As the Federal League threatened the American League and National League, Ban Johnson knew the Yankees couldn’t hold off raids by the Federal League in attempt to get their best players. Yankee owners Frank Ferrell and Bill Devery partnership began to crumble as they rapidly lost money over disagreements involving Frank Chance and Hal Chase. Ban Johnson, still protective of his league began looking for new ownership because Farrell and Devery had worn out their welcome and usefulness to the ball club.

Devery and Farell were bad owners from the beginning. They ran the Yankee organization poorly which almost ruined the Yankees. The Yankees hired and fired manager after manager, which hurt team chemistry.

The Giants had a host of wealthy fans, and John McGraw, owner of the Giants knew most of them personally. John McGraw was good friends with Colonel Tillinghast L’Hommideau Huston, who was a civil engineer during the Spanish-American War and made a lot of money dredging the Havana Harbor and re-building the sewer system. Through McGraw, Huston became friends with another big Giants fan, beer baron and Tammany politician Jacob Ruppert. Each man tried to buy a piece of the Giants, but McGraw wouldn’t sell. Both Huston and Ruppert were both very wealthy. On December 7, 1914, Huston and Rupper offered Farrell and Devery a way out and a hansome profit.

The partnership that Houston and Ruppert made forever changed the face of the Yankees and baseball itself. The Yankees became the one of the most recognizable teams in sports. When Houston sold his share years later, Ruppert became the most well known franchise owner in all of sports.

- John A. Roberts

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Tags | American League, Ban Johnson, Baseball, Bill Devery, Colonel Tillinghast L'Hommideau Huston, Federal League, Frank Chance, Frank Ferrell, Hal Chase, Jacob Ruppert, MLB, National League, Yankees