Charles Bidwill
Personal information | |
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Born: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | September 16, 1895
Died: | April 19, 1947 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 51)
Career information | |
High school: | Chicago (IL) St. Ignatius |
College: | Loyola of Chicago |
Position: | Owner |
Career history | |
As an executive: | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Charles W. "Charley" Bidwill Sr. (September 16, 1895 – April 19, 1947) was an owner of the
Early years
Bidwill was the son of Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Joseph Edward Bidwill and Mary Anne Sullivan. His eldest brother Joseph Edward Bidwill Jr. was a clerk of the Chicago Circuit Court and his younger brother Arthur J. Bidwill was a Republican State Senator. Loretta Mary Bidwill was his sister (1988-1973).
Before the Cardinals
Prior to his ownership of the Cardinals, Bidwill was a successful businessman and wealthy lawyer in Chicago, with ties to organized crime boss Al Capone.[3] He was owner of a racing stable, the president of the Chicago Stadium Operating Company and owner of a printing company.[4] Bidwill's only physical participation in athletics came only during his time at St. Ignatius High School and Loyola University.
After graduation in 1916, he began his law practice, serving as assistant prosecutor for Chicago and corporation counsel. As a businessman, Bidwill was often referred to as "Blue Shirt Charlie" because he sometimes favored a blue shirt and high boots instead of the traditional white shirt and businessman's shoes.[5]
Bidwill was part owner of the Chicago Bears, after he helped George Halas buy Edward "Dutch" Sternaman's share of the team in 1933.[6] According to Halas' account in his 1967 book, That's The Way the Ball Bounces, Bidwill purchased team stocks for $5,000: "From this desperate situation, I was rescued by the joint efforts of my mother and my good friend Charley Bidwill. Mother bought $5,000 worth of stock from her savings, Bidwill purchased $5,000 in stock and also arranged a bank loan for the remaining $5,000 needed to pay off Sternaman."
Cardinals
Purchase
One night in 1932,
As the owner
In 1940 he tried but failed to buy the Detroit Lions. He then hired Jimmy Conzelman as coach, who later quit as coach to work for the St. Louis Browns.[4]
World War II years
In
The AAFC
After the war the
Death and legacy
He died of pneumonia in April 1947,[1][2][8] shortly after signing Trippi. His widow Violet inherited the team and operated it until her death in early 1962.[9] During her tenure as the Cardinals owner, she and her husband Walter Wolfner relocated the franchise to St. Louis in 1960. Following her death, she left the team to her adopted sons from her first marriage, Charles Jr. and Bill.[10][11][12][13][14] He is a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
Bill Bidwill bought his elder brother's share in 1972.[15] During Bill's time as owner, the team relocated once more, to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988, and since 1994 have been known as the Arizona Cardinals. He remained sole owner until his death in 2019. His son Michael Bidwill, who had been team president and operating head of the franchise since 2007, inherited the team.[16] Only the Bears (owned by Halas and his descendants since 1921) and the New York Giants (owned by the Mara family since their founding in 1925) have been in the hands of one family longer than the Cardinals.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b "Bidwill's aids will carry on sports empire". Chicago Sunday Tribune. April 20, 1947. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ a b "Charles Bidwill, dog track owner, dies in Chicago". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. April 20, 1947. p. 11.
- ^ Craig R. Coenen, From Sandlots to the Super Bowl: The National Football League, 1920–1967. University of Tennessee Press, 2005; p. 21.
- ^ a b c Bob Carroll and Bob Braunwart, "Blue Shirt Charlies Big Red Dream," Coffin Corner, vol. 3, no. 4 (1981); pp. 1–2.
- ^ *"Arizona Cardinals History". Arizona Cardinals. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Cards' history hardly super". Chicago Tribune. 2009.
- ^ Forr, James (2003). "Card-Pitt: The Carpits" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Vol. 25, no. 3. pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-22 – via Professional Football Researchers Association.
- ^ Jenkins, Lee (2009-01-29). "Bidwills Restore Their Family Name". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
- ^ "Mrs. Wolfner, Cardinals' owner, dies". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. January 30, 1962. p. 1, part 3.
- ^ "Card owners to be active". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. February 8, 1962. p. 13, part 2.
- ^ "Court fight begins for Cards' control". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. March 29, 1962. p. 48.
- ^ "Bidwills face court action". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. March 31, 1962. p. 2, final.
- ^ Howard, Robert. "Court rules for Bidwills". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
- ^ "High court rules in favor of sons". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. February 2, 1963. p. 2, part 2.
- ^ "Bill Bidwill sole owner of Cards". Southeast Missorian. Cape Girardeau. Associated Press. September 12, 1972. p. 8.
- ^ Baum, Bob. "Long, rocky history marks Bidwills' ownership". Boston Globe. AP. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.