Charles Prince

Charles Albert Prince

• School Harvard University
• High School Cambridge Latin School

• Born August 26, 1852 in Winchester, MA USA
• Died May 10, 1943 in Barbâtre, Noirmoutier France

Biographical Information

Charles Prince, also known as Charles A. Prince, was a top executive for two Boston, MA-based teams, the Boston Reds of the Players League in the circuit's sole season, in 1890, and that same team in the final season of the American Association, in 1891. he also briefly served as President of the Players League in its final days.

He came from a prominent family, as his father, Frederick Prince, served for a time as Boston's mayor. He first became interested in baseball while attending Harvard University.He then entered a law practice after graduation. He eventually formed his own law firm, became general counsel to the New York & New England Railroad and eventually was a member of the railroad,s board of directors. He was also associated with various sports club, including as President of the Longwood Cricket Club. Through this connection, he met George Wright, who was also a prominent cricket player, and in 1889 he decided to invest in the newly-formed Boston Reds club, which was to challenge the established National League Boston Beaneaters. He arranged for the building of a new ballpark for the club and also raided the rival National League team of most of its players. The team easily won the league pennant, but the league's finances were in disarray. He took over from league President Edwin McAlpin in November 1890 but could not keep the circuit afloat. Instead, he moved the Reds to the American Association.

Once again, playing in a weak circuit, the Boston team won the pennant easily in 1891, but the foundations were crumbling away. Prince stepped down as team president and ended his relationship with baseball. However, his investments in railroads were not particularly sound either, especially after word came out that he had embezzled some company money in order to buy stock.His financial empire collapsed when a proposed merger of the New York & New England Railroad and the Boston & Maine Railroad fell through, soon sending his company into receivership. He sold his remaining stock and fled the country in 1893. He lived the remainder of his life on the island of Noirmoutier, off the western coast of France. He kept a low profile in France, although he did work to establish a U.S. Navy air station on the island during World War I, for which efforts he was rewarded with the French Légion d'honneur. He died on the island in 1943.

Related Sites

• Charles A. Prince at the SABR Bio Project