Background
A native of Chicago, Comiskey was the grandson of the team"s founder, Charles Comiskey.
A native of Chicago, Comiskey was the grandson of the team"s founder, Charles Comiskey.
Comiskey"s father, Lou, inherited the team after Charles Comiskey"s death in 1931. Chuck joined the family business in 1948 and was appointed vice president During his time in the White Sox front office, Comiskey played an important role in developing the minor league system of the Go-Go Sox teams of the late 1950s, ultimately culminating with the team"s winning the American League championship in 1959.
Comiskey received a 46 percent stake, making him the team"s second largest shareholder.
After a lengthy court battle, Dorothy opted to sell the team to Comiskey after the 1958 season. Believing that Dorothy wouldn"t consider any offers from outside the family, Comiskey made a fairly low offer.
Dorothy, in a fit of pique, instead sold her 54 percent stake to a group headed by Bill Veeck. However, Comiskey refused to sell his interest and remained as the team"s largest single shareholder.
This forced Veeck to incur over a million dollars in additional taxes.
In 1961, Veeck sold his stake to Arthur and John Allyn. Seeing a chance to finally gain control of the team, Comiskey sold his stock to a group headed by Chicago insurance magnate William Bartholomay. Comiskey promised Bartholomay that he would be able to overwhelm the Allyns with an offer for total control, allowing him an opportunity to buy the team
However, the Allyns turned Bartholomay down.
This ended the Comiskey family"s 62-year involvement with the White Sox. In the early 1970s, Comiskey owned and operated Carriage Transfer, a Hinsdale taxi and limousine company.
While baseball was no longer his profession, he remained a lifelong White Sox fan and season-ticket holder. Comiskey died in Hinsdale at age 82.