Lex Anteinternet: Branch Rickey hired to manage the Cardinals

Monday, March 20, 2017

Branch Rickey hired to manage the Cardinals

Branch Rickey, 1912

Branch Rickey was hired on this date in 1917 to manage the Cardinals.

Rickey debuted in professional sports as a football player in 1902, playing for the Shelby Blues. The following year however, he switched to baseball, signing with a minor league team. In 1905 he moved to the majors and played with the St. Louis Browns. His fortunes fell, however, and he was traded to the New York Highlanders where he set a negative record for stolen bases against him. He retired after 1907.

He thereafter attended the University of Michigan where he obtained a law degree. While in law school he became the schools baseball coach. In 1913 he returned to the Browns as a member of the managment.

His run with the Cardinals in 1917 was short, as he left to join the Army the same year. He returned to St. Louis after the war. He moved to the Dodgers in 1942. While with the Dodgers he signed Jackie Robinson.

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Lex Anteinternet?

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Our answer to the question was: "The intent of this blog is to try to explore and learn a few things about the practice of law prior to the current era. That is, prior to the internet, prior to easy roads, and the like. How did it work, how regional was it, how did lawyers perceive their roles, and how were they perceived?"

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