Major League Baseball Owner. The son of Irish immigrants, James E. Gaffney was the owner of major league baseball's Boston Braves. He purchased the team for $187,000 in 1913 and sold it for $500,000 in 1916. The 1914 team is commonly referred to as the "Miracle Braves" for going from last place in June to first place by the end of the season, then beating the New York Giants for the National League pennant and sweeping Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series. A city alderman and member of Tammany Hall, Gaffney founded the New York Contracting and Trucking Company, a construction company that handled projects such as the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Terminal (the original Penn Station in Manhattan). As a favor to Gaffney, the head of Tammany, Charles F. Murphy, asked New York Governor William Sulzer to appoint Gaffney chief of roads. When Sulzer refused, he was told he would be removed from office. The powerful Tammany machine followed through and its threat, and for the only time in state history, the governor was impeached. Gaffney was also the owner of a stable of thoroughbreds, including Irene's Bob, winner of the juvenile stakes at Belmont. Gaffney built Braves Field in Boston, novel at the time for the fact that public transportation brought fans right to the stadium. He built it huge because he enjoyed watching inside the park homeruns. Until recently, the street next to where the field once stood was named after Gaffney.
Major League Baseball Owner. The son of Irish immigrants, James E. Gaffney was the owner of major league baseball's Boston Braves. He purchased the team for $187,000 in 1913 and sold it for $500,000 in 1916. The 1914 team is commonly referred to as the "Miracle Braves" for going from last place in June to first place by the end of the season, then beating the New York Giants for the National League pennant and sweeping Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series. A city alderman and member of Tammany Hall, Gaffney founded the New York Contracting and Trucking Company, a construction company that handled projects such as the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Terminal (the original Penn Station in Manhattan). As a favor to Gaffney, the head of Tammany, Charles F. Murphy, asked New York Governor William Sulzer to appoint Gaffney chief of roads. When Sulzer refused, he was told he would be removed from office. The powerful Tammany machine followed through and its threat, and for the only time in state history, the governor was impeached. Gaffney was also the owner of a stable of thoroughbreds, including Irene's Bob, winner of the juvenile stakes at Belmont. Gaffney built Braves Field in Boston, novel at the time for the fact that public transportation brought fans right to the stadium. He built it huge because he enjoyed watching inside the park homeruns. Until recently, the street next to where the field once stood was named after Gaffney.
Bio by: damannion
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