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Ball became wealthy building refrigeration plants and, with Harry Sinclair, financed the St. Louis club in the Federal League. As part of the settlement with that league, the AL allowed him to buy the Browns in 1916 for $750,000. He remained owner until 1932. Ball became a strong supporter of Ban Johnson, opposed the hiring of Judge Landis, and for six years never voted in support of Landis. An early aviation enthusiast, he was director of several airplane companies and bought the factory where Lindbergh's plane was built. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 8, 1917: Following yesterday's loss to Chicago, Browns owner Phil Ball accuses his players of laying down on the job because they dislike manager Fielder Jones. SS Doc Lavan and 2B Del Pratt sue him for $50,000 damages for alleged slanderous statements in St. Louis newspapers. Both are in the lineup, however, when Detroit beats the Browns, 1–0 in 12 innings. Ty Cobb triples off the RF fence in the 12th and scores on a sac fly. » June 10, 1922: In St. Louis, Babe Ruth's 2-run homer in the third, off Urban Shocker, ties the game. Shocker then plunks Frank Baker, and a double, single, two errors on the same play, and sac fly score four more. Shocker then sends Carl Mays sprawling on three straight pitches before walking him, and fires his first pitch right at Whitey Witt. The Yanks score six off Shocker, and another six off relievers to win, 14–5. A foul fly in the seventh beans St. Louis owner Phil Ball, sitting behind the dugout. He has a slight concussion and requires four stitches. » June 11, 1922: Insisting on another start, Urban Shocker is again beaten by the Yankees, 8–4. New York scores three in the seventh on a walk, three hits, and a Williams throwing error. Gene Robertson, a subs adds the game's topper in the seventh when he lifts a high fly behind the Browns' dugout and the ball strikes owner Phil Ball on the cheek giving him a mild concussion and requiring four stitches. Following the game, Shocker will miss three weeks in June and July because of an injury, but still rack up 348 innings, second in the AL. » November 12, 1936: Following the death of Phil Ball, wealthy owner of the St. Louis Browns, his estate sells the team to a syndicate headed by Donald L. Barnes and William O. DeWitt. As the new owners of Sportsman's Park, they announce their intention to install lights and bring night baseball to the American League, an idea endorsed by the Cardinals as well.