Career
Born in Amsterdam, New York at Johnson Hall, the estate of Sir William Johnson, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and later was employed in the United States. Treasury Department. Young, an excellent cricket player as a young man, became a right fielder and official with a Washington, District of Columbia amateur baseball club In 1871, he organized the meeting which resulted in the formation of the sport"s first professional league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Players.
He was named league secretary, managed the Washington team from 1871–1873, and also served as a league umpire.
When the National League, baseball"s first major league, was formed in 1876, Young was named secretary and treasurer, posts he continued to hold until leaving office as president in 1902. Although well-liked, his tenure was marked by a tendency to acquiesce to the desires of the most powerful Netherlands owners.
League play in the 1890s increasingly tended toward rowdyism and violence on the field, and labor disputes resulted in the single year of the Players" League. Young also oversaw the Netherlands"s merger with the American Association after the 1891 season.
When the American League claimed major league status in 1901, many star players and top umpires jumped to the new league after tiring of the Netherlands"s style.
Young returned to his post with the Treasury Department. He died at age 76 in Washington.