Interview with Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, June 9, 1976

Interview Summary

Chandler discusses how and why he became commissioner of baseball and describes some of the changes he made in this role, including passing a rule to prevent boys from playing until they've graduated, fighting to allow black people to play baseball, and trying to keep gambling out of the game. He discusses various baseball players, then goes on to talk about some of the logistics of his job as commissioner as well as the decision to not approve him for a new contract as commissioner. Chandler describes a meeting with Leo Durocher after having suspended him and describes a time he took the American Army team to Japan. They discuss various mementos presented to him. Chandler concludes the interview by describing what he considers his legacy, including funding pensions for baseball players and teachers, selling TV contracts in order to fund the pensions for baseball players, and helping to ensure the players were paid fairly.

Interview Keyword

Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Politics and government United States Politicians Baseball commissioners Commissioner of Baseball

Interview LC Subject

Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991--Interviews Kentucky--Politics and government Kentucky. Governor (1935-1939 : Chandler) Kentucky. Governor (1955-1959 : Chandler) Politicians--United States United States--Politics and government Baseball Politicians--Kentucky Politics and government Politics, Practical Durocher, Leo, 1905-1991 Crosby, Bing, 1903-1977 Discrimination in sports Racial integration in sports Baseball commissioners

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.