Nelson Doubleday Jr.
Nelson Doubleday Jr. | |
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Died | June 17, 2015 | (aged 81)
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Nelson Doubleday Jr. (July 20, 1933 – June 17, 2015) was the owner and the next-to-last president and CEO of Doubleday and Company before its sale to Bertelsmann A.G. in 1986. He was instrumental in the company's purchase of the New York Mets in 1980.[1]
After selling Doubleday Publishing, Doubleday personally bought a 50 percent stake in the Mets in 1986, with team president
Early life and education
Nelson Doubleday Jr. was born July 20, 1933, in
Career
Growing up as the son and grandson of owners of a major book publishing house, Nelson Doubleday Jr. was determined to join the family business. Entering Doubleday as a young man as an assistant in the promotion and subsidiary rights departments, he learned the business by progressing through a variety of positions. He became the president of Doubleday in 1978.
In 1980, he was instrumental in the company's decision to buy the
In 1985, Doubleday saw a decline in sales from 1980 and hired James R. McLaughlin, the head of Dell Publishing, a Doubleday subsidiary, to streamline and downsize. Doubleday's tenure as president ended in 1985; he was succeeded by McLaughlin, who was president during 1985 and 1986.[6][7] In 1986, Doubleday sold the publishing company to Bertelsmann AG for a reported $475 million.[8][5] That same year, Doubleday and Wilpon each bought a 50 percent ownership position in the Mets.[2]
In 2002, Doubleday sold his stake in the Mets to Wilpon for $135 million, thus making Wilpon the sole owner of the Mets.[9][10]
Personal life
Doubleday married Florence McKim, the daughter and step-daughter, respectively, of Lillian Bostwick Phipps and Ogden Phipps. By 1972, they had divorced.[11] In 1973, he married Sandra Pine Barnett (nicknamed Sandy).[4] He had five daughters and one son.
Doubleday died of pneumonia at his Locust Valley, New York, home on June 17, 2015, aged 81.[5]
References
- ^ "Doubleday to invest in Mets". The Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. January 24, 1980. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- ^ a b New York Observer: "Even During Series Mets Partners Spar, Endangering Stadium" By Andrew Rice October 30, 2010
- ^ "Nelson Doubleday Jr, Publishing Executive and Mets Owner, Dies at 81". The Washington Post. June 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Nelson Doubleday Jr, Publishing Executive and Mets Owner, Dies at 81", "The Washington Post," June 18, 2015, accessed April 10, 2017
- ^ a b c Grimes, William (June 17, 2015). "Nelson Doubleday Jr., Publisher and Mets Buyer, Dies at 81". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ New Doubleday President, New York Times
- ^ Bertelsmann Acquires Doubleday, Journal of Commerce
- ^ "West German-based firm buys Doubleday and Co". Tri City Herald. Associated Press. September 28, 1986. Retrieved March 24, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (August 14, 2002). "Baseball; Owners Of Mets Make A Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- ^ Grimes, William (June 18, 2015). "Nelson Doubleday Jr., Publisher Who Owned the Mets, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Marylin Bender, "The Story Behind Family and Firm Reads Like a Novel", The Palm Beach Post, December 31, 1972, accessed April 19, 2012