Athletes - Tom Yawkey

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	Athletes - Tom Yawkey

Thomas Austin Yawkey, born Thomas Austin (February 21 1903 - July 9 1976), was an American industrialist and Major League Baseball executive. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Yawkey became president of the Boston Red Sox in 1933, and was the sole owner of the team for 44 seasons, longer than anyone in baseball history. He purchased a struggling team after the famous Babe Ruth transaction and dedicated his time and finances for the rest of his life to building winning teams. His teams' best seasons occurred in 1946, 1967 and 1975 when the Red Sox captured the American League pennant, and then went on to lose each World Series in seven games against the St. Louis Cardinals (1946, 1967) and Cincinnati Reds (1975).

Yawkey was said to be a racist, who passed up signing Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson. In 1959, the Red Sox became the last major league team to sign an African American player, 12 years after the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson.

Yawkey was a generous and popular man and proved a strong voice in major league councils. He also served as American League vice president between 1956 and 1973. He died in Boston at 73 years of age; his wife, Jean R. Yawkey, became president of the club following his death.

Tom Yawkey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980.

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