Interview with Robert W. Broeg, May 16, 1978

Partial Transcript: You, uh, mentioned that you first covered Chandler while you were in the Marines.

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls being a sportswriter while Chandler was baseball commissioner. He interviewed Marcella Chandler, the commissioner's wife [refers to her as Marsha].

Keywords: Marcella Chandler; Sportswriters

Subjects: Baseball commissioners; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; United States. Marine Corps

Partial Transcript: So you, you became a full-time employee then when?

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls the first playoff games and the World Series of 1945.

Keywords: Baseball games; Photographers; Playoff games; Sportswriters; World Series (1945)

Subjects: Baseball--United States; Boston Red Sox (Baseball Team); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Chicago Cubs (Baseball Team); St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team); Walker, Harry; Williams, Ted, 1918-2002; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans.

Partial Transcript: The, uh, next season, uh, 1946.

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses the 1946 playoffs, Mickey Owen, and players who went to Mexico.

Keywords: "Mexican jumpers"; Jorge Pasquel; Pennant; Railroad strike; Sportswriters; Warren Brown; World Series (1946)

Subjects: Baseball commissioners; Baseball players--Salaries, etc.--United States; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Maglie, Sal, 1917-; New York Giants (Baseball Team); Owen, Mickey; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team); Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Partial Transcript: Um, the commissioner's office, I, Iremember being in his office, at the tower, Carew, Carew Tower.

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls how some American baseball players played in Mexico because they made more money there. He also mentions how this led to player pension plans.

Keywords: "Mexican jumpers"; "Murphy Money"; Meal money; Money; Pension plans; Walter Mulbry

Subjects: Baseball commissioners; Baseball players; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Cincinnati (Ohio); Walker, Harry

Partial Transcript: Why Marty Marion and, and, and Terry Moore, out of curiosity, I mean?

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls some of Marty Marion's contributions to baseball, such as knit underwear and sole inserts.

Keywords: Knit underwear; Pension plans; Sole inserts; Terry Moore

Subjects: Baseball; Marion, Marty, 1916-2011

Partial Transcript: Let me, uh, backtrack a little bit, on you, and start at the beginning on the year...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses the St. Louis Cardinals and their management team.

Keywords: Private contractors; St. Louis Swifties; Willard Mullin; World Telegram

Subjects: Baseball players--1940-1950; Baseball--Management; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team); World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: Would you, would you say that Branch Rickey then had a lot to do with the success of the Cardinals that year...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses the Cardinals' team in the 1940s, including their winning the pennant.

Keywords: Baseball teams; Pennant

Subjects: Baseball managers; Baseball players; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Let's move on to Mickey Owen, in a little bit too. Um, again he's from, he's not really a local, but this is his home state...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses Mickey Owen's signing with the Cardinals.

Keywords: Clubs; Signing; Unfairness

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball players--1940-1950; Owen, Mickey; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: uh, one thing I want to ask you, is you mentioned why Martin and why Klein what motivation they had to go to Mexico...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg talks about the Mexican League, and how American players left to play for Mexico because they were offered higher salaries.

Keywords: Agents; Jorge Pasquel; Mexican League; Remuneration

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball commissioners; Baseball players; Baseball players--1940-1950; Breadon, Sam, 1876-1949; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Lanier, Max; Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Profesional; Rickey, Branch, 1881-1965

Partial Transcript: How did the players feel, um, about the five year ban as far as its length and its duration?

Segment Synopsis: Broeg talks about the contract jumping players who were banned from the National League for five years. He also talks about how the players for the Pittsburgh Pirates almost quit mid-game.

Keywords: Contract jumping; Contracts; Mexican League; Pension plans

Subjects: Baseball players; Baseball players--Salaries, etc.--United States; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Profesional; Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team)

Partial Transcript: The Cards, of course, won the pennant in 46. Um, do you recall anything about...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls the Cardinals winning the pennant in 1946. He also discusses beanballs, which are a kind of pitch meant specifically to hit the batter.

Keywords: "beanballs"; Baseball teams; Batters; Mark Cooper

Subjects: Baseball players; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Pitchers (Baseball); St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: In 1947, of course, you mention also, that Muddy Ruel had left the commissioner's office...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg touches on major topics that occurred in Major League baseball in 1947, such as Jackie Robinson's being signed by the Dodgers.

Keywords: Low salaries; Muddy Ruel; New York Herald-Tribune; New York Post; Player's revolts; Raises; Salaries; Suspensions

Subjects: Baseball players--1940-1950; Brooklyn Dodgers (Baseball Team); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Frick, Ford C.; Major League Baseball (Organization); Racism; Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; Ruel, Herold Dominic, 1896-1963.; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: The Cardinals did not have any, any black ball players for some time, however. I think the first...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls the integration of baseball, including allowing African Americans to enter the stadiums.

Keywords: Grandstands; Interviews; Stadiums

Subjects: African American baseball players; Major League Baseball (Organization); Robinson, Jackie, 1919-1972; Segregation; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: November of 1947, uh, that's when Fred Saigh and Robert Hannegan purchased the Cardinals...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg recalls the sale of the St. Louis Cardinals to Fred Saigh and Robert Hannegan.

Keywords: Inheritance tax; Robert Hannegan; Taxes

Subjects: Baseball team owners; Baseball--Management; Breadon, Sam, 1876-1949; Saigh, Fred; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: By taking mortgages on these properties, on these minor league clubs, Rochester, Columbus, and Houston...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg talks about Fred Saigh as the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Keywords: Baptist Church; Smithwick; Sunday night games

Subjects: Baseball; Baseball managers; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Minor league baseball.; Saigh, Fred

Partial Transcript: Saigh also mentioned, uh, something about the treatment that the owners, who were friendly, that Chandler received...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses Chandler's possible dislike of Fred Saigh and the baseball television contracts.

Keywords: IRS; Internal Revenue Service; Pension plans; Television contracts

Subjects: Baseball team owners; Baseball--Management; Boston Red Sox (Baseball Team); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Griffith, Calvin R.; Saigh, Fred; St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball Team)

Partial Transcript: Let's turn to the end for Chandler. Let's talk about, uh what happened there, uh, that would be...

Segment Synopsis: Broeg discusses how Chandler did not receive enough votes to continue as baseball commissioner. He also mentions his personal opinions on Chandler and Frick.

Keywords: Cincinnati Enquirer; Commissioners; Contracts; Lou Smith; Voting

Subjects: African American baseball players; Baseball commissioners; Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; Frick, Ford C.; Saigh, Fred; Segregation

Partial Transcript: I've gotta ask one more question. Um, Mr. Dewitt... William DeWitt?

Segment Synopsis: Broeg elaborates on whether Dewitt owed money to anyone in the American League. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Debt; Money

Subjects: American League (Major League Baseball); Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991; DeWitt, William O.; St. Louis Browns (Baseball Team)