Wilton S. Farnsworth
Encyclopedia
Wilton Simpson "Bill" Farnsworth (June 7, 1885 – July 10, 1945) was an American
sports writer, editor, and boxing promoter. He worked for William Randolph Hearst
's newspapers from 1904 to 1937. He was the sports editor of Hearst's New York Evening Journal (evening) or New York American (morning) from 1914 to 1937. He also worked for shorter stints on Hearst's Boston American
(1904-1907) and Atlanta Georgian
(1912-1914). From 1937 to 1944, he was a boxing promoter in partnership with Mike Jacobs
.
. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Farnsworth was living with his parents, Wilton Grafton Farnsworth and Annie (Simpson) Farnsworth in Millbury. His father's occupation was listed as a "landlord."
. In 1904, he was hired by the Boston American
, a newly formed newspaper that was part of William Randolph Hearst
's chain of newspapers.
In 1907, Farnwsworth moved to New York to work for Hearst's New York Evening Journal . In October 1908, Farnsworth established himself when he exposed a plot to bribe umpire Bill Klem
in connection with a playoff game between the New York Giants
and Chicago Cubs
. He spent three months covering the story.
In 1912, Farnsworth was transferred to Atlanta as the sports editor of the Atlanta Georgian
after it was acquired by Hearst. He returned to New York in 1914 as the sports editor of Hearst's morning newspaper, the New York American. He also covered the New York Yankees
after returning from Atlanta to New York. By the early 1920s, Farnsworth had moved from the American back to Hearst's evening newspaper, The New York Evening Journal, as sports editor. In 1922, Farnsworth hired Ford Frick
as a baseball writer.
Farnsworth later returned to the New York Evening Journal, serving as its sports editor for many years, and continued to hold that position after Hearst's morning and evening papers merged to become the New York Journal-American. Farnsworth continued to write during his time as an editor, and his column was published under the title "Sidewalks of New York."
Farnsworth was a friend of New York Yankees
' owner Jacob Ruppert
and once negotiated a contract renewal with Babe Ruth
on behalf of the Yankees.
in promoting boxing bouts which raised more than $1 million for Hearst's Free Milk Fund for Babies. When Madison Square Garden refused to give a larger cut of the gate to the Milk Fund, Farnsworth wrote articles criticizing the refusal and negotiated leases with the city's baseball stadiums to host future fights.
In 1937, Farnsworth teamed up with boxing promoter Mike Jacobs
and Damon Runyon to establish the Twentieth Century Sporting Club, a boxing promotion organization formed to compete with Madison Square Garden. Farnsworth served as the vice president and general manager of the organization.
. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Farnsworth was living in Manhattan with his wife Millicent and their two children, Marjorie and Wilton. His occupation was listed as the editor of a newspaper. In a draft registration card completed in September 1918, Farnsworth indicated that he was employed by W.R. Hearst as an editor in New York. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Farnsworth was living in Queens with his wife and two children. His occupation was again listed as a newspaper editor.
Farnsworth suffered a stroke while attending a boxing match at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 1944. He remained hospitalized at St. Clare's Hospital in New York where he died in July 1945. A requiem mass was held for Farnsworth at St. Vincent Ferrer Church
in Manhattan
. The honorary pallbearers as his funeral included his longtime friend Damon Runyon
, New York Mayor Jimmy Walker
, boxing promoter Mike Jacobs
, Pulitzer Prize winner Max Kase
, boxing historian Nat Fleischer
, and humorist Bugs Baer.
His son Wilton M. Farnsworth was also a sportswriter for the New York Journal-American.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports writer, editor, and boxing promoter. He worked for William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's newspapers from 1904 to 1937. He was the sports editor of Hearst's New York Evening Journal (evening) or New York American (morning) from 1914 to 1937. He also worked for shorter stints on Hearst's Boston American
Boston American
The Boston American was a daily tabloid newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts from March 21, 1904 until September 30, 1961. The newspaper was part of William Randolph Hearst's chain, and thus was also known as Hearst's Boston American....
(1904-1907) and Atlanta Georgian
Atlanta Georgian
The Atlanta Georgian was a daily afternoon newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded by New Jersey native, Fred Loring Seely, the first issue was April 25, 1906, with editor John Temple Graves. They mainly criticized saloons and the convict lease system. In February 1907, Seely expanded the paper by...
(1912-1914). From 1937 to 1944, he was a boxing promoter in partnership with Mike Jacobs
Mike Jacobs (boxing)
Michael Strauss Jacobs was a boxing promoter, arguably the most powerful in the sport from the mid-1930's until his effective retirement in 1946...
.
Early years
Farnsworth was born in 1885 in Millbury, MassachusettsMillbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...
. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Farnsworth was living with his parents, Wilton Grafton Farnsworth and Annie (Simpson) Farnsworth in Millbury. His father's occupation was listed as a "landlord."
Reporting and editorial career
Farnsworth began his career as a journalist working for the Evening Gazette in Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. In 1904, he was hired by the Boston American
Boston American
The Boston American was a daily tabloid newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts from March 21, 1904 until September 30, 1961. The newspaper was part of William Randolph Hearst's chain, and thus was also known as Hearst's Boston American....
, a newly formed newspaper that was part of William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's chain of newspapers.
In 1907, Farnwsworth moved to New York to work for Hearst's New York Evening Journal . In October 1908, Farnsworth established himself when he exposed a plot to bribe umpire Bill Klem
Bill Klem
William Joseph Klem, born William Joseph Klimm , known as the "father of baseball umpires", was a National League umpire in Major League Baseball from 1905 to 1941...
in connection with a playoff game between the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He spent three months covering the story.
In 1912, Farnsworth was transferred to Atlanta as the sports editor of the Atlanta Georgian
Atlanta Georgian
The Atlanta Georgian was a daily afternoon newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded by New Jersey native, Fred Loring Seely, the first issue was April 25, 1906, with editor John Temple Graves. They mainly criticized saloons and the convict lease system. In February 1907, Seely expanded the paper by...
after it was acquired by Hearst. He returned to New York in 1914 as the sports editor of Hearst's morning newspaper, the New York American. He also covered the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
after returning from Atlanta to New York. By the early 1920s, Farnsworth had moved from the American back to Hearst's evening newspaper, The New York Evening Journal, as sports editor. In 1922, Farnsworth hired 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...
as a baseball writer.
Farnsworth later returned to the New York Evening Journal, serving as its sports editor for many years, and continued to hold that position after Hearst's morning and evening papers merged to become the New York Journal-American. Farnsworth continued to write during his time as an editor, and his column was published under the title "Sidewalks of New York."
Farnsworth was a friend of New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
' owner Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert, Jr. , sometimes referred to as Jake Ruppert, was a National Guard colonel; a U.S. Representative from New York; and brewery owner, who went on to own the New York Yankees...
and once negotiated a contract renewal with Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
on behalf of the Yankees.
Boxing promoter
Starting in 1923, Farnsworth teamed with Damon RunyonDamon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
in promoting boxing bouts which raised more than $1 million for Hearst's Free Milk Fund for Babies. When Madison Square Garden refused to give a larger cut of the gate to the Milk Fund, Farnsworth wrote articles criticizing the refusal and negotiated leases with the city's baseball stadiums to host future fights.
In 1937, Farnsworth teamed up with boxing promoter Mike Jacobs
Mike Jacobs (boxing)
Michael Strauss Jacobs was a boxing promoter, arguably the most powerful in the sport from the mid-1930's until his effective retirement in 1946...
and Damon Runyon to establish the Twentieth Century Sporting Club, a boxing promotion organization formed to compete with Madison Square Garden. Farnsworth served as the vice president and general manager of the organization.
Family and death
Farnsworth was married to Millicent de Freytas of Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Farnsworth was living in Manhattan with his wife Millicent and their two children, Marjorie and Wilton. His occupation was listed as the editor of a newspaper. In a draft registration card completed in September 1918, Farnsworth indicated that he was employed by W.R. Hearst as an editor in New York. At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Farnsworth was living in Queens with his wife and two children. His occupation was again listed as a newspaper editor.
Farnsworth suffered a stroke while attending a boxing match at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 1944. He remained hospitalized at St. Clare's Hospital in New York where he died in July 1945. A requiem mass was held for Farnsworth at St. Vincent Ferrer Church
Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (New York)
The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer is a Roman Catholic parish in Manhattan, New York City. The 1918 church building, at the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 66th Street on the Upper East Side, has been called "one of New York's greatest architectural adornments"...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The honorary pallbearers as his funeral included his longtime friend Damon Runyon
Damon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
, New York Mayor Jimmy Walker
Jimmy Walker
James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932...
, boxing promoter Mike Jacobs
Mike Jacobs (boxing)
Michael Strauss Jacobs was a boxing promoter, arguably the most powerful in the sport from the mid-1930's until his effective retirement in 1946...
, Pulitzer Prize winner Max Kase
Max Kase
Max Kase was an American newspaper writer and editor. He worked for the Hearst newspapers from 1917 to 1966 and was the sports editor of the New York Journal-American from 1938 to 1966. In 1946, he was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the New York Knicks and the Basketball...
, boxing historian Nat Fleischer
Nat Fleischer
Nathaniel Stanley Fleischer was a noted American boxing writer and collector. Fleischer inaugurated in 1922, encouraged by Tex Rickard, the Ring Magazine publication...
, and humorist Bugs Baer.
His son Wilton M. Farnsworth was also a sportswriter for the New York Journal-American.