Zach Phelps
{{Infobox person
|name = Zach Phelps
|image = Zach Phelps obit.jpg
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1857|7|17}}
|birth_place = Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1901|8|29|1857|7|17}}
|death_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
|resting_place = Cave Hill Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
|known_for =
}}
Zachary Phelps (July 17, 1857 - August 29, 1901) was an American Major League Baseball executive who served as a principal shareholder, front office executive and president of the Louisville Colonels of the American Association from 1884 to 1889. He later served as president of the association.
Early life and career
Phelps was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1857, and moved to Louisville, Kentucky at a young age. His father was a wealthy tobacco merchant.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98371695/the-national-game/|title=The National Game|page=1|work=The Abbeville Press And Banner|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 13, 1885|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} Phelps became a lawyer, and formed a partnership with William Jackson.
Phelps, along with his brother, John, and William Jackson, purchased the Louisville Colonels following the 1883 season. He became club president in 1885 and was elected chairman of the American Association in December 1886.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98371494/baseball-news/|title=Baseball News|page=3|work=The Lancaster Examiner|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 22, 1886|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} In February 1888, he stepped down as Louisville president and was replaced by W. L. Lyons.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98372331/sporting-news/|title=Sporting News|page=6|work=Pittsburgh Daily Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 21, 1888|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} He then worked as an attorney for the association.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98372576/the-raised-prices/|title=The Raised Prices|page=8|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 27, 1888|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} In June 1888, he sold his remaining shares of the club to Mordecai Davidson.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98372787/a-shaking-up/|title=A Shaking Up|page=3|work=Davenport Daily Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 15, 1888|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} However, he would return to the club as a director on July 13, 1889.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98373215/notes-of-the-diamond-field/|title=Notes of the Diamond Field|page=6|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 13, 1889|accessdate=March 25, 2022}}
On November 15, 1889, Phelps was elected president of the association by league delegates,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98373894/in-the-association/|title=In the Association|page=6|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 16, 1889|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} He was reelected in November 1890,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98374783/american-association/|title=American Association|page=2|work=Indianapolis News|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 24, 1890|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} but refused to accept the position.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98375046/the-american-association/|title=The American Association|page=3|work=The Washburn Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 29, 1890|accessdate=March 25, 2022}} He would again serve as president near the end of the 1891 season. He would later serve an attorney for the National League. He died in Louisville in 1901, and is buried near former Colonel Pete Browning in Cave Hill Cemetery.Nemec, p. 177
Bibliography
- {{Cite book|title= Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871-1900, Volume 2: The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities Who Shaped the Game |last=Nemec |first=David |year= 2011 |publisher=Bison Books |isbn=978-0-803-23532-8}}
References
{{Reflist|9}}
External links
- [http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1901/08/31/page/6/article/zach-phelps-death-a-loss-to-baseball Obituary in the Chicago Tribune]
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Category:Major League Baseball executives
Category:Louisville Colonels owners
Category:Sportspeople from Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Category:Sportspeople from Louisville, Kentucky