George Chauncey | |
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| Born | (1847-04-17)April 17, 1847 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 1926(1926-04-16) (aged 78) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Spouse | Adelaide Chaunceynée Sheldon |
| Children | 3 |
George Washington Chauncey[1] (April 17, 1847 – April 16, 1926) was an American business executive in banking and real estate. He was also an owner inprofessional baseball, owning a franchise during the only season of thePlayers' League, 1890, and being an early part-owner of the team that would become theBrooklyn Dodgers, during 1891–1896.
Chauncey was a native ofBrooklyn, New York, and a baseball fan. He got into the sport by financing the formation of a team in thePlayers' League of 1890 that became known asBrooklyn Ward's Wonders, named formanager andshortstopJohn Montgomery Ward. Chauncey also financed the construction of a stadium for the Wonders inBrownsville, calledEastern Park. The team and the league lasted only one season. In 1891, Chauncey arranged a merger of his team with theNational League'sBrooklyn Grooms. The deal saw him accumulate a large share of the Grooms stock and he convinced the other owners to leave their previous home atWashington Park for his facility atEastern Park.[2]He also insisted that managerBill McGunnigle, who had just won two league championships, be fired and replaced with Ward,[3] which the other owners, desperate for his cash, agreed to.
Chauncey's time as owner of the Brooklyn team came to an end in 1897 when he sold his shares in the team to the other ownersFerdinand Abell andCharles Byrne.[4]
Chauncey had multiple business interests in banking and real estate, including being president of a bank from 1902 to 1914 thenchairman until his death, and was president of a real estate company.[5] He was aFreemason and an avidangler.[5][6] Born in 1847, Chauncey died in 1926 following a two-week battle withpneumonia, on the day before his 79th birthday.[6] He was interred atGreen-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn,[5] and was survived by his wife and three children.[6]