Branch Rickey III
Encyclopedia
Branch Barrett Rickey, grandson of Branch Rickey
, serves as the president of the Pacific Coast League
. He replaced the retiring Bill Cutler who served as PCL president from 1979 to 1997. Rickey had been the president of the venerable American Association
which was disbanded during a realignment by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in a scale-down from three Triple-A leagues, the Pacific Coast League, the International League, and the American Association, to two in 1997.
His greatest achievements to date have been in the redevelopment of minor league baseball
as a "fan friendly" sport that caters to a broader audience of families, women, and children. Under his watch, the Pacific Coast League has had a face-lift of virtually all of its ballparks and has seen attendance rise from the low thousands into the multiple thousands at most of the facilities in the league.
Prior to his involvement as a league president, Branch spent over twenty years in major league baseball, in player development with the Pittsburgh Pirates
and the Cincinnati Reds
, as a scout, as an Assistant Scouting Director during the 70’s, and in the 80’s as Director of Player Development.
At Ohio Wesleyan University, Rickey played baseball, wrestled, and was co-captain of the Varsity Soccer team. He has officiated International Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, culminating with his participation as a referee in the Olympic Games.
He began his professional career with the Pirates in 1963 at the age of 17 when he became Business Manager of their rookie league affiliate in the Appalachian League
, at Kingsport, Tennessee
.
He worked with Pirate rookie teams during the summers while pursuing his college degree at Ohio Wesleyan University
. Following graduation with a degree in Philosophy, he entered the Peace Corps
1969, then as a college campus recruiter for the Peace Corps, and subsequently as a U.S. regional recruitment director in 1971.
He returned to professional baseball in 1972 as Assistant Director of the Kansas City Royals
Baseball Academy in Sarasota, Florida
. The Academy was a major league experiment to take teenage players with overall athletic skill and develop them into major league players. When the Academy was closed by the Royals in 1974, Rickey rejoined the Pirates.
Rickey comes from a long line of baseball men known by the same name. His grandfather Wesley Branch Rickey
invented the baseball farm system, a chain of levels of development teams that serve a major league baseball club. He also invented the batting cage, the batting helmet, and a host of workouts and development programs that are standards of baseball. Rickey's grandfather built dynasties with the St. Louis Cardinals
and Brooklyn Dodgers, and was best known outside of baseball for breaking the color line and admitting Dodgers star Jackie Robinson
to what had been all-white baseball leagues by 'gentleman's agreement.' His father, Branch Rickey Jr.
, served as farm system director for both the Dodgers and the Pirates.
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
, serves as the president of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He replaced the retiring Bill Cutler who served as PCL president from 1979 to 1997. Rickey had been the president of the venerable American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
which was disbanded during a realignment by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues in a scale-down from three Triple-A leagues, the Pacific Coast League, the International League, and the American Association, to two in 1997.
His greatest achievements to date have been in the redevelopment of minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
as a "fan friendly" sport that caters to a broader audience of families, women, and children. Under his watch, the Pacific Coast League has had a face-lift of virtually all of its ballparks and has seen attendance rise from the low thousands into the multiple thousands at most of the facilities in the league.
Prior to his involvement as a league president, Branch spent over twenty years in major league baseball, in player development with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, as a scout, as an Assistant Scouting Director during the 70’s, and in the 80’s as Director of Player Development.
At Ohio Wesleyan University, Rickey played baseball, wrestled, and was co-captain of the Varsity Soccer team. He has officiated International Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, culminating with his participation as a referee in the Olympic Games.
He began his professional career with the Pirates in 1963 at the age of 17 when he became Business Manager of their rookie league affiliate in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
, at Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
.
He worked with Pirate rookie teams during the summers while pursuing his college degree at Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
. Following graduation with a degree in Philosophy, he entered the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
1969, then as a college campus recruiter for the Peace Corps, and subsequently as a U.S. regional recruitment director in 1971.
He returned to professional baseball in 1972 as Assistant Director of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
Baseball Academy in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. The Academy was a major league experiment to take teenage players with overall athletic skill and develop them into major league players. When the Academy was closed by the Royals in 1974, Rickey rejoined the Pirates.
Rickey comes from a long line of baseball men known by the same name. His grandfather Wesley Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
invented the baseball farm system, a chain of levels of development teams that serve a major league baseball club. He also invented the batting cage, the batting helmet, and a host of workouts and development programs that are standards of baseball. Rickey's grandfather built dynasties with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and Brooklyn Dodgers, and was best known outside of baseball for breaking the color line and admitting Dodgers star Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
to what had been all-white baseball leagues by 'gentleman's agreement.' His father, Branch Rickey Jr.
Branch Rickey Jr.
Wesley Branch Rickey, Jr. was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. The son of Baseball Hall of Fame club executive Branch Rickey, who among his many achievements invented the farm system and led the movement within baseball to break the color line, Branch Jr...
, served as farm system director for both the Dodgers and the Pirates.
External links
- Minor League News - Interview as PCL President
- Pacific Coast League - Staff Biography on Rickey
- Minor League News - Historical/Opinion article suggesting Rickey as potential future leader of Major League Baseball