Branch Rickey
MLB debut June 16, 1905 for the St. Louis Browns Last MLB appearance August 25, 1914 for the St. Louis Browns Career statistics Batting average .239 Hits 82 Runs batted in 39 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 (1913–1915, 1919) St. Louis Cardinals (1919–1942) Brooklyn Dodgers (1943–1950) Pittsburgh Pirates (1950–1955) Career highlights and awards 4× World Series Champion: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942 4× National League pennant: 1928, 1930, 1947, 1949 Managerial Record: 597-664 Played major part in development of the farm system Signed Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers and helped integrate Major League Baseball in 1947 Signed Roberto Clemente for the Pirates, opening Major League Baseball for Latino players. St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame (2014) Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction 1967 Election Method Veterans Committee Branch Rickey Battling Bishops Career information College: Ohio Wesleyan University University of Michigan Organizations As coach: 1904-1905 1907-1908 Allegheny College Ohio Wesleyan University 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 innovative Major League Baseball (MLB) executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. He was perhaps best known for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing African American player Jackie Robinson, for drafting the first Afro-Hispanic superstar, Roberto Clemente, for creating the framework for the modern minor league farm system, for encouraging the Major Leagues to add new teams through his involvement in the proposed Continental League, and for introducing the batting helmet. Rickey played in 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 MLB in 1913, Rickey embarked on a successful managing and executive career with the St. Louis Browns, the 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 the sport of American 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."