Ed Barrow
From SoSH
Former president of the International League, he managed the legendary World Series winning 1918 Red Sox. Had huge, thick eyebrows that allegedly got darker (somehow) when he was angry.
In 1920, Barrow told the Red Sox that the New York Yankees had nothing in return for Babe Ruth and told Harry Frazee to sell him outright. He then betrayed the Red Sox by resigning as manager after the 1920 season and becoming General Manager of the Yankees, proceeding to sign several more top players from under the Red Sox to build the Yankees into the powerhouse of the 1920's.
Elected into the Hall of Fame in 1953.
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Overall Career
Ed Barrow was the man most responsible for the success of the New York Yankees between 1921 and 1945. With Barrow as general manager, the Yankees won 14 pennants and ten World Series, sweeping five of them. He achieved his foremost success by organizing and developing their farm system. After he became club president in 1939, he and George Weiss developed the Yankees into the most consistent pennant-winning organization in major league history.
Barrow worked for two newspapers in Des Moines, IA, before moving east in 1890. He formed a partnership with baseball concessioner Harry Stevens, and they got the scoreboard and pop concessions at the Pirates' Exposition Park. In 1894 Barrow became manager and GM at Wheeling, WV (International League). In 1895 he acquired the Paterson, NJ franchise in the Atlantic League, signed Honus Wagner, and served as president of the circuit from 1897 to 1899. He then purchased a part interest of the Toronto (International League) club, became its manager, and won a pennant in 1902. The Detroit Tigers then made him their manager, but he resigned during 1904 following a dispute with the GM. When two unsuccessful years of managing in the minors followed, Barrow left baseball.
Barrow returned in 1910 as president of the Eastern League. He was named manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1918 and immediately led them to the World Championship. That season, he acknowledged Babe Ruth's prowess as a hitter by increasingly working the ace pitcher into the lineup as an outfielder. The Red Sox sold Ruth to the Yankees in 1920, and at the close of the season, Barrow became the Yankee GM. In 1921-23, the Yankees won their first three pennants.
The forceful, straightforward Barrow possessed an explosive temper and once challenged Babe Ruth to a fight. He exercised strict discipline as manager and executive. In 1937 and 1941, he was named TSN Major League Executive of the Year. When the Yankees were sold to Larry McPhail, Dan Topping, and Del Webb in 1945, Barrow became chairman of the board, but he retired two years later. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Committee on Baseball Veterans in 1953, the year he died.
Managerial Record
Year League Team Age G W L WP Finish 1903 American Lg Detroit 35 137 65 71 .478 5 1904 American Lg Detroit 36 84 32 46 .410 7
1918 American Lg BostonRS 50 126 75 51 .595 WS 1 1919 American Lg BostonRS 51 138 66 71 .482 6 1920 American Lg BostonRS 52 154 72 81 .471 5
BostonRS 418 213 203 .512
Detroit 221 97 117 .453
TOTAL 639 310 320 .492
Trivia
- Ed Barrow is credited with discovering future Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner
