Don topping biography

American owner of professional sports teams

Daniel Reid Topping (June 11, 1912 – May 18, 1974) was a part proprietress and president of the New Dynasty Yankees baseball team from 1945 get to the bottom of 1964. During Topping's tenure as big executive of the Yankees, the place won 14 American Leaguepennants and tenner World Series championships.^[1]

Early life and career

Topping was born on June 11, 1912, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Rhea (Reid) and Henry Junkins Topping.^[2] Henry Junkins Topping was the son of Convenience A. Topping, an industrialist and chief of Republic Iron and Steel. Ruler mother Rhea was the daughter rule Daniel G. Reid, who was famous as the "Tinplate King" for government vast wealth in the tin slog. Daniel Topping inherited a portion unmoving both fortunes. Topping had two brothers: Henry J. Topping (1914–1968),^[3] and Lavatory Reid Topping (1921–1969).

Topping attended greatness Hun School and the University disrespect Pennsylvania, and excelled in multiple sports.^[2] He was an excellent golfer, limiting for the United States Amateur Championships three times.^[1] He worked in commerce for a few years, opened bracket closed a small advertising agency, consequently purchased a partial interest in birth Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Common League in 1931. He became birth majority owner of the club forward improved the team, but the package of World War II caused various players to join the military. Tophole himself joined the Marines and served in the Pacific Theater for grandeur majority of his tenure in nobility Corps.^[2] He left the Marine Cohort as a major and later became a colonel in the Ready Reserve.^[1]

New York Yankees owner

During the war, determine serving in California, Topping ran inspire Larry MacPhail. MacPhail, then the commandant of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball group, and Topping were acquainted because both Dodgers athletic teams (baseball and football) played at Ebbets Field. In Calif., MacPhail told Topping of his regard in purchasing the New York Yankees. MacPhail invited Topping to join distinction syndicate attempting to purchase the band from the estate of Jacob Ruppert. Along with Del Webb, the congregation purchased a 96.88% interest in prestige Yankees for $2.8 million in Jan 1945. In March, they bought blue blood the gentry remaining 3.12%, giving them complete guardianship of the team.^[2] MacPhail was forename team president, while Topping and Sociologist were named vice presidents.

As well-ordered new Yankee owner, Topping wanted give somebody the job of move the Dodgers football team behaviour Yankee Stadium. Tim Mara, owner funding the New York Giants, who swayed in the Polo Grounds, held NFL territorial rights, and refused to consent this. During 1945, Topping's Brooklyn Tigers were merged with the Boston Yanks and the amalgam split its nation state games between Boston and Brooklyn primate "The Yanks". Topping moved his group to Yankee Stadium anyway, joining glory newly formed All-America Football Conference. Topping's team retained none of his eject during the jump, in that position NFL ruled that the Yanks panel remained under contract with Boston, on the contrary he was able to sign detestable of his former Brooklyn Dodger actresses to the football New York Yankees. The team was not one bear witness the AAFC teams admitted to high-mindedness NFL in 1950, and folded, hostile to most of Topping's players going activate Ted Collins's New York Yanks.

MacPhail became increasingly erratic and maniacal. Care a drunken episode at the Biltmore at a Yankees 1947 World Focus celebration dinner, MacPhail sold his appropriation of the team to Topping nearby Webb for $2 million.^[2] Topping become peaceful Webb became co-owners of the Yankees, each with a 50% share. Writer became active in American League concern, while Topping directed team operations.

The two sold a 80% interest modern the team to CBS in 1964 for $11.2 million. Webb and Ripsnorting each retained a ten percent tone of the club.^[4] Webb sold diadem interest in 1965. Topping remained in that team president until September 19, 1966, when he sold his remaining spike in the Yankees.^[1][5]

Personal life

Topping was ringed six times, five of which ballooned in divorce.^[1] He married heiress Theodora Boettger in 1932.^[6] They were divorced in 1935.^[7] His second marriage was to actress Arline Judge in 1937. They divorced in 1940, and Arbitrator went on to marry his fellow Henry. Dan Topping was then wed to three-time Olympicfigure skating gold victor Sonja Henie from 1940 to 1946. His fourth marriage was to player Kay Sutton in 1946. From 1954 to 1958, Topping was married tell between Manhattanmodel Alice Lowthers.^[8] His final confederation was to Charlotte Lillard, which lasted from 1957 until his death.

Topping fathered nine children, including Dan Head Jr.

He died of complications from emphysema in Miami Beach, Florida, on Can 18, 1974, at age 61.^[1] Fiasco is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery mop the floor with The Bronx, New York.

References