Joe Cronin

Joe Cronin
Birthdate 10/12/1906
Death Date 9/7/1984
Debut Year 1926
Year of Induction 1956
Teams American League, Pirates, Red Sox, Senators
Positions Executive, League President, Shortstop

Joe Cronin played, managed and served as general manager, American League President, and on the Hall of Fame’s board of directors.

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Joe Cronin began his 20-year playing career with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Joe Cronin began his 20-year playing career with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Joe Cronin signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925 after his senior year in high school. The following year he got his first taste of big league baseball at age 19. The 1927 Bucco squad was a star-studded ensemble. Stacked with Pie Traynor, Paul and Lloyd Waner, and Kiki Cuyler – Hall of Fa
Cronin rose to stardom with the Senators and became their skipper in 1933

Cronin rose to stardom with the Senators and became their skipper in 1933

When the Washington Senators purchased Joe Cronin’s contract from the Double-A Kansas City Blues, they weren’t sure what they were getting. The 21-year old was a veteran of just 50 big league games. After hitting .242 for the Senators in 1928, Cronin was made the starting shortstop for t
Cronin's 20-year playing career ended in April, 1945 with an on-field injury

Cronin's 20-year playing career ended in April, 1945 with an on-field injury

Joe Cronin enjoyed a 20-year career that ended just three games into the 1945 season. On April 19, 1945, Cronin went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. In the top of the 7th, he reached first on an error by Yankee second baseman Snuffy Stirnweiss. The next batter hit what looked like a double pla
Cronin succeeded fellow Cooperstown man Eddie Collins as Boston GM at the end of 1947

Cronin succeeded fellow Cooperstown man Eddie Collins as Boston GM at the end of 1947

Joe Cronin played for the Red Sox from 1935-1945. He managed them even longer, first serving as player/manager from ’33-’45, and continuing as skipper through the ’47 season. When Boston general manager Eddie Collins resigned at the end of ’47, Cronin took over. He remained a
Cronin resigned as Boston's GM in 1959 to assume the American League presidency

Cronin resigned as Boston's GM in 1959 to assume the American League presidency

When American League president William Harridge left the post in 1959 a void was created. Harridge had faithfully served the Junior Circuit since 1931. Team owners needed a man with knowledge and the respect of others. They turned to Joe Cronin. The Hall of Fame shortstop left his job as Red Sox GM
Joe Cronin responds to autograph requests of other AL Presidents, mentions 3 predecessors

Joe Cronin responds to autograph requests of other AL Presidents, mentions 3 predecessors

Three years after his induction to Cooperstown in 1956, seven-time All Star Joe Cronin was named president of the American League. It was in this capacity that Cronin signed this letter to an autograph hound seeking the signatures of the first and second AL chiefs. The American League began in 1901
AL chief Joe Cronin shakes hands with 11-time All Star Bill Freehan, both have signed this photo

AL chief Joe Cronin shakes hands with 11-time All Star Bill Freehan, both have signed this photo

After completing a 20-year playing career that culminated in election to the Hall of Fame, Joe Cronin went on to manage for 15 seasons. Then in January of 1959, Cronin became the first former player to be named league president when he took the highest office in the AL. It was in that position that
By virtue of his 20-year playing career, Joe Cronin earned a lifetime pass to all MLB games

By virtue of his 20-year playing career, Joe Cronin earned a lifetime pass to all MLB games

Most people can only dream of a lifetime of free admission to Major League Baseball games. For Joe Cronin, that dream was a reality thanks to this lifetime pass. Issued toward the end of Cronin’s 15-year reign as American League President, the pass features the facsimile signature of Chub Feen
This lifetime pass issued to Cronin is good for regular season games only

This lifetime pass issued to Cronin is good for regular season games only

Most Lifetime Passes have blank backs. Not this one. Here baseball’s policy is clearly stated, “GOOD FOR ALL REGULAR SEASON GAMES. NOT HONORED FOR EXHIBITION, ALL STAR, PLAYOFF, OR WORLD SERIES GAMES”. Cronin finished with a .301 lifetime average, 2,285 career hits and was seven time all star

A Story about Joe Cronin

Lifetime passes were the brainchild of NL President Ford Frick; here’s a pictorial history

June 18th, 2016 Leave a comment

Lifetime pass

A newspaper man turned league publicist turned league president came up with a brilliant idea in 1934 — reward longtime National League players with a lifetime pass to all NL games. Senior Circuit owners approved Ford Frick’s proposal at the league meeting in December of ’34. A few months later, Frick sent out ornately decorated paper Lifetime Passes to the NL’s greatest players. He even sent one to Babe Ruth who appeared in all of 28 games for the Boston Braves in 1935. A 21-year veteran of the American League, the Babe was grateful if not surprised when he remarked, “At least the National League has a heart”. An image of the original paper pass presented to Hall of Fame outfielder Sliding Billy Hamilton can be seen below. A similar pass curiously issued to Stan Coveleski, a lifetime American Leaguer is also shown. Perhaps shamed by Ruth’s remarks, the American League joined forces in 1936 to issue a pass to all Major League contests. Players with twenty or more years of service received a solid gold pass. Seventeen men qualified for the true “golden ticket” — Ruth, Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Bill Dahlen, Harry Davis, Red Faber, Walter Johnson, […]

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