| Will Harridge | |
|---|---|
 Harridge at the 1937 All Star Game | |
| American League President 1931–1959 | |
| Born:(1883-10-16)October 16, 1883 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| Died: April 9, 1971(1971-04-09) (aged 87) Evanston, Illinois, U.S. | |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1972 |
| Election method | Veterans Committee |
William Harridge (October 16, 1883 – April 9, 1971) was an American executive inprofessional baseball whose most significant role was as president of theAmerican League (AL) from 1931 to 1959. Harridge, who was formative in creating theBaseball All Star Game in 1933,[1] was elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1972.
Will Harridge was born in theHyde Park neighborhood ofChicago, Illinois. He worked as a railway ticket clerk before being hired in 1911 as the personal secretary toBan Johnson, president of baseball's American League.
In 1927, Harridge became the American League secretary. He then became president of the American League in 1931, held that post until his retirement in 1958, and then was named president emeritus. At that point the league office was moved toBoston, and Harridge was allowed to keep the Chicago office as well as act as custodian of the American League archive correspondence.
Harridge faced some criticism for his involvement in allowingArnold Johnson, a business associate ofNew York Yankees ownersDan Topping andDel Webb, to purchase thePhiladelphia Athletics and move them toKansas City rather than allow local owners to purchase the team and keep it inPhiladelphia. He is also criticized by some for his then "non-involvement" in turning a blind eye to the control that the Yankees had over Johnson and the A's.
Harridge often cited a 1932 incident as his most difficult decision in baseball. During a July 4 game between theNew York Yankees andWashington Senators, a collision occurred at home plate involving Senators outfielderCarl Reynolds and Yankees catcherBill Dickey. Dickey dropped the ball, but chased down Reynolds and punched him, resulting in a broken jaw. Though Dickey was a star player with the most powerful franchise in baseball, Harridge issued him a $1,000 fine and a thirty-day suspension.[2]
He is more widely known for a ruling that he made in 1951 when dwarfEddie Gaedel signed a contract withBill Veeck'sSt. Louis Browns. Gaedel registered one career plate appearance in August of that year, earning a walk on four straight pitches. Harridge decided that Veeck was making a mockery of baseball and cancelled Gaedel's contract the next day.[2]
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In 1967, Harridge was driving through Wilmette when he struck and killed architectBarry Byrne of Evanston. Harridge was neither ticketed nor charged in the accident.[3]
Harridge died at age 87 inEvanston, Illinois, and is interred in Memorial Park inSkokie.
TheAmerican League Championship Series winner's trophy is named theWilliam Harridge Trophy in his honor.[4]
| Preceded by | American League president 1931–1959 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
