Morrie Silver

Morris E. Silver

• High School East High School (Rochester)

• Born July 28, 1909 in Rochester, NY USA
• Died April 26, 1974 in Miami, FL USA

Biographical Information

Morrie Silver led the charge to keep baseball in Rochester, NY. A successful businessman, he owned one of the largest record stores in North America. After the 1956 season, the St. Louis Cardinals planned on dropping their minor league team in the city, the Rochester Red Wings. Silver spearheaded a campaign to have the shares of the team sold to the local community. In what is known as the "72 Day Miracle" Silver and 8,221 other shareholders were able to buy the team from the Cardinals for $500,000 and keep it alive. They even continued to work with the Cardinals for four more seasons, before starting their long affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles.

Following the purchase Silver served as team president in 1957, 1962-1963 and 1965. He was also the General Manager from 1966-1968. In 1968 Rochester's stadium was renamed from Red Wings Stadium to Silver Stadium to honor him. Commissioner William Eckert attended the ceremony to show his respect for the hard work and dedication shown by Silver.

Following Silver's death in 1974 a plaque was hung in Silver Stadium to commemorate him. The plaque moved with the team to their new home Frontier Field. In 2008 Morrie Silver was elected to the International League Hall of Fame. His daughter, Naomi Silver has followed in his path serving as the chief operating officer of the Red Wings and Batavia Muckdogs. Fancifully, the red Wings retired uniform number 8222 in his honor, recalling the number of investors who saved the team.