William Howard Taft from the Chronology

Dec 6, 1920 - A 5-year-old lawsuit that awarded $264‚000 damages to the Baltimore Federal League club on April 12‚ 1919‚ is reversed by a court of appeals‚ which upholds the reserve clause and holds that baseball is not interstate commerce nor subject to antitrust laws. The original was initiated because the Baltimore Feds were not included in the settlement of the Federal League war. They wanted a ML team in Baltimore and did not get it. This ruling will be upheld in 1922 by the U.S. Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice William Howard Taft‚ brother of Cubs former owner‚ Charles Taft.

Oct 2, 1920 - Shaken by the possible effects of the scandal surrounding baseball‚ club owners begin a series of meetings to reform the game. Albert D. Lasker‚ a Chicago advertising man and minority stockholder‚ of the Cubs‚ proposes a 3-man board of non baseball men‚ with the chairman to be paid $25‚000 year. Among the names mentioned: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis‚ former President William Howard Taft‚ General George Pershing‚ Senator Hiram Johnson‚ General Leonard Wood‚ and ex-treasury secretary William McAdoo.

May 2, 1910 - In Pittsburgh‚ baseball fan President William Howard Taft watches the Pirates top Chicago‚ 5-2.

Apr 14, 1910 - With the weather perfect‚ President and Mrs. William Howard Taft‚ along with Veep Sherman‚ surprise the Nationals by showing up for the season Opener. Jimmy McAleer suggests Taft throw out the first ball‚ and he becomes the first president to do so. Walter Johnson catches it‚ then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day Washington games‚ striking out 9. An easy ?y hit by Frank "Home Run" Baker into the overflow crowd-a ground-rule double-mars his 3-0 pitching gem over rival Eddie Plank. Gabby Street is behind the plate for Johnson‚ the only Opener in which he catches for Walter.