Interview with Calvin Robertson Griffith, April 22, 1977

Interview Summary

Calvin R. Griffith was born Calvin Robertson in Montreal, Canada. He was owner of the Washington Senators baseball team, which later became the Minnesota Twins. In this interview, he shares his first impressions of Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler, also talking about Chandler's political experience and qualifications, the state of baseball after World War II, Chandler's strengths as commissioner, his relationship with the press and baseball team owners, his attitude towards the Minor Leagues, and a comment made by Judge Bramham about the Minor Leagues. Other topics include player unrest after World War II, Chandler's mediation between the players and owners, the resistance of Negro League team owners to integration with the Major Leagues, how black fans helped to finance the Washington Senators, Leo Durocher's suspension, the team owners' decision not to renew Chandler's contract, Walter Mulbry, Chandler's family, and his legacy as baseball commissioner.

Interview Keyword

Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Baseball Commissioner Baseball

Interview LC Subject

Baseball--United States Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Griffith, Calvin R. Griffith, Calvin R.--Interviews

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.