Books and articles about John Tener

RELATED LINKS Around the Web » John Tener from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

The first ex-player to become a president of a major league, Tener was born in Ireland, and pitched for Cap Anson's Chicago White Stockings. He went with the club on its 1888-89 tour around the world and, an accountant, was made treasurer for the trip by the players. When they returned to discover the owners had imposed salary restrictions, Tener became secretary of the Brotherhood of Professional Players and jumped to Pittsburgh in the new Players' League. The league folded in 1890. Tener entered banking and politics, and was elected to Congress in 1908. He was governor of Pennsylvania for a four-year term and was asked to become president of the National League. He accepted in 1914 and remained until 1918, when he resigned over a dispute with the American League over the contract of a player, Scott Perry. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 22, 1910: Congressman John K. Tener, former Chicago White Stockings and Pittsburgh Alleghenies pitcher, wins the Republican nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. He will be elected and will serve as president of the NL while governor. » May 18, 1912: The $400,000 Redland Field is dedicated in Cincinnati. A number of dignitaries, including Pennsylvania governor John Tener, AL Prexy Ban Johnson, and White Sox owner Charles Comiskey are on hand. Designed by Harry Hake at a cost of $225,000, the field replaces the aging Palace of the Fans on the same site, and looks very much like the Crosley Field that will eventually replace it. The Reds then delight the 20,000 fans by beating Christy Mathewson and the Giants, 4–3. » December 9, 1913: John K. Tener, one-time pitcher and congressman, now governor of Pennsylvania, is elected National League president for four years. John Heydler is elected secretary. » April 29, 1915: Federal League star Benny Kauff jumps from the Brookfeds to the New York Giants. When Boston refuses to play if Kauff is in the Giants' lineup, ump Ernie Quigley forfeits the game to New York. The two teams agree to play an exhibition game. The other ump, Mal Eason, telephones NL president John Tener, who declares Kauff ineligible until reinstated and orders Eason to forfeit the game to Boston. Meanwhile, the Braves win the exhibition game, 13–8. The next day Tener rules this to be an official game, and both forfeits are canceled. Kauff goes back to Brooklyn where he leads the FL at .342, and John McGraw has to wait until next year to sign him. » June 8, 1917: After a game in Cincinnati, John McGraw takes a swing at umpire Bill "Lord" Byron as they are leaving the field, splitting Byron's lip. NL President John Tener fines McGraw $500 and suspends him for 16 days. McGraw sounds off to writer Sid Mercer about the general shortcomings of Tener and his umpires. When McGraw's quotes are published, he signs a statement denying he'd said what was printed. The Baseball Writers Association protests, forcing another NL meeting at which Tener finds McGraw guilty and fines him another $1,000. Mercer, a friend of McGraw's, quits the beat and never speaks to McGraw again. » June 21, 2001: In the annual Congressional baseball game, the Republicans defeat the Democrats, 9-1. Republican Congressman Steve Largent of Oklahoma, a former NFL great, strikes out eight while allowing just six hits and no walks. The Dems can breathe easier next year since Largent will be resigning his seat to run for governor. The elephants have compiled a 26-14 record since the Congressional newspaper, Roll Call, began sponsoring the game in 1962. Before 1962, the game was played intermittently beginning when former major-leaguer John Tener, then a Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania, organized the first contest in 1909.