H. Gabriel Murphy
H. Gabriel Murphy | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 8, 1903[1] Hogansburg, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 2001 (aged 98) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Insurance executive (H. Gabriel Murphy & Co.) Major League Baseball team owner |
| Years active | 1950–1984 (baseball) |
Henry Gabriel Murphy (January 8, 1903 – November 1, 2001) After October 1955, Murphy became the largest individual shareholder in the team, although he never gained majority control.
A longtime
Minority owner of Washington Senators
Ironically, Murphy had purchased his stake in the Washington franchise in 1950 as an ally of Calvin's uncle,
Griffith considered Murphy, then 47, a friendly partner; Murphy had dealt with the owner over the years when he negotiated a lease on Griffith Stadium for use by the Georgetown Hoyas varsity football team.[3] Murphy's investment ended any threat to Griffith's control of the Senators; in return he was reported to have acquired right of first refusal should the club be put up for sale.[7]
Opposed team's move to Twin Cities
By the time Clark Griffith died at age 85 in October 1955, he had acquired an additional eight percent of the team's stock and owned 52 percent of its shares. His nephew Calvin and niece Thelma Griffith Haynes each inherited half of their uncle's majority stake and together they assumed control of the franchise, with Calvin becoming the Senators' president and de facto general manager. He and Murphy soon began to clash over the floundering team's management. The Senators' front office included three of Griffith's brothers, plus Thelma and her husband, Joe Haynes. The Senators lost over 90 games for five consecutive seasons (1955–59) and finished in last place for three successive seasons (1957–59). Murphy wanted Griffith to relinquish his general manager duties and hire an outsider to run the team's baseball operations; Griffith flatly refused. In protest, Murphy resigned as the Senators' treasurer and member of the board of directors in 1956.[5]
Their disagreements intensified when Griffith began entertaining offers from cities wishing to lure the Senators from Washington.
Murphy held onto his share of the Twins, however, and returned to the club's board of directors in 1977. In April 1984, he agreed to sell his stake to the Tampa Bay Baseball Group for $11.5 million.[6] When Griffith sold his family's majority interest to Carl Pohlad in August 1984, Pohlad also acquired Murphy's former shares from the Tampa Bay consortium.[5][9]
Murphy was active in Washington charities and organizations, at one time serving as president of the
Personal
On Murphy's death, he was survived by two daughters, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Marie McIntyre Murphy. He was the maternal grandfather of
References
- ^ a b U.S. Find-A-Grave Index, Ancestry.com
- ^ a b "H. Gabriel Murphy, 98; Tried to Keep Team in Washington". Los Angeles Times. August 31, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2001.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-2359-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-886513-71-6.
- ^ a b c d e f Estrada, Louie (November 4, 2001). "H. Gabriel Murphy Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ^ a b United Press International (26 April 1984): "A Minority Share in the Minnesota Twins Baseball Team Has Been Sold"
- ISBN 978-0-557-47295-6.
- ISBN 9781610602693.
- The Associated Press, August 16, 1984
External links
- Summary of the June 15, 1961, decision by U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, in H. Gabriel Murphy vs. Washington American League Baseball Club, Inc., at al.
- Summary of the July 18, 1963, decision by U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, in H. Gabriel Murphy vs. Washington American League Baseball Club, Inc., et al.