Charles Murphy and the Chicago Cubs

Throughout our history, men and women were driven to seek their fortune in both business and sports. Often these seekers acted ruthlessly in their early careers only to show a softer side later in their lives. First, they survived, then they built a nest egg and finally they shared the wealth. In my baseball research, that is ongoing for Sporting Chance Press, I have come across many men who were first generation Irish Americans who fit this description in the early days of the game. Charles Webb Murphy was one of them.

Charles Murphy was born of Irish immigrant parents in 1868. He attended pharmacy school in Cincinnati, but later shifted gears and became a newspaper reporter where he met many influential men. One such man, New York Giants owner, John T. Brush, called on Murphy to serve as press agent. While in this position in 1905, he heard that Chicago Nationals owner, Jim Hart wanted to sell his team. With financial backing from a rich friend, Murphy bought what we know today as the Chicago Cubs. Murphy worked with Cubs' manager Frank Chance to add several key players to help make the Cubs a powerhouse. Success came immediately and in 1906 the Cubs won the Pennant, but lost the World Series to the Chicago White Sox. Murphy’s Chicago Nationals went on to win the pennant and the World Series in 1907 and 1908. The Cubs dropped to second place in 1909, but again took the Pennant in 1910. The Cubs lost their grip in 1911 as several of their stars started showing their age. It was time to rebuild, which is always difficult.

Murphy and Chance could not agree on how to manage personnel changes. Murphy fired Chance and he began cutting other fan favorites in the next couple years. He also angered several other National League owners when his moves drove fans to the new upstart Federal League. He was encouraged to sell out and he did so just prior to an economic swoon that left many team owners in debt. Incredibly, Murphy had parlayed a $15,000 investment into at least half a million dollars.

A few years after his sale, he built an impressive theater in his old home town of Wilmington, Ohio. He built the theater for the people of Wilmington where it became the cultural and architectural focal point in 1918. It still is the pride and joy of Wilmington. Murphy spent a quarter million dollars on the edifice and spared no expense. He brought in trainloads of expensive building materials and artisans from all over.

They loved the old Cubs' owner in Wilmington, but "Chubby" Charlie did not get much respect in several other places. But, like many Irish Americans in the early 1900's, he came, he saw and he conquered.

Murphy's life will be explored in greater detail in a book that my company, Sporting Chance Press, is developing about the most interesting and influential people involved in the Chicago Cubs history. Several are of Irish decent.

It's fascinating to read about Irish Americans in the first half of the 20th Century who were important contributors to the development of professional baseball. Joe McCarthy, Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Charles Murphy were all household names during their time. It's also interesting to think about the parallels between the Irish Americans of the early 1900s and the various ethnic groups today that play such a big role in today's game. Sports seem to attract the most ambitious and perhaps the most deserving as well. Making a career and a fortune in baseball is possible, but it's not for the faint of heart.

Murphy Theater image from Wilmington Historical Society.