John Rogers (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John Ignatius Rogers was part-owner of the Philadelphia Phillies
from to , and majority owner from 1899 to . He also owned the Philadelphia Phillies
of the short-lived National Football League
of 1902.
Rogers was born to Irish immigrant parents in Philadelphia on May 27, 1844. He earned his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania,, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Rogers was elected the city comptroller in 1880. Rogers was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Philadelphia National Guard, attaining the rank of colonel.
A prominent attorney and politician in Philadelphia, Rogers teamed up with sporting goods magnate Al Reach
to acquire the remnants of the Worcester Worcesters
in 1883, winning the rights to the franchise via drawing of lots. Reach and Rogers relocated the franchise to Philadelphia, where they became known as the Quakers (they would later become the Phillies), entering the team as an expansion franchise in the National League
in 1883. During these early days, Rogers was involved in creating baseball's reserve clause
, which would remain in effect until the era of free agency. In 1899, Reach sold his interest to Rogers due to repeated disagreements about the direction of the club.
Reach and Rogers sold the Phillies to a group led by James Potter
in February 1903, but retained the rights to the team's stadium, National League Park (which eventually became Baker Bowl
). On August 8, a balcony collapsed at the park, killing 12 people and injuring hundreds more. Rogers was nearly ruined by the resulting avalanche of lawsuits, and was forced to sell the stadium to Potter as well. Eventually, both Rogers and Reach were absolved of blame and financial responsibility for the accident by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rogers died of heart failure in Denver, Colorado on March 13, 1910.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from to , and majority owner from 1899 to . He also owned the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies (NFL)
The Philadelphia Phillies were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole league was a curious...
of the short-lived National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
of 1902.
Rogers was born to Irish immigrant parents in Philadelphia on May 27, 1844. He earned his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania,, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Rogers was elected the city comptroller in 1880. Rogers was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Philadelphia National Guard, attaining the rank of colonel.
A prominent attorney and politician in Philadelphia, Rogers teamed up with sporting goods magnate Al Reach
Al Reach
Alfred James Reach was an Anglo-American sportsman who, after becoming one of the early stars of baseball in the National Association, went on to become an influential executive, publisher, sporting goods manufacturer and spokesman for the sport.Born in London, Al Reach was a regular for the...
to acquire the remnants of the Worcester Worcesters
Worcester Worcesters
The Worcester Worcesters were a 19th century Major League Baseball team from to in the National League. The team is referred to, at times, as the Brown Stockings or the Ruby Legs; however, no contemporary sources from the time exist that support the use of either name...
in 1883, winning the rights to the franchise via drawing of lots. Reach and Rogers relocated the franchise to Philadelphia, where they became known as the Quakers (they would later become the Phillies), entering the team as an expansion franchise in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1883. During these early days, Rogers was involved in creating baseball's reserve clause
Reserve clause
The reserve clause is a term formerly employed in North American professional sports contracts. The reserve clause, contained in all standard player contracts, stated that, upon the contract's expiration the rights to the player were to be retained by the team to which he had been signed...
, which would remain in effect until the era of free agency. In 1899, Reach sold his interest to Rogers due to repeated disagreements about the direction of the club.
Reach and Rogers sold the Phillies to a group led by James Potter
James Potter (baseball)
James Potter was the owner of the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League from through . In 1903, Porter purchased the club from John Rogers. He sold the Phillies to Bill Shettsline in 1905.-References:...
in February 1903, but retained the rights to the team's stadium, National League Park (which eventually became Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
). On August 8, a balcony collapsed at the park, killing 12 people and injuring hundreds more. Rogers was nearly ruined by the resulting avalanche of lawsuits, and was forced to sell the stadium to Potter as well. Eventually, both Rogers and Reach were absolved of blame and financial responsibility for the accident by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rogers died of heart failure in Denver, Colorado on March 13, 1910.