June 28, 1907 – In baseball history when one hears the name of Branch Rickey, the thoughts of the bravery of a brilliant baseball executive who inked Jackie Robinson to a deal where he would play in the MLB for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The knowledgeable sports historian might also know that Rickey introduced the batting helmet to baseball, created the framework for the modern minor league farm system, played professional football for the Shelby Blues of the “Ohio League”, and encouraged the Major Leagues to expand to new markets with adding teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League. What you might not know is that Branch was an MLB player once.
Admittedly not a very good one as he only played from 1905 through 1907. On this day in history, Nationals stole a record 13 bases off New York Highlanders catcher Branch Rickey. After some struggles playing such as this outing, Branch Rickey returned to college, where he learned about administration.
Returning to MLB in 1913, Rickey embarked on a successful managing and executive career with the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Irish Premier Division: A Century of Soccer Evolution
The League of Ireland Premier Division stands as the pinnacle of domestic soccer in
Betting on Week 10: Why Eagles vs Packers Could Define NFC Playoff Picture
As NFL Week 10 unfolds, few matchups capture the playoff stakes and storylines like
Exploring the Career of Hall of Fame Offensive Guard Larry Little
As many of you may know, I recently wrote a book about Miami Dolphins
Some of the Most Iconic Soccer Rivalries and the Stories Behind Them
Soccer is more than a game. It’s passion, pride, and pure obsession. Across the
“Dem Bums” No More: The Story of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
From 1939 to 1954, the Brooklyn Dodgers had only one losing season and won
From Card Tables to Championships: The Lasting Influence of Casinos on Sports History
Casinos have been complex and fascinating actors in sports culture history. From sponsoring high-profile
How Sports Venues Inspired Modern Restaurant Furniture Throughout History
Not many people are aware of the close connection between the design of modern
The Digital Spectator: How Global Broadcast Technology Transformed Indigenous Sports into World-Class Commodities
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics changed Judo, but not because of medals. The Olympics were