Happy Chandler Essentials Positions: Bats: Throws: Weight: Born: Year: 1898 in Corydon, KY USA Died: 6 15 1991 in Versailles, KY USA Debut: Last Game: Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Pioneer/Executive in 1982 by Veterans Full Name: Albert Benjamin Chandler
Hank Aaron inducted into Hall of Fame
On March 10, 1982, shortstop Travis Jackson and former commissioner Happy Chandler are elected to the Hall of Fame. Jackson played 15 years for the New York Giants, batting .291 for his career. Chandler served as baseball’s leader for six years and oversaw the end of baseball’s color line in 1947, when Jackie…
1959 – Frank D. Lawrence, owner of the Portsmouth, VA, club, files a $250,000 suit against Commissioner Ford Frick and Major League Baseball for breach of contract, alleging that broadcasts of major league games effectively forced him out of business.
Ford Frick, replacing “Happy” Chandler, is selected by the owners to be the third commissioner of the sport. The former National League president, best remembered for suggesting the single-season home run records of Babe Ruth and Roger Maris be listed separately based on the length of the season, will hold the position for fourteen years.
1951 – Commissioner Happy Chandler loses his bid to remain in office. Chandler is voted down, 9-7, in a tally of owners. Chandler, who started his term as commissioner in 1945, will be succeeded by Ford Frick.
1951 – Major League Baseball signs a six-year All-Star Game pact for TV and Radio rights calling for $6 million. A number of owners criticize Commissioner Happy Chandler, believing that in a couple of years, the broadcast rights will be worth much more than a million per annum.
1950 – With a large portion going to the players’ pension fund, outgoing Commissioner Happy Chandler announces the Gillette Razor Company has purchased the television rights to the All-Star Game for six years for six million dollars.
Commissioner Happy Chandler and players’ representatives agree on the split of the TV and radio rights from the World Series.
At Fenway Park, Commissioner Happy Chandler gives Ted Williams his American League MVP Award, and then Governor Paul Dever tosses out the first ball. To the delight of 31,822 fans, Boston rips New York Yankees starter Allie Reynolds with a five-run 4th inning to drive him from the game and take a 9 – 0 lead. But the Yankees score four runs in the 6th off Mel Parnell and then, down 10 – 4, unload for nine runs in the 8th. Billy Martin becomes the first player in major league history to get two base hits in one inning in his first game. He doubles against Parnell in his first at-bat in the 8th inning, and then singles off Al Papai. Walt Masterson gives up Tommy Henrich’s second triple of the game before giving way to four more Boston pitchers. Boo Ferriss, pitching in his last game, allows the last two runs in the 9th inning as the Yankees chalk up a 15 – 10 victory, the biggest blown lead the Red Sox have ever had at Fenway Park; on June 4, 1989, they’ll blow a 10-run lead at home. Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerreach have three hits. Don Johnson is the winning pitcher, his last victory for New York, with Joe Page pitching a perfect 8th and 9th innings in relief.