Branch Rickey

Branch Rickey
Rickey in the 1930s with the Cardinals
Catcher / Manager / Executive
Born: (1881-12-20)December 20, 1881 Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S.
Died: December 9, 1965(1965-12-09) (aged 83) Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 16, 1905, for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
August 25, 1914, for the St. Louis Browns
MLB statistics
Batting average	.239
Home runs	3
Runs batted in	39
Managerial record	597–664
Winning %	.473
Stats at Baseball Reference
Managerial record at Baseball Reference
Teams
As player St. Louis Browns (1905–1906) New York Highlanders (1907) St. Louis Browns (1914) As manager St. Louis Browns (1913–1915) St. Louis Cardinals (1919–1925) As general manager St. Louis Browns (1913–1916) St. Louis Cardinals (1917–1918, 1919–1942) Brooklyn Dodgers (1943–1950) Pittsburgh Pirates (1950–1955)
Career highlights and awards
4× World Series champion (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942) Played major part in development of the farm system Signed Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers and helped integrate African-American players into Major League Baseball in 1947 St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1967
Election method	Veterans Committee
Football career Battling Bishops Career information College Ohio Wesleyan University University of Michigan Career history As coach 1904–1905 Allegheny College 1907–1908 Ohio Wesleyan University 1910–1913 University of Michigan As player 1902–1903 Shelby Blues Military career Allegiance  United States Service / branch U.S. Army Years of service 1917–1918 Rank Major Unit Chemical Warfare Service 1st Gas Regiment Battles / wars World War I Western Front

Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American baseball player and sports executive. Rickey was instrumental in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing black player Jackie Robinson. He also created the framework for the modern minor league farm system, encouraged the Major Leagues to add new teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League, and introduced the batting helmet. He was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967.^[1]

Rickey played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders from 1905 through 1907. After struggling as a player, Rickey returned to college, where he learned about administration from Philip Bartelme. Returning to the Major Leagues in 1913, Rickey embarked on a successful managing and executive career with the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals elected him to their team Hall of Fame in 2014.

Rickey also had a career in football, as a player for the professional Shelby Blues and as a coach at Ohio Wesleyan University and Allegheny College. His many achievements and deep Christian faith earned him the nickname "the Mahātmā" (guru).^[2]