Edward Talcott
Born(1858-01-21)January 21, 1858
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 5, 1941(1941-04-05) (aged 83)
Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

Edward Baker Talcott (January 21, 1858 – April 5, 1941) was an American stockbroker and Major League Baseball executive.

Career as a stockbroker

Talcott began a career on Wall Street in 1874, working for his father. He joined the Charles F. Hardy & Co. firm following an apprenticeship in 1879. By 1880, he purchased a seat at the stock exchange.[1] From August 1898 to January 1899, Talcott was reported to have made about $1 million on the stock market, and he then resigned from his firm.[2] He remained a member of the stock exchange until 1901.[3]

Baseball career

In November 1889, Talcott financed the New York Giants franchise to compete in the new Players' League for 1890, along with Buck Ewing, Edwin McAlpin, Cornelius Van Cott and John Montgomery Ward.[4]

In October 1890, Talcott was among several financial backers to secure the purchase of the Cincinnati Reds from Aaron S. Stern, with the intent of placing the Reds in the Players' League for 1891.[5][6][7]

However, in November 1890, Talcott, McAlpin, and Brooklyn Ward's Wonders owner Wendell Goodwin agreed to merge their clubs with the National League counterparts, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants.[8] The Players League would officially collapsed later that month, with McAlpin and Talcott claiming they lost $8,000 on the endeavor.[9] The Cincinnati National League team that Talcott purchased a share of was instead replaced with a new franchise, with John T. Brush as the principal owner.[9]

With Talcott now a minority owner in the National League's Giants, he remained associated with the club until he sold his shares to Andrew Freedman after the 1894 season.[10]

In January 1902, Talcott was approached by Albert Spalding, who suggested Talcott purchase a controlling interest in the Giants back from Freedman.[11] Freedman would ultimately sell his shares to Brush in September 1902.[12]

References

  1. ^ "War Makes His Fortune". Tacoma Daily Ledger. January 23, 1899. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Quits With a Million". Atchison Daily Globe. February 3, 1899. p. 6. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Edward B. Talcott - Former Giants Owner". New York Daily News. April 7, 1941. p. 185. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Basehits". Buffalo Morning Express. November 17, 1889. p. 10. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "The Cincinnati Deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 3, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Stern May Stay In". The Boston Globe. October 4, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Not in It. That's Buffalo's Status With the Brotherhood". Buffalo Morning Express. October 6, 1890. p. 6. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "The Players' Base-Ball League". The Baltimore Sun. November 6, 1890. p. 6. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Dewey, Donald; Acocella, Nicholas (1993). Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Teams. ISBN 0-803-23532-1.
  10. ^ Nemec, David (2011). Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871-1900, Volume 2: The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities Who Shaped the Game. ISBN 978-0-803-23532-8.
  11. ^ "Would Buy Out Freedman". New-York Tribune. January 5, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Freeman Says He Has Sold Out". Buffalo Evening News. September 30, 1902. p. 8. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.


Categories