Leslie O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Leslie M. O'Connor was an American
lawyer
and professional baseball
executive. He was the assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball
from January 1921 until the death of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
on November 25, 1944; then he filled the void as acting commissioner (technically, as chairman of the Major League
Advisory Council) until the election of Happy Chandler
as Landis' successor on April 24, 1945. After spending another six months in the commissioner's office as Chandler's top assistant, he became general manager
of the Chicago White Sox
of Major League Baseball from November 1945 through November 1948, and he later served as president of the Pacific Coast League
.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, O'Connor was admitted to the bar and served in World War I
as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps
. When Landis was appointed Commissioner in the wake of the Black Sox Scandal
, O'Connor became his top administrator for 24 seasons until Landis' sudden death in 1944. As Landis' right-hand man, he was involved in investigations, writing Landis' decisions and keeping records. After five months as acting commissioner — as head of the three-man council that included league presidents Ford Frick
and Will Harridge
— during the waning months of World War II
, O'Connor stepped aside for Chandler and was his top aide during the transition until after the baseball season.
He then was named general manager of the White Sox by team owner Grace Comiskey
and held that post for three losing campaigns. After the White Sox lost 101 games and finished last in the eight-team American League
in , O'Connor stepped down and was succeeded by Frank Lane
. He remained in baseball, however, as a member of the Major-Minor League
Executive Council, and then as legal counsel for and president of the top-level Pacific Coast League. As PCL president from 1956 through 1959, he was in office during the tumultuous shift of the Dodgers
and Giants
from New York City to Los Angeles
and San Francisco
, which resulted in a significant alteration of the PCL map.
O'Connor died in Tokyo at the age of 76.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
executive. He was the assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
from January 1921 until the death of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
on November 25, 1944; then he filled the void as acting commissioner (technically, as chairman of the Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Advisory Council) until the election of Happy Chandler
Happy Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
as Landis' successor on April 24, 1945. After spending another six months in the commissioner's office as Chandler's top assistant, he became general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
of Major League Baseball from November 1945 through November 1948, and he later served as 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...
.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, O'Connor was admitted to the bar and served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
. When Landis was appointed Commissioner in the wake of the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
, O'Connor became his top administrator for 24 seasons until Landis' sudden death in 1944. As Landis' right-hand man, he was involved in investigations, writing Landis' decisions and keeping records. After five months as acting commissioner — as head of the three-man council that included league presidents Ford Frick
Ford Frick
Ford Christopher Frick was an American sportswriter and executive who served as president of the National League from to and as the third Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1951 to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
and Will Harridge
Will Harridge
William Harridge was an American executive in professional baseball whose most significant role was as president of the American League from 1931 to 1958...
— during the waning months of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, O'Connor stepped aside for Chandler and was his top aide during the transition until after the baseball season.
He then was named general manager of the White Sox by team owner Grace Comiskey
Grace Comiskey
Grace Comiskey was the owner of the Chicago White Sox of the American League from through . Comiskey was the daughter-in-law of Charles Comiskey and inherited control of the White Sox upon the death of her husband J. Louis Comiskey. Control of the White Sox passed to Comiskey's daughter,...
and held that post for three losing campaigns. After the White Sox lost 101 games and finished last in the eight-team American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in , O'Connor stepped down and was succeeded by Frank Lane
Frank Lane
Frank Lane was an American executive in professional baseball, most notably serving as a general manager in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, St...
. He remained in baseball, however, as a member of the Major-Minor League
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...
Executive Council, and then as legal counsel for and president of the top-level Pacific Coast League. As PCL president from 1956 through 1959, he was in office during the tumultuous shift of the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from New York City to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, which resulted in a significant alteration of the PCL map.
O'Connor died in Tokyo at the age of 76.