28 April 2014

a black armband for the pirates' owner

barney dreyfuss was born in germany in 1865 but came to america in 1885 to work in his cousin's distillery.  he took an interest in baseball, and purchased a share of the louisville colonels of the american association in 1889.  he eventually moved them to the national league, and bought out his partners, and, when the team was cut from the league in 1899, dreyfuss used its players, including honus wagner, to stock the roster of his newest team, the pittsburgh pirates.

dreyfuss owned the pirates and served as a hands-on owner from 1900 until his death in february, 1932.  his players wore a black armband in his honor during the 1932 season, as shown on this 1994 conlon the sporting news card of pie traynor
dreyfuss accomplished many things during his ownership tenure - he built forbes field, helped to establish the two major leagues and the world series, was the first president of the national league, and his pirates won 6 pennants and one world series, to boot.  dreyfuss was elected to the national baseball hall of fame in 2008, and the monument that was installed at forbes field in his honor has followed the pirates to three rivers stadium and now pnc park.

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