Jack Zeller

John Augustus "Jack" Zeller (September 11, 1883[1] – February 18, 1969) was an American baseball executive. He served as General Manager (GM) of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball from 1938 through 1945.

Career

Zeller was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to German emigrants.[1][2] He served as manager and part-owner of the Springfield Ponies of the Class-B Connecticut League.[3][4][5] As the league had three teams from Massachusetts, he led the charge to have the league renamed.[6] He later owned the Pittsfield Electrics of the same league, then known as the Eastern Association.[7] He attempted to develop a new league in Massachusetts in 1916.[8]

Zeller joined the Detroit Tigers of the American League in 1925 as a scout.[9] Zeller served as a scout and supervisor in the Tigers organization from 1938 through 1941. He was appointed GM of the Tigers in 1938, succeeding Mickey Cochrane.[10] He is credited with developing the Tigers' minor league baseball organization.[9] Following an investigation,[11] the Tigers were found to be in violation of the minor league working agreement in 1940, resulting in 91 players being declared free agents by Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Zeller took full responsibility.[12] Zeller then began to sell off the Tigers' farm teams.[13] He began to believe that the farm system needed to be completely overhauled.[14] In 1944, he proposed a new draft that would end the minor league system,[15] replacing it with "baseball schools".[16]

Zeller stepped down as Tigers' GM in 1945.[17] He was succeeded by George Trautman.[18] Upon leaving the Tigers, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as a scout for the East Texas League and Evangeline Baseball League.[17] In 1947, he joined the Boston Braves as their chief scout.[9]

Personal

Zeller died of a heart condition in 1969 at the age of 85.[19][20]

References

  1. 1 2 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
  2. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
  3. ↑ "Proquest – Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. November 10, 1910. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Proquest – Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. November 17, 1909. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Proquest – Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. February 1, 1910. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ Bridgeport Herald – Google News Archive Search
  7. ↑ The Day – Google News Archive Search
  8. ↑ The Day – Google News Archive Search
  9. 1 2 3 Reading Eagle – Google News Archive Search
  10. ↑ "Proquest – Courant.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. August 16, 1938. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ The Miami News – Google News Archive Search
  12. ↑ "Jack Zeller Takes Full Blame for Detroit's Minor Loop Woe". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. January 16, 1940. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  13. ↑ The Evening Independent – Google News Archive Search
  14. ↑ Youngstown Vindicator – Google News Archive Search
  15. ↑ The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search
  16. ↑ The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search
  17. 1 2 The Milwaukee Sentinel – Google News Archive Search
  18. ↑ The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search
  19. ↑ [ Displaying Abstract ] (April 16, 2012). "Jack Zeller of the Tigers – Ex-General Manager, 85 – Obituary – NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Jack Zeller, Veteran Baseball Man, Dies". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. February 19, 1969. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
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