Dan Topping
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Dan Topping | |
---|---|
Born | Daniel Reid Topping June 11, 1912 Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
Died | May 18, 1974 Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | (aged 61)
Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York) |
Alma mater | Hun School of Princeton, University of Pennsylvania |
Occupations |
|
Spouses |
Alice Lowthers
(m. 1954; div. 1958)Charlotte Lillard (m. 1957) |
Children | 9, including Dan Topping Jr. |
Awards | 10× World Series champions: |
Daniel Reid Topping (June 11, 1912 – May 18, 1974) was a part owner and president of the New York Yankees baseball team from 1945 to 1964. During Topping's tenure as chief executive of the Yankees, the team won 14 American League pennants and ten World Series championships.[1]
Early life and career
Topping was born on June 11, 1912, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Rhea (Reid) and Henry Junkins Topping.[2] Henry Junkins Topping was the son of John A. Topping, an industrialist and president of Republic Iron and Steel. His mother Rhea was the daughter of Daniel G. Reid, who was known as the "Tinplate King" for his vast wealth in the tin industry. Daniel Topping inherited a portion of both fortunes. Topping had two brothers: Henry J. Topping (1914–1968),[3] and John Reid Topping (1921-1969).
Topping attended the
New York Yankees owner
During the war, while serving in
As a new Yankee owner, Topping wanted to move the Dodgers football team into
MacPhail became increasingly erratic and maniacal. After a drunken episode at the Biltmore at a Yankees 1947 World Series celebration dinner, MacPhail sold his share of the team to Topping and Webb for $2 million.[2] Topping and Webb became co-owners of the Yankees, each with a 50% share. Webb became active in American League affairs, while Topping directed team operations.
The two sold a 80% interest in the team to CBS in 1964 for $11.2 million. Webb and Topping each retained a ten percent share of the club.[4] Webb sold his interest in 1965. Topping remained as team president until 1966, when he sold his remaining stake in the Yankees.[1]
Personal life
Topping was married six times, five of which ended in divorce.[1] He married heiress Theodora Boettger in 1932.[5] They were divorced in 1935.[6] His second marriage was to actress Arline Judge in 1937. They divorced in 1940, and Judge went on to marry his brother Henry. Dan Topping was then married to three-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sonja Henie from 1940 to 1946. His fourth marriage was to actress Kay Sutton in 1946. From 1954 to 1958, Topping was married to Manhattan model Alice Lowthers.[7] His final marriage was to Charlotte Lillard, which lasted from 1957 until his death.
Topping fathered nine children, including Dan Topping Jr.
He died of complications from emphysema in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 18, 1974, at age 61.[1] He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Dan Topping Dead at 61; Yankee Owner 22 Years". The New York Times. May 20, 1974. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Armour, Mark; Leavitt, Daniel R. "Dan Topping". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Henry J. (Bob) Topping Dies; Was Heir to Tin Plate Fortune" (PDF). The New York Times. April 23, 1968. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ Koppett, Leonard (March 2, 1965). "Webb Sells 10 Per Cent Interest in Yanks to C.B.S. for $1.4 Million; TOPPING REMAINS AS HEAD OF CLUB" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "Oil Princess Needs Director". New York Daily News. Newspapers.com. April 29, 1932. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Milestones". Time. December 1, 1958. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2020.