Harry Frazee

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Lore & Background

Frazee bought the Red Sox from Joseph Lannin for a reported $500,000 after their victory in the 1916 World Series. The Sox won another World Series title in 1918. After the 1919 season, Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The sale of Ruth and other players to the Yankees was influenced by a long-running dispute with American League president Ban Johnson. Johnson limited Frazee's trade options, effectively forcing him to deal with the Yankees or White Sox. Frazee also sold Carl Mays to the Yankees in July 1919. The Red Sox did not win another World Series until 2004.

In Their Own Story

In August 1919, Frazee negotiated to buy Fenway Park from the Taylor family and Lannin to secure the franchise against potential revocation by Johnson. However, a dispute over Federal League settlement costs caused him to stop payments, leading Lannin to place a lien on the team in spring 1920 that barred player trades. After settling with Lannin, Frazee signed a deal on May 3 to become sole owner of Fenway, using a second mortgage as collateral for the Yankees' $300,000 loan. To service this debt and his theater obligations, he sold virtually all top players to New York over three years, netting $305,000. Key trades included Bullet Joe Bush in December 1921, Waite Hoyt in December 1920, and Herb Pennock in January 1923. The Red Sox subsequently crashed into the American League cellar, failing to finish above .500 until 1934.

Reader's Guide

Frazee's theater ventures did not generate enough capital to meet the Red Sox' expenses. He often borrowed from the Red Sox to meet other commitments. The sale of Ruth included a $300,000 loan secured by a mortgage on Fenway Park. Over the next three years, Frazee sold virtually all of the Red Sox' top players to the Yankees, netting $305,000.

Did You Know?

• Frazee built the Cort Theater in Chicago in 1907 and the Longacre Theatre in New York in 1913.
• He promoted a boxing match between Jess Willard and Jack Johnson in Havana, Cuba, on April 5, 1915.
• Frazee was a Freemason.
• The 86-year World Series drought after the Ruth sale is the third-longest in MLB history.