On This Day

Branch Rickey

Baseball Player and Sports Executive Branch Rickey

Full Name: Wesley Branch Rickey
Profession: Baseball Player and Sports Executive

Nationality:
United States of America
American

Biography: Helped break Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing black player Jackie Robinson.

Rickey also encouraged the Major Leagues to add new teams and introduced the batting helmet.

Born: December 20, 1881
Birthplace: Stockdale, Ohio, USA
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: December 9, 1965 (aged 83)
Cause of Death: Heart failure during a speech about physical courage in Columbia, Missouri, for his election to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Historical Events

  • 1907-06-28 Nationals steal a record 13 bases off catcher Branch Rickey
  • 1942-10-29 Branch Rickey named president and General Manager of Brooklyn Dodgers
  • 1945-05-07 Branch Rickey announces formation of the US Negro Baseball League
  • 1945-10-30 Branch Rickey signs Jackie Robinson to a Montreal Royals
  • 1947-04-10 Jackie Robinson becomes first black player of the 20th century to sign a MLB contract; Brooklyn GM, Branch Rickey announces Dodgers had bought Robinson’s contract from Montreal Royals
  • 1950-10-26 Branch Rickey resigns as Brooklyn Dodger president
  • 1950-11-06 Branch Rickey signs 5-yr contract as VP/GM of Pittsburgh Pirates
  • 1955-10-25 Branch Rickey steps down as GM of the Pirates
  • 1959-08-18 Branch Rickey resigns as Pirates' CEO to be President of Continental League
  • 1967-01-29 Branch Rickey & Lloyd Waner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

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