June

Who is this "mighty" manager?

I was born on March 27, 1878, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I played second base for my hometown Reds from 1904 to 1909 before being traded to the Cardinals, where I was both player and manager.

I was known as the "Mighty Mite," due to my small, 5'6" stature.

In 1918, J.G. Taylor Spink, famed publisher of The Sporting News, recommended me to Jacob Ruppert for the Yankees' managerial position. Ruppert took one look at my short and boyish appearance and immediately called Spink.

"What did you send me, Taylor," he yelled in the receiver, "the damned bat boy!"

Ol' Jake hired me despite his not-so favorable first impression, and I ended up leading the Yankees to six pennants and three World Series titles over the next decade.

All told, I won 1,413 games as a manager (23rd all-time), including 110 during the memorable 1927 season with the "Murderers' Row," arguably the best team in baseball history.

I became gravely ill with influenza late in the 1929 season. On Sept. 20 I was admitted to the hospital and died there five days later.

In 1964, I was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.