Theatrical Producer, Major League Baseball Team Owner. He was a theater mogul, baseball entrepreneur and millionaire philanthropist who was born to a poor family in Peoria, Illinois, and began his theatrical career at 16 as an usher and box office clerk. By 1902 he became a professional theatre producer by staging "Uncle Josh Perkins." His Broadway career began in 1909 with hits as "Fine Feathers," "A Pair of Sixes," "Adele," "Ready Money," and "Nothing But the Truth." He built Broadway's Longacre, Lyric and Harris (renamed The Frazee) Theaters and Chicago's Cort Theater. His countless productions earned him millions of dollars and worldwide recognition. His greatest success was the hit 1925 musical "No, No, Nanette." Harry Frazee's baseball experiences were stormy yet immensely profitable. He bought the Boston Red Sox in 1916 for $400,000 and took it to the 1918 championship. His first of many controversies was 1919 with the sale of "submarine pitcher" Carl Mays to the New York Yankees. The sale, unpopular with Boston fans, resulted in a feud with American Baseball League President Ban Johnson that lasted for years. He sold other stars at high prices, his greatest being the 1920 sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the greatest sum then ever paid for a player. New York City mayor Jimmy Walker remembered Harry Frazee as "...one of the most popular figures in the theatrical and baseball worlds." In 1923 he sold the ball team for $1,500,000. Twice married, he died in his Park Avenue home with his wife and son at his side.
Theatrical Producer, Major League Baseball Team Owner. He was a theater mogul, baseball entrepreneur and millionaire philanthropist who was born to a poor family in Peoria, Illinois, and began his theatrical career at 16 as an usher and box office clerk. By 1902 he became a professional theatre producer by staging "Uncle Josh Perkins." His Broadway career began in 1909 with hits as "Fine Feathers," "A Pair of Sixes," "Adele," "Ready Money," and "Nothing But the Truth." He built Broadway's Longacre, Lyric and Harris (renamed The Frazee) Theaters and Chicago's Cort Theater. His countless productions earned him millions of dollars and worldwide recognition. His greatest success was the hit 1925 musical "No, No, Nanette." Harry Frazee's baseball experiences were stormy yet immensely profitable. He bought the Boston Red Sox in 1916 for $400,000 and took it to the 1918 championship. His first of many controversies was 1919 with the sale of "submarine pitcher" Carl Mays to the New York Yankees. The sale, unpopular with Boston fans, resulted in a feud with American Baseball League President Ban Johnson that lasted for years. He sold other stars at high prices, his greatest being the 1920 sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the greatest sum then ever paid for a player. New York City mayor Jimmy Walker remembered Harry Frazee as "...one of the most popular figures in the theatrical and baseball worlds." In 1923 he sold the ball team for $1,500,000. Twice married, he died in his Park Avenue home with his wife and son at his side.
Bio by: K. Jacob Ruppert
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