Arthur Ehlers: Difference between revisions
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A former [[minor league baseball|minor league]] player, Ehlers began his front-office career as an executive with several minor league teams and circuits, including a stint as part owner of the [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], ''Chicks'' of the Class B [[Interstate League]], president of the Interstate loop (1941–1945) and promotions director of the [[Minor League Baseball|National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues]]. |
A former [[minor league baseball|minor league]] player, Ehlers began his front-office career as an executive with several minor league teams and circuits, including a stint as part owner of the [[Reading, Pennsylvania]], ''Chicks'' of the Class B [[Interstate League]], president of the Interstate loop (1941–1945) and promotions director of the [[Minor League Baseball|National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues]]. |
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==Executive with Philadelphia Athletics== |
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From {{by|1947}}–{{by|1950}}, Ehlers served as the [[farm system]] director of the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]]. In September [[1950 in baseball|1950]], a tumultuous year for that franchise, Ehlers succeeded [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]] [[Mickey Cochrane]] as general manager of the Athletics upon an ownership reorganization involving two warring branches of the [[Connie Mack (baseball)|Connie Mack]] family. As a consequence of that restructuring, Cochrane, GM for only four months, stepped down; Connie Mack Jr. and his mother, the elder Mack's second wife, lost their bid for control of the franchise to Roy and [[Earle Mack]], Connie Sr.'s children from his first marriage; and the elder Mack, 87 years of age and celebrating his 50th year at the helm of the A's, was forced into retirement. |
From {{by|1947}}–{{by|1950}}, Ehlers served as the [[farm system]] director of the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]]. In September [[1950 in baseball|1950]], a tumultuous year for that franchise, Ehlers succeeded [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] [[catcher]] [[Mickey Cochrane]] as general manager of the Athletics upon an ownership reorganization involving two warring branches of the [[Connie Mack (baseball)|Connie Mack]] family. As a consequence of that restructuring, Cochrane, GM for only four months, stepped down; Connie Mack Jr. and his mother, the elder Mack's second wife, lost their bid for control of the franchise to Roy and [[Earle Mack]], Connie Sr.'s children from his first marriage; and the elder Mack, 87 years of age and celebrating his 50th year at the helm of the A's, was forced into retirement. |
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Ehlers ran the Athletics' front office from {{by|1951}}–{{by|1953}}, with veteran [[Jimmy Dykes]] as his [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. Dykes and [[American League]] [[Most Valuable Player]] [[Bobby Shantz]] wrung one last over-.500 season out of the club in [[1952 in baseball|1952]], but the Athletics lacked both talent and financial backing and had been supplanted by the [[National League]] [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]] as the city's top baseball team. |
Ehlers ran the Athletics' front office from {{by|1951}}–{{by|1953}}, with veteran [[Jimmy Dykes]] as his [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. Dykes and [[American League]] [[Most Valuable Player]] [[Bobby Shantz]] wrung one last over-.500 season out of the club in [[1952 in baseball|1952]], but the Athletics lacked both talent and financial backing and had been supplanted by the [[National League]] [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]] as the city's top baseball team. |
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==First Orioles' general manager== |
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After the 1953 campaign, the newly-relocated Orioles lured Ehlers and Dykes to [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]] as general manager and field manager. Each lasted only one season, [[1954 Baltimore Orioles season|1954]], in which the Orioles lost 100 out of 154 games and finished seventh in the AL — ahead of only one club, the Philadelphia Athletics. |
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| ⚫ | [[Paul Richards (baseball)|Paul Richards]], skipper of the [[Chicago White Sox]], was hired to replace both Ehlers and Dykes on September 14, 1954. Dykes became a [[coach (baseball)|coach]] for the [[Cincinnati Redlegs]], while Ehlers remained in Baltimore as Richards' assistant general manager. He eventually became a [[scout (sports)|scout]] for the Orioles, retiring in 1973. Ehlers died from [[cancer]], age 80, in Baltimore on February 7, 1977. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 22:54, 7 June 2013
Arthur H. Ehlers (January 22, 1897 – February 7, 1977) was an American front office executive in minor and Major League Baseball. He was the first general manager in the history of the modern Baltimore Orioles, serving as their front-office boss during their return to the American League as the former St. Louis Browns in 1954.
A former minor league player, Ehlers began his front-office career as an executive with several minor league teams and circuits, including a stint as part owner of the Reading, Pennsylvania, Chicks of the Class B Interstate League, president of the Interstate loop (1941–1945) and promotions director of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.
Executive with Philadelphia Athletics
From 1947–1950, Ehlers served as the farm system director of the Philadelphia Athletics. In September 1950, a tumultuous year for that franchise, Ehlers succeeded Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane as general manager of the Athletics upon an ownership reorganization involving two warring branches of the Connie Mack family. As a consequence of that restructuring, Cochrane, GM for only four months, stepped down; Connie Mack Jr. and his mother, the elder Mack's second wife, lost their bid for control of the franchise to Roy and Earle Mack, Connie Sr.'s children from his first marriage; and the elder Mack, 87 years of age and celebrating his 50th year at the helm of the A's, was forced into retirement.
Ehlers ran the Athletics' front office from 1951–1953, with veteran Jimmy Dykes as his manager. Dykes and American League Most Valuable Player Bobby Shantz wrung one last over-.500 season out of the club in 1952, but the Athletics lacked both talent and financial backing and had been supplanted by the National League Phillies as the city's top baseball team.
First Orioles' general manager
After the 1953 campaign, the newly-relocated Orioles lured Ehlers and Dykes to Baltimore as general manager and field manager. Each lasted only one season, 1954, in which the Orioles lost 100 out of 154 games and finished seventh in the AL — ahead of only one club, the Philadelphia Athletics.
Paul Richards, skipper of the Chicago White Sox, was hired to replace both Ehlers and Dykes on September 14, 1954. Dykes became a coach for the Cincinnati Redlegs, while Ehlers remained in Baltimore as Richards' assistant general manager. He eventually became a scout for the Orioles, retiring in 1973. Ehlers died from cancer, age 80, in Baltimore on February 7, 1977.
References
- http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Ehlers.Arthur.Obit.html
- Baseball America Executive Database
- Spink, J.G. Taylor, ed., The 1950 Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis:The Sporting News, 1951.