Interview with James Enright, Edgar Munzel, February 24, 1977
Project: A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project
Interview Summary
James Enright and Edgar Munzel are sports writers who knew Happy Chandler during his term as baseball commissioner. In this interview, they discuss their early associations with Chandler, Chandler's reputation as being "the players' and umpires' commissioner", Chandler's downfall as commissioner, Leland ("Larry") MacPhail, and Chandler's relationship with the Wrigleys and with Charles Comiskey. They talk about Leslie O'Connor and the Zoederman lawsuit, Muddy Ruel, Richard Butler as the commissioner's assistant, Robert Murphy's attempt to organize the Pittsburgh Pirates into a baseball players' union, Chandler's problems with the Mexican League, Vern Stevens, and the Danny Gardella lawsuit. They discuss incidents leading up to Leo Durocher's suspension, Leland MacPhail's role in the suspension, their general thoughts on Leo Durocher, and the team owners' meeting at St. Petersburg, Florida on Chandler's status as commissioner. They give their views on Jackie Robinson and the integration of major league baseball, also sharing reflections on Robinson's college and minor league career, Branch Rickey's role in baseball's integration and his personality, Jackie Robinson's first game at Wrigley Field, Larry Doby's first game at Comiskey Park, the resistance of team owners to integration, and the relationship between Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey. They also include their reflections on Chandler.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
James Enright
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Rights
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Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
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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.
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Munzel, Edgar Interview by William J. Marshall. 24 Feb. 1977. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Munzel, E. (1977, February 24). Interview by W. J. Marshall. A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Munzel, Edgar, interview by William J. Marshall. February 24, 1977, A. B. "Happy" Chandler: Desegregation of Major League Baseball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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