The Manager and the Cowboy

By Bob Warrington

As a famous baseball personality, Connie Mack had the chance to meet celebrities in other walks of life, including those who found their fame and fortune on the silver screen and over radio’s airwaves. The photograph accompanying this article shows Mack greeting a man who achieved fame in film, on radio, and by singing some of the most memorable songs ever recorded—Gene Autry. The circa 1940 photo taken at Shibe Park just before a game between the A’s and White Sox has a caption line, “Cowboy Star Meets Veteran Manager of Athletics.” According to the narrative accompanying the photo, Mack quipped during his meeting with Autry, “I’ll have Earle (Connie’s son and team coach) give you the once over and maybe you can make the team.”

Although Autry—“America’s Singing Cowboy”—is best known for his work as an entertainer, he also had an extensive and important career in baseball. In the 1950s, Autry became a minority owner of the Hollywood Stars—a Pacific Coast League team. In 1960, when major league baseball announced plans to add an expansion team in Los Angeles, Autry expressed an interest in acquiring the radio broadcast rights for the team’s games. Autry—who had once turned down an opportunity to play in the minor leagues—owned a radio station and a television station in Los Angeles. Baseball countered with another offer for Autry, “Why not buy the baseball club itself?” Autry accepted and became owner of the Los Angeles Angels, which began play in 1961. The franchise moved to Anaheim in 1966 and changed names, becoming the California Angels. In yet another name switch, the club was called the Anaheim Angels from 1997-2005, and then adopted the moniker, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the name by which the team is known today.

Gene Autry was born on September 29, 1907 and died on October 2, 1998. He served as vice president of the American League from 1983 until his death. In 1995, he sold a one-quarter share of the Angels to The Walt Disney Company, and then sold a controlling interest in the franchise to Disney the following year. The remaining shares were transferred to Disney after Autry’s death.