to 1920. He is best known for his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal.-Background:...
also became Cannon’s clients.
In 1922, he helped put together the short-lived National Baseball Players Association of the United States, one of several unsuccessful attempts to create a union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for pro ball players. It is believed that his association with the Black Sox hurt the NBPA, and may have contributed to its collapse.
Cannon ran for Congress successfully in 1932 and held his seat for three terms. A Roman Catholic, Cannon planned to introduce, in 1934, after Cardinal Dougherty of Philadelphia called for a Catholic boycott of all films, a congressional bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans which would introduce Government oversight of film censorship. Cannon later ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1940 and 1942.
Personal life
He married Alice Carey in 1915, and they had three children: Robert, Mary and Jeanne. (Robert, the eldest, also became an attorney and served as legal advisor to the Major League Baseball Players AssociationMajor League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
.)