Pat Powers

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Pt powers manager ny club.png

Patrick Thomas Powers

  • Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

BR Manager page

Biographical Information[edit]

Patrick T. Powers, 1905

Pat Powers was the manager of the New York Giants in 1892, but played a greater role in baseball history as a minor league executive.

In 1901, the various minor leagues were like innocent bystanders caught in the middle of a struggle between the National League, which pretty much controlled everything in the game in those days, and the fledgling American League, which was trying to muscle in on the territory.

But the presidents of seven of those minor leagues decided they could not stand by and get run over. Patrick T. Powers, president of the Eastern League (a job he held from 1892-1905, and 1907-1911) was a man who knew his way around in the big time of baseball. When the group got together for the original organizing meeting in Chicago, IL on September 5, 1901, they wasted no time in selecting Powers as the first president.

Powers quickly gave the organization a name - the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Inc. It is still the official corporate name to this day, although the organization switched to the less cumbersome and better understood title of "Minor League Baseball" a few years ago.

The presence of Powers in the leadership of the National Association earned instant respect for the new organization and convinced many in major league baseball that it could be worth supporting. Powers and the others knew that a high priority had to be getting the National League to restore the National Agreement, which would give protection to all leagues involved in the areas of contract and territorial rights. The National League had ended this agreement as part of its war with the American League.

The NAPBL set up standards for a player draft, a classification system for the different levels of leagues; a reserve list to limit the number of players for each team; and a salary structure; as well as territorial and contract protection. All remain integral in the structure of the game today.

Powers gave solid leadership to Minor League Baseball, but did not serve a lengthy tenure. He had remained as President of the Eastern League - which would become the International League.

While many observers believe that Powers' beliefs remained strongly behind the NAPBL, he felt an obligation to the members of his league. He felt the conflict of interest required his resignation as head of Minor League Baseball and he terminated his presidency in 1909. Michael Sexton was elected to replace him. In 1961 he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

Positions held[edit]


Preceded by
Jim Mutrie 		New York Giants Manager
1892 		Succeeded by
John Ward

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1884 Trenton Trentonians Eastern League 46-39 1st none League Champs
1885 Trenton Trentonians Eastern League 43-49 3rd none
1886 Jersey City Jerseys Eastern League 49-39 3rd none
1887 Jersey City Skeeters International League 48-49 6th none
1888 Jersey City Skeeters Central League 84-25 2nd none
1889 Jersey City Skeeters Atlantic Association 33-23 -- none team disbanded on July 25
Rochester Jingoes International Association 3rd none replaced Henry Leonard
1890 Rochester Broncos American Association 63-63 5th Rochester Broncos
1891 Buffalo Bisons Eastern Association 89-35 1st none League Champs
1892 New York Giants National League 71-80 8th New York Giants

Related Sites[edit]

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