Will Harridge was born William Harridge on October 16, 1883 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He was the son of British immigrants who had settled in Hyde Park in 1876. With no special trade, Harridge's father worked at various jobs to support the family.
Harridge graduated from Hyde Park High School while working as an office boy for the Wabash Railroad. After mastering stenography and typing at night school, he was hired full-time and given the responsibility of setting itineraries for theatrical companies and sports groups.
In 1911, Ban Johnson, president of the American League of Baseball, noting Harridge's skills in arranging the league's traveling schedules, hired him as his personal secretary. Harridge had never seen a baseball game. His duties included keeping the league's financial books; recording information on purchases, trades, and releases of players; and reviewing contracts. In 1927 Johnson's public criticism of the baseball commissioner persuaded the American League team owners to force Johnson to take a leave of absence. Vice-President Frank Navin, owner of the Detroit team, became acting president, and Harridge was named secretary-treasurer.
When Johnson unexpectedly returned after two months, he locked Harridge out of the league office. Harridge promptly set up another office in the same building, where he conducted day-to-day business until Johnson's permanent resignation later that year. Ernest S. Barnard, president of the Cleveland Indians, was then chosen league president. Harridge continued as secretary-treasurer. Both men initially had three-year contracts, which were renewed in five-year increments from 1930 on.
In March 1931, Barnard died, and Harridge was elected president of the American League in May. Ultimately, he served a record twenty-eight years as league chief executive, all without a written contract, before retiring on February 1, 1959.
Harridge earned the team owners' longtime loyalty and respect by avoiding publicity, by handling controversy discreetly, by following good business practices, and by bringing dignity to his office. His cautious approach let club owners rule the league. Harridge conducted business in a mild, gentlemanly manner. He displayed a meticulousness that underscored his efficiency and political skill with the owners. On occasion Harridge demonstrated a measured leadership presence. He responded to fights on the field with fines and suspensions of managers, players, and even an umpire. One suspension and fine against New York Yankees star catcher Bill Dickey raised the ire of powerful Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. But Harridge stood firm.
In 1933 his strong support of newspaper reporter Arch Wards' idea for an all-star game convinced the team owners of its value. Harridge created administrative divisions within the league office to handle promotions, publicity, motion picture newsreels, and supervision of umpires.
During World War II he supported continuing major-league competition despite the loss of many players to the armed forces. In 1945 umpire Ernie Stewart, with the encouragement of Commissioner "Happy" Chandler, made efforts to organize the league umpires to obtain higher salaries and better benefits. Harridge then immediately forced Stewart to resign and reminded Chandler that umpires were the responsibility of each league office. Harridge presided over the American League's first franchise shifts in fifty-two years, first in 1954 when the St. Louis Browns became the Baltimore Orioles and then the next year as the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City. When Harridge retired in 1959, the owners created for him the title of chairman of the board of the American League. He continued to visit his office almost daily until his health began to fail. He died in Evanston, Illinois.
William Harridge was an American executive in professional baseball whose most significant role was as president of the American League. In 1933, Harridge made arguably his biggest contribution to baseball by helping to create the All-Star Game. The game, originally scheduled to be a one-time event, was such an overwhelming success that it became an annual tradition. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1972. The American League Championship Series trophy is named the William Harridge Trophy in Harridge's honor.
Quotations: "There was never a morning when I didn’t look forward to going to my office. "
Harridge’s pride in his league was so strong that the Sporting News wrote that Harridge "wanted to win every All-Star Game just as much as he did the World Series. "
Quotes from others about the person
"Harridge’s life was like something straight out of Horatio Alger, " wrote the Sporting News upon his death. "He was a poor boy who climbed to the top through diligence, courage and integrity. In his case, the story wasn’t fiction. "
In June 1911, Harridge married Maude Hunter; they had one child.
