Gussie Busch

August Anheuser Busch Jr.

• High School Smith Academy

• Born March 28, 1899 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died September 29, 1989 in St. Louis, MO USA

Biographical Information

Gussie Busch was a beer tycoon who owned the Anheuser-Busch company. He bought the St. Louis Cardinals in 1953 when they were struggling financially and former owner Fred Saigh had just been sentenced to jail for tax evasion. During the period of his ownership, they won three World Series titles. He was the heir of a very wealthy local family that had made his fortune in beer, and while an eager seeker of experience, he was not much of a scholar, never even graduating from high school. That did not prevent him from successfully leading the family business and making it grow significantly, and from receiving numerous honorary degrees for his charitable work in later years.

Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, August A. Busch III.

The Cardinals retired number 85 in his honor.

Related Sites

• Gussie Busch at the SABR Bio Project