Sam Breadon
| Birthdate | 07/26/1876 |
| Death Date | 05/08/1948 |
| Debut Year | 1917 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Cardinals |
| Position | Owner |
Some feel that the omission of Sam Breadon from the Hall is a glaring injustice. His teams won 9 National League pennants & 6 World Series titles.
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The Cardinals won nine pennants and six World Series titles while Sam Breadon was owner
The Cardinals won nine pennants and six World Series titles while Sam Breadon was owner
As measured in wins and World Series titles, Sam Breadon is one of the most successful team owners in the history of baseball. Before Breadon arrived, the St. Louis Cardinals hadn’t finished above third place in more than a quarter century.
After purchasing controlling interest in the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920, the franchise won like never before. From the time he bought the team until 1947 when he sold it, the Cardinals had a .574 winning percentage, going 2,470-1,830. The team won nine National League pennants and six World Series titles.
The 1942 season was a great one for the St. Louis Cardinals and their rookie Stan Musial. It was the fourth World Series championship during Sam Breadon’s reign as team owner and a solid year for young Musial. The 22-year old Musial was paid $4,200 for a year in which hit .315 with 147 hits, 10 homers and 72 runs batted in.
In February and March of 1943, Breadon was in contract negotiations with Musial who had just completed his rookie season. The images below are of letters written by Breadon to Musial and reveal a contentious battle between the young player and the team owner.
This is the initial letter dated February of 1943. Breadon sent the letter to Musial along with a contract calling for a $1,300 raise to bring earnings to $5,500.
Sam Breadon played hardball with a young Stan Musial during contract negotiations
Sam Breadon played hardball with a young Stan Musial during contract negotiations
Stan Musial felt the salary offer was not enough and sent the contract back unsigned. A clearly miffed Breadon scolds Musial in this correspondence.
“We have had great outfielders on our ball club, including Hafey, Medwick, Terry Moore, and Slaughter, and none of them in their second year received a contract for as much as $5,500.”
The owner acknowledged Musial’s potential, writing, “I don’t question that you are a good player, and have a chance to become a great player…”.
Breadon also warns Musial that he may fall out of favor with the fans, referring to the public as fickle. Toward the end of the letter, Breadon even talks of suspending holdouts.
Breadon owned the Cardinals from 1920-1947
Breadon owned the Cardinals from 1920-1947
In closing the letter, Breadon writes to Stan Musial, “Baseball is your business, as well as mine, and we must work together. The club is taking all the chances of a very uncertain season, and the players must cooperate or there will be no season.”
Breadon then tells Musial he’s returning the contract and hopes the player will not be late training camp.
Finally Breadon signs his name in his usual bold and clear handwriting.
Breadon blasts Musial in the final letter
Breadon blasts Musial in the final letter
After Stan Musial again rejected the owner’s proposal, Breadon called the response, “a disappointment”. He tells Musial, “it is impossible to consider the sum you ask for 1943,” and process to blast the young star.
“You will have no more to do this year than you had last year. I thought you were the kind of ballplayer that gave all you had in every ballgame. Of course we expect the same in 1943, if you sign a contract with us.”
In his final paragraph, Breadon makes his strongest push, writing, “We could write letters until the end of the season and get no place, therefore, I suggest that you come to St. Louis, and if you do not sign a contract, and want to stay out of baseball in 1943, we will pay for your round-trip expenses.”
The Cardinals signed Musial $6,250, a full $750 more than Breadon offered. Musial rewarded the team by leading the league in hits, doubles, triples, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
At season’s end Stan Musial was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player. That’s quite a bargain for $6,250.
Front and back of the envelope that enclosed the first letter.
Front and back of the envelope that enclosed the first letter.
This is the original envelope that Stan Musial received the offer. Notice the team logos on the front and back, and the postmarks.
With nine NL pennants and six World Series championships during his tenure, Breadon remains a strong candidate for induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Original envelope with March 3, 1943 postmark
Original envelope with March 3, 1943 postmark
Plenty of postage was required as this envelope housed the two-page letter and two copies of the contract the Breadon wanted Stan Musial to sign.
Autographed letters are made more attractive when paired with their original envelopes.
I’m not even a Cardinals fan (I’m a Cubs fan) and I think Breadon should be in the Hall of Fame, no doubt about it. And I think that eventually he will be.
As a Cubs fan that’s big of you, Steve. Let’s hope Mr. Breadon gets in!
Fascinating exchange, the economic dynamic of the times was certainly an interesting piece of history. I looked up that address on Google, the Cardinals spelled his address incorrectly, it is actually McKean.