Books and articles about Philip K. Wrigley

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Known as P.K. to his close associates, Wrigley succeeded his father as president of the Cubs (and of the chewing gum company) in 1932 and continued until his death. He was generous to his players and former players with advice and financial help. His favorite was Charlie Grimm, whom he kept on the payroll all his life. Although honest and accessible to print reporters, he gave no radio or TV interviews and insisted on maintaining his privacy. With meticulous integrity, he would dock his salary as president of the gum company for time spent with the Cubs. He could be innovative, as witness his "rotating coaches" experiment with the Cubs' manager job. But he was also responsible for keeping Wrigley Field free of lights. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 26, 1932: William K. Wrigley, 70-years-old, majority owner of the Cubs since 1919, dies and is buried on Catalina Island. His only son, Philip K. Wrigley, inherits the Cubs and the minor league Los Angeles Angels, but will leave most of the daily operations to president William Veeck. » February 20, 1943: Phil Wrigley and Branch Rickey charter the All-American Girls Softball League. The league will operate around the Chicago area and is formed as a sports backup in case the government shuts down ML baseball. The league will later change its name and switch to hardball with a pitching distance of 40 feet and bases 68 feet apart. » December 14, 1950: The baseball owners choose Lou Perini (Braves), Phil Wrigley (Cubs), Del Webb (Yankees), and Ellis Ryan (Indians) to select a new commissioner as rapidly as possible. » March 29, 1954: After the Cubs go 5–15 in spring training, Phil Cavarretta gives Cubs owner Phil Wrigley an honest assessment of the team's chances, and is fired for his "defeatist attitude." He's the first manager to be given the gate during spring training. Stan Hack replaces him. Cavarretta is right; the Cubs will drop to 7th. » February 21, 1957: In an ominous development for Brooklyn, Walter O'Malley "trades" minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Cubs, giving up the Dodgers' Ft. Worth (Texas) club in return for the Cubs' Los Angeles Angels (PCL). » December 21, 1960: Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley says Chicago will have no manager, but will use a college of coaches. » September 3, 1971: Owner Phil Wrigley takes out newspaper ads criticizing the Cubs players who want to dump manager Leo Durocher. A postscript adds, "If we could only find more team players like Ernie Banks." Banks will play his last game on September 26th.