Ed Barrow

Early life

Edward Grant Barrow entered the world on May 10, 1868, in Springfield, Illinois, as the eldest of four boys born to Effie Ann Vinson-Heller and John Barrow. His father had served in the Ohio Volunteer Militia during the Civil War. After the war, the family, including John’s mother and siblings, journeyed by covered wagon to Nebraska; Barrow was born on a relative’s hemp plantation along the way. They stayed in Nebraska for six years before relocating to Des Moines, Iowa.

His middle name, Grant, was chosen to honor General Ulysses S. Grant. In 1887, Barrow started as a mailing clerk at the Des Moines News and was promoted to circulation manager within a year. After finishing high school, he became a reporter for the Des Moines Leader and later rose to city editor, earning $35 weekly. During his final two years in Des Moines, he founded a baseball team that featured future stars Fred Clarke, Ducky Holmes, and Herm McFarland.

In 1889, he moved to Pittsburgh to sell soap, hoping to make money, but lost everything and ended up working as a hotel desk clerk.

Baseball career

In 1894, Barrow partnered with Harry Stevens to sell concessions at baseball games and helped form the Interstate League. With Stevens and Al Buckenberger, he purchased the Wheeling Nailers in 1896, serving as field manager until the league collapsed. He then bought the Paterson Silk Weavers of the Atlantic League, managing them for the rest of 1896. Barrow discovered Honus Wagner throwing coal lumps at a railroad station and signed him to his first professional contract, later selling him to the Louisville Colonels for $2,100.

To boost attendance, he brought in boxers James J. Corbett, John L. Sullivan, and James J. Jeffries, and hired Lizzie Arlington, the first woman in professional baseball, to pitch. Barrow served as Atlantic League president from 1897 to 1899. In 1900, he purchased a quarter-share of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Eastern League and managed them, leading the team to a league championship in 1902.

Managerial career

Barrow managed the Detroit Tigers of the American League in 1903, finishing fifth, and again in 1904, but resigned after clashing with Frank Navin. He then managed the Montreal Royals, Indianapolis Indians, and Toronto. Disheartened after a last-place finish, he left baseball in 1907 to manage the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto. He returned in 1910 to manage Montreal, and the Eastern League hired him as president in 1911, a role he held through 1917.

He engineered the league's name change to the International League in 1912. During his presidency, he contended with the Federal League's competition and was the only league president to forbid its players from joining his league. After the 1917 season, he attempted to organize a third major league, the Union League, but faced opposition from owners who voted to cut his salary; he resigned.

Executive career

After the 1920 season, Barrow became business manager of the New York Yankees, replacing Harry Sparrow. He took control of building the roster, handling player contracts, while owner Jacob Ruppert personally handled contracts for Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Barrow supported manager Miller Huggins, including when Huggins suspended Ruth indefinitely in 1925. He brought scout Paul Krichell from Boston and mentored executive George Weiss.

Barrow orchestrated trades with his former club, the Red Sox, netting players such as Bullet Joe Bush, Joe Dugan, and George Pipgras. He purchased a share in the Yankees in 1924. In 1927, he was considered a potential successor to American League president Ban Johnson but declined.

Did You Know?

• Barrow once fought John L. Sullivan in an exhibition for four rounds.
• He was the first executive to put numbers on player uniforms and to allow fans to keep foul balls that entered the stands.
• Barrow was the first to require the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before every game.