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{{short description|American baseball executive and manager}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Ed Barrow
|image=Ed Barrow 1903.jpeg
|caption=Barrow in 1903
|position=[[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] / [[Senior management|Executive]]
|team=
|number=
| birth_date = May 10, 1868
| birth_place = [[Springfield, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1953|12|15|1868|5|10}}
| death_place =[[Port Chester, New York]], U.S.
|statyear=
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Managerial record
|stat1value=310–320
|stat2label=Winning %
|stat2value={{Winning percentage|310|320}}
|teams=
'''As manager'''
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|1903}}–{{mlby|1904}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1918}}–{{mlby|1920}})
'''As executive'''
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1920}}–{{mlby|1945}})
| highlights = 
* 11× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1918}}, {{wsy|1923}}, {{wsy|1927}}, {{wsy|1928}}, {{wsy|1932}}, {{wsy|1936}}–{{wsy|1939}}, {{wsy|1941}}, {{wsy|1943}}) 
* [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] honoree
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1953 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1953]]
|hofmethod=Veterans Committee
}}
'''Edward Grant Barrow''' (May 10, 1868 – December 15, 1953) was an American [[baseball manager|manager]] and [[Front office (sports)|front office]] executive in [[Major League Baseball]]. He served as the field manager of the [[Detroit Tigers]] and [[Boston Red Sox]]. He served as business manager (de facto [[general manager]]) of the [[New York Yankees]] from 1921 to 1939 and as team president from 1939 to 1945, and is credited with building the Yankee [[dynasty (sports)|dynasty]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} Barrow was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1953.

Born in a [[covered wagon]] in [[Springfield, Illinois]], Barrow worked as a [[journalist]] and soap salesman before entering the business of baseball by selling [[Concession stand|concessions]] at games. From there, Barrow purchased [[minor league baseball]] teams, also serving as team manager, and served as president of the [[Atlantic League (1896–1900)|Atlantic League]]. After managing the Tigers in 1903 and 1904 and returning to the minor leagues, Barrow became disenchanted with baseball, and left the game to operate a hotel.

Barrow returned to baseball in 1910 as president of the [[International League|Eastern League]]. After a seven-year tenure, Barrow managed the Red Sox from 1918 through 1920, leading the team to victory in the [[1918 World Series]]. When Red Sox owner [[Harry Frazee]] began to sell his star players, Barrow joined the Yankees. During his quarter-century as their baseball operations chief, the Yankees won 14 [[List of American League pennant winners|AL pennants]] and 10 [[World Series]] titles.

==Early life==
Edward Grant Barrow was born on May 10, 1868, in [[Springfield, Illinois]], the oldest of four children, all male, born to Effie Ann Vinson-Heller and John Barrow.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=grant/> Barrow's father fought in the [[Ohio Volunteer Militia]] during the [[American Civil War]].<ref name=grant/><ref name=Toronto>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dHpGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3726,2254018&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en |title=Ed Barrow's Hobby Is Baseball: Review of Long and Big Career|first=W. J.|last=MacBeth|date=March 7, 1916|page=8|newspaper=The Toronto World|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> Following the war, Barrow's parents, with John's mother, brothers, and sisters, traveled in a [[covered wagon]] to [[Nebraska]]; Barrow was born on a [[hemp]] plantation belonging to relatives during the trip.<ref name=grant/> The Barrows lived in Nebraska for six years before moving to [[Des Moines, Iowa]].<ref name=sabr/> His middle name, Grant, was bestowed on him in honor of [[Ulysses S. Grant]], the Civil War [[general]].<ref name=grant>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pcNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=1041,3206801&dq=miller-huggins+ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Ed Barrow's Life Story Sees Him in All Ranks of Baseball: New York Yankee Business Manager Highest Salaried Executive in Game Today|author=Daniel|page=1|newspaper=The Toledo News-Bee|date=February 3, 1933|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>

Barrow worked as mailing clerk for the ''[[Des Moines News]]'' in 1887, receiving a promotion to circulation manager within a year.<ref name=Toronto/> He became a reporter for the ''[[Des Moines Leader]]'' after graduating from high school.<ref name=Montreal/> He became city editor, earning $35 a week (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|35|1887}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=theday/> In his last two years living in Des Moines, Barrow established a baseball team, which included future baseball stars [[Fred Clarke]], [[Ducky Holmes]], and [[Herm McFarland]].<ref name=Toronto/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7SguAAAAIBAJ&pg=4978,433068&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Ed Barrow, 70, To Celebrate At Ball Game|agency=[[United Press International]]|page=1-B|newspaper=The Miami News|date=May 10, 1938|access-date=July 19, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Barrow moved to [[Pittsburgh]] in 1889, where he worked as a soap salesman,<ref name=Toronto/><ref name=theday/> believing there was money in this business.<ref name="not ready to retire"/> However, Barrow lost all of money in this business, and went to work as a desk clerk in a Pittsburgh hotel.<ref name="not ready to retire"/>

==Baseball career==

===Early career===
Barrow partnered with [[Harry Stevens]] in 1894 to sell [[Concession stand|concessions]] at baseball games.<ref name="not ready to retire">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8XwqAAAAIBAJ&pg=4795,1263607&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Ed Barrow At 74 Not Ready To Retire|first=Bob|last=Considine|newspaper=The Deseret News|page=13|date=May 12, 1942|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> He helped [[George Moreland]] form the [[Interstate League]], a Class-C [[minor league baseball|minor league]], in 1894.<ref name=Toronto/> Barrow, with Stevens and [[Al Buckenberger]], purchased the [[Wheeling Nailers (baseball)|Wheeling Nailers]] of the Interstate League in 1896.<ref name=Toronto/> Barrow served as [[manager (baseball)|field manager]] until the collapse of the league that season.<ref name=sabr/> The team continued in the [[Iron and Oil League]] for the rest of the year.<ref name=Toronto/>

Barrow then bought the [[Paterson Silk Weavers]] of the Class-A [[Atlantic League (1896–1900)|Atlantic League]], managing them for the rest of the 1896 season.<ref name=sabr/> Barrow discovered [[Honus Wagner]] throwing lumps of coal at a railroad station in Pennsylvania, and signed him to his first professional contract.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=Montreal/><ref name="palace guard">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x0FSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4305,2345298&dq=miller-huggins+ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Barrow Was Last Of Yankee Palace Guard|first=Red|last=Smith|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|page=5-C|date=December 20, 1953|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> Barrow sold Wagner to the [[Louisville Colonels]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) for $2,100 the next year (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2100|1897}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=sabr/> With poor attendance, Barrow brought in professional [[Boxer (boxing)|boxer]]s as a draw: he had [[James J. Corbett]] play first base while [[John L. Sullivan]] and [[James J. Jeffries]] [[umpire (baseball)|umpired]].<ref name=showmanship>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MrNQAAAAIBAJ&pg=7076,3807644&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Ed Barrow, Early Showman, Signed Corbett for First|page=3|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=May 11, 1938|access-date=July 19, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He also hired [[Lizzie Arlington]], the first woman in professional baseball, to pitch a few innings a game.<ref name=showmanship/>

From 1897 through 1899, Barrow served as president of the Atlantic League.<ref name=sabr>{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Levitt |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/c9fdbace |title=Ed Barrow |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref> During this time, in the winter of 1898–99, Barrow and [[Jake Wells]] established a [[movie theater]] in [[Richmond, Virginia]].<ref name=Toronto/> Barrow managed Paterson again in 1899, but the league folded after the season.<ref name=sabr/>

With the money earned from the sale of the Richmond movie theater, Barrow purchased a one-quarter share of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs (International League)|Toronto Maple Leafs]] of the Class-A [[International League|Eastern League]] in 1900 from [[Arthur Irwin]],<ref name=Toronto/> and served as the team's manager.<ref name=sabr/> Irwin, hired to be the manager of the [[Washington Senators (1891–1899)|Washington Senators]] of the NL, brought his most talented players with him.<ref name=Toronto/> Rebuilding the Maple Leafs, Barrow acquired talented players, such as [[Nick Altrock]], and the team improved from a fifth-place finish in 1899, to a third-place finish in 1900, and a second-place finish in 1901.<ref name=Toronto/> The Maple Leafs won the league championship in 1902, even though they lost many of their most talented players, including Altrock, to the upstart [[American League]] (AL).<ref name=sabr/>

==Managerial career==
Barrow managed in the major leagues with the [[Detroit Tigers]] of the AL in 1903, finishing fifth, a 13-game improvement from their 1902 finish.<ref name=sabr/> With the Tigers, Barrow feuded with [[shortstop]] [[Kid Elberfeld]].<ref name=sabr/> Tigers' owner [[Samuel F. Angus|Sam Angus]] sold the team to [[William H. Yawkey]] before the 1904 season.<ref name=sabr/> Barrow managed the Tigers again in 1904, but unable to coexist with [[Frank Navin]], Yawkey's secretary-treasurer, Barrow tendered his resignation.<ref name=sabr/> He then managed the [[Montreal Royals]] of the Eastern League for the rest of the season.<ref name=sabr/> He managed the [[Indianapolis Indians]] of the Class-A [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] in 1905 and Toronto in 1906.<ref name=sabr/> Disheartened with baseball after finishing in last place, Barrow hired [[Joe Kelley]] to manage Toronto in 1907, and after signing the rest of the team's players, became manager of the [[Windsor Arms Hotel]] in Toronto.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=Toronto/>

===Return to baseball===
Barrow returned to baseball in 1910, managing Montreal.<ref name=sabr/> The Eastern League hired Barrow as its president the next year, giving him an annual salary of $7,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|7500|1911}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1910-12-14 |title=Barrow Will Get $7,500 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-barrow-will-get-7500/168712399/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun|The Sun]] |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 21, 1910 |title=Ed Barrow: New President of the Eastern League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ed-barrow-new/168712435/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |pages=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He served in this role from 1911 through 1917, and engineered the name change to "International League" before the 1912 season.<ref name=sabr/> As league president, he contended with the creation of the [[Federal League]] in 1914, which competed as a major league, and established franchises in International League cities, including [[Newark, New Jersey]], [[Buffalo, New York]], and [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]].<ref name=Toronto/> He attempted to gain major league status for the league in 1914, but was unsuccessful.<ref name=sabr/> When the Federal League collapsed, Barrow was the only league president to forbid the outlaw players from playing in his league.<ref name=Toronto/>

After the 1917 season, Barrow attempted to organize the "Union League", to compete against the AL and NL as a third major league, by merging four International League clubs with four teams from the American Association.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mDBYAAAAIBAJ&pg=956,5772052&dq=ed-barrow+union-league&hl=en|title=You'll See What Amounts To Major League Ball In Toledo Next Year: Toledo's Entrance Into the Union League, Which Is To Be a Major Circuit, Will Be A Great Thing For the Game in This City; Six Towns Are Already Cinched|first=Dick|last=Meade|page=14|newspaper=The Toledo News-Bee|date=October 24, 1917|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> Several International League owners opposed Barrow's policies, including his attempt to form the Union League, and felt he was too close personally to Ban Johnson.<ref name=cut/> When the league's owners voted to cut his pay to $2,500 after the 1917 season (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2500|1917}}}} in current dollar terms), Barrow resigned.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=cut>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lpoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5502,1775394&dq=ed-barrow+union-league&hl=en|title=When International Cut E. Barrow's Salary|newspaper=The Toronto World|page=8|date=January 2, 1918|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>

===Boston Red Sox (1918–1920)===
Barrow became manager of the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 1918. As the team lost many of its better players during [[World War I]], Barrow encouraged owner [[Harry Frazee]] to purchase [[Stuffy McInnis]], [[Wally Schang]], [[Bullet Joe Bush]], and [[Amos Strunk]] from the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] for $75,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|75000|1918}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name="not ready to retire"/> During the season, Barrow feuded with his [[coach (baseball)|assistant]], [[Johnny Evers]], who undermined Barrow's leadership.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_flSAAAAIBAJ&pg=3309,2504977&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Evers and Barrow Are Not As Thick As Peas In A Pod|page=5|newspaper=The Morning Leader|date=April 18, 1918|access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> The Red Sox won the [[1918 World Series]]. Recognizing that star [[pitcher]] [[Babe Ruth]] was also a great [[power hitter]], Barrow had Ruth [[pinch hit]] on days when he wasn't scheduled to pitch.<ref name="not ready to retire"/> When Ruth told Barrow that he could only pitch or hit, Barrow decided that Ruth's bat was more useful than his pitching, and transitioned him from a pitcher into an [[outfielder]].<ref name="not ready to retire"/><ref name=ruth>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HK5QAAAAIBAJ&pg=4907,1874298&dq=miller-huggins+ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|title=Babe Ruth's Row With Ed Barrow Cost Him a Managerial Job Later|first=Harry|last=Grayson|page=1|date=January 8, 1936|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

After the 1918 season, Frazee, now in debt, began selling the contracts of star players. He traded [[Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)|Dutch Leonard]], [[Duffy Lewis]], and [[Ernie Shore]] to the [[New York Yankees]], obtaining [[Ray Caldwell]], [[Slim Love]], [[Frank Gilhooley]], [[Roxy Walters]], and cash.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-12-19 |title=Red Sox Trade Lewis, Shore and Leonard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-red-sox-trade-lewis-sh/168712482/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Boston Daily Globe |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Frazee sold [[Carl Mays]] to the Yankees during the 1919 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4wM_AAAAIBAJ&pg=5252,3564963&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Border Cities Star|title=Mays, Star Sox Pitcher, Sold To Yankee Club: $20,000 and Two Star Pitchers Given For Carl|page=11|first=H.C.|last=Hamilton|date=August 1, 1919|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> The Red Sox struggled in 1919, finishing sixth in the AL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1919.shtml|title=1919 Boston Red Sox|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees after the season, against Barrow's warnings.<ref name=sabr/> The Red Sox finished in fifth in 1920.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1920.shtml|title=1920 Boston Red Sox|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref>

To date, Barrow is the only manager to win a World Series without previously playing in organized baseball, whether in the minors or majors.

==Executive career==
===New York Yankees (1920–1945)===
[[File:Ed Barrow 1924.jpg|thumb|180px|Barrow in 1924]]
After the 1920 season, Barrow resigned from the Red Sox to become the business manager of the Yankees, replacing the deceased Harry Sparrow.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=resign1920>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/11/06/archives/duffy-to-manage-boston-americans-veteran-outfielder-succeeds-barrow.html|title=Duffy To Manage Boston Americans; Veteran Outfielder Succeeds Barrow as Red Sox Pilot- Yankees Get Checks|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 6, 1920|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> He took control of building the roster, which was usually the field manager's responsibility in those days. With the Yankees, Barrow handled the signing of player contracts, although owner [[Jacob Ruppert]] personally handled the contracts of Ruth and [[Lou Gehrig]].<ref name=ruth/>

Barrow installed himself in the Yankees' infrastructure between co-owner [[Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston]] and manager [[Miller Huggins]], as Huston frequently criticized Huggins. Barrow told Huggins: "You're the manager, and you'll not be second guessed by me. Your job is to win; mine is to get you the players you need to win."<ref name=sabr/> When Huggins suspended Ruth indefinitely on August 29, 1925 for "misconduct off the playing field", while also fining him $5,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5000|1925}}}} in current dollar terms),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vNcrAAAAIBAJ&pg=6301,5051599&dq=miller-huggins&hl=en|title=Ruth Suspended, Fined $5,000 by Miller Huggins|newspaper=[[Ellensburg Daily Record]]|page=1|agency=Associated Press|date=August 29, 1925|access-date=April 17, 2012}}</ref> Barrow supported Huggins.<ref name=sabr/>

In his first move with the Yankees, Barrow brought Red Sox coach [[Paul Krichell]] with him to New York as a [[scout (sports)|scout]].<ref name=sabr/><ref name="palace guard"/> He purchased a share in the club in 1924.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1924-02-15 |title=Ed Barrow Now Is Part Owner Of Yankee Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-ed-barrow-now-is-part-ow/168712506/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |page=21 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author-link=Robert Creamer|first=Robert|last=Creamer|title=Babe: The Legend Comes to Life|location=New York|publisher=Fireside|year=1974|page=277}}</ref> He also discovered executive [[George Weiss (baseball)|George Weiss]], whom he mentored.<ref name="palace guard"/> Barrow also orchestrated a series of trades with his former club, mainly to keep Frazee afloat. These trades netted the Yankees such stars as [[Bullet Joe Bush]], [[Joe Dugan]] and [[George Pipgras]]. It has been argued that these trades only looked lopsided in favor of the Yankees only because the players sent to Boston suffered a rash of injuries.<ref name=Stout>Stout, Glenn. [https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs2004/news/story?page=Curse041005 A "Curse" born of hate]. [[ESPN]], 2004-10-03.</ref> However, this is belied by the fact that Barrow almost certainly knew who was coming to New York in these deals; he'd managed nearly all of them in Boston.<ref name=SABR>Levitt, Dan; Armour, Mark; Levitt, Matthew. [https://sabr.org/bioproj/harry-frazee-and-the-red-sox Harry Frazee and the Boston Red Sox]. [[Society for American Baseball Research]], 2008.</ref>

The Yankees sought to develop their own players, rather than buying them from other teams, especially after the investment of $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1927}}}} in current dollar terms) in [[Lyn Lary]] and [[Jimmie Reese]] in 1927.<ref name=dimaggio>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dP4sAAAAIBAJ&pg=3742,7240176&dq=ed-barrow+joe-dimaggio+bill-essick&hl=en|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|title=Gamble on DiMaggio Took Courage in 1935|first=Red|last=Smith|page=B7|date=November 10, 1981|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, Weiss and [[Bill Essick]] convinced Barrow to approve the purchase of [[Joe DiMaggio]] from the [[Pacific Coast League]].<ref name=dimaggio/>

[[File:Ed Barrow plaque.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Barrow's plaque in [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] in [[Yankee Stadium]].]]
Barrow was considered a potential successor to [[List of American League presidents|AL president]] [[Ban Johnson]] in 1927, but Barrow declared that he was not interested in the job.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fp1aAAAAIBAJ&pg=2892,2753421&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|title=Ed Barrow Stops Talk About Taking New Job|agency=Associated Press|page=1|date=January 21, 1927|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> When Huggins died in 1929, Barrow chose [[Bob Shawkey]] to replace him as manager, passing over Ruth, who wanted the opportunity to become a [[player-manager]].<ref name=ruth/> Barrow also effectively blackballed Ruth from MLB's managerial ranks by suggesting to executives of other teams that Ruth was not equipped to manage a baseball team. Although Ruth and Barrow had been together for all but one season from 1918 to 1934, the two never got along.<ref name=ruth/> ''[[The Sporting News]]'' named Barrow their [[The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award|Executive of the Year]] in 1937.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/08/26/archives/gomez-ruffing-top-indians-52-153-lefty-wins-no-14-red-no.html|title=Gomez, Ruffing Top Indians, 5-2, 15-3; Lefty Wins No. 14, Red No. 18--Whitehill, Allen Victims of Yanks' Bludgeoning: 2 Big Innings in 2d Game; Champions Get 6 in 6th, 7 in 7th--Dickey Smashes 25th Homer--So Does DiMaggio Butchery on the Diamond Crosetti Goes to Town Yanks' Box Scores|newspaper=The New York Times|first=John|last=Drebinger|author-link=John Drebinger|date=August 26, 1938|access-date=October 22, 2012|page=10}} {{subscription required|date=October 2012}}</ref>

After Ruppert's death in 1939, his will left the Yankees and other assets in a trust for his descendants. The will also named Barrow president of the Yankees, with full authority over the team's day-to-day operations.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=theday>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cKAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=1110,1259592&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Day|title=Ed Barrow Named President and Absolute Dictator of New York Yankees: Veteran Baseball Executive Plans No Change of Policy|first=Gayle|last=Talbot|agency=Associated Press|page=10|date=January 18, 1939|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> Barrow was named Executive of the Year by ''The Sporting News'' in 1941, the second time he won the award.<ref name=sportingnews>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ucBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=4706,5956348&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Ed Barrow Is Honored By Baseball Publication|agency=United Press International|page=3|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=December 31, 1941|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The estate sold the team to a group of [[Larry MacPhail]], [[Dan Topping]], and [[Del Webb]] in 1945, and Barrow sold his 10% stake in the team to the group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O0dPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7130,5002316&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|title=Ed Barrow Remains As Adviser To New Yankee Boss, MacPhail|first=Jack|last=Hand|agency=Associated Press|page=12|date=January 31, 1945|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name=chairman>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8-4ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=3731,4860923&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|title=Sale of Yankee Club Means End of Career for Ed Barrow at 76|agency=Associated Press|page=4|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=January 29, 1945|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Barrow remained as chairman of the board and an informal adviser.<ref name=chairman/> Though he signed a five-year contract to remain with the team, he exercised a clause in his contract to free himself as of December 31, 1946, in order to officially retire from baseball.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=retire>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZzArAAAAIBAJ&pg=3638,1339481&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|title=Ed Barrow Retires As Yankee Director|page=15|date=January 9, 1947|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> AL president [[Will Harridge]] offered Barrow the job of [[Commissioner of Baseball]] to succeed [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis]]; Barrow declined, as he felt he was too old and his health was in decline.<ref name=campbell/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ozUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=1868,1743017&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|title=Ed Barrow Declines Job as Successor to Landis|page=12|date=April 20, 1945|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Managerial record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Games!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
|-
![[1903 Detroit Tigers season|DET]]|| {{mlby|1903}}
||136||65||71||{{Winning percentage|65|71}}|| 5th in AL || – || – || – || –
|-
![[1904 Detroit Tigers season|DET]]|| {{mlby|1904}}
||78||32||46||{{Winning percentage|32|46}}|| resigned || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|DET total || 214 || 97 || 117 || {{Winning percentage|97|117}} || || 0 || 0 || – ||
|-style="background:#fde910"
![[1918 Boston Red Sox season|BOS]]|| {{mlby|1918}}
||126||75||51||{{Winning percentage|75|51}}|| '''1st in AL''' || 4 || 2 || .571 || '''Won [[1918 World Series|World Series]]''' ([[1918 Chicago Cubs season|CHC]])
|-
![[1919 Boston Red Sox season|BOS]]|| {{mlby|1919}}
||137||66||71||{{Winning percentage|66|71}}|| 6th in AL || – || – || – || –
|-
![[1920 Boston Red Sox season|BOS]]|| {{mlby|1920}}
||153||72||81||{{Winning percentage|72|81}}|| 5th in AL || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|BOS total || 416 || 213 || 203 || {{Winning percentage|213|203}} || || 4 || 2 || .667 ||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 630 || 310 || 320 || {{Winning percentage|310|320}} || || 4 || 2 || .667 || 
|}

==Personal life==
Barrow was known as "Uncle Egbert" to his friends;<ref name=campbell/> according to writer Tom Meany, Babe Ruth referred to him as "Barrows," treating him as if he were "a butler in an English drawing room comedy." He resided in [[Rye, New York]].<ref name=retire/> He first married in 1898, but did not discuss it in any of his writings.<ref name=sabr/> His second marriage was to Fannie Taylor Briggs in January 1912; he raised her five-year-old daughter from her previous marriage, Audrey, as his own daughter.<ref name=sabr/>

Barrow was an able [[boxing|boxer]]. He once fought [[John L. Sullivan]] in an exhibition for four rounds.<ref name=Montreal>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8DIwAAAAIBAJ&pg=6473,925664&dq=miller-huggins+ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|title=Ed Barrow gave AL the edge in earliest All-Star Games|first=Dink|last=Carroll|page=H-3|date=July 14, 1982|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>

Barrow was hospitalized on July 7, 1953 at the United Hospital of [[Port Chester, New York]] and died on December 15, at the age of 85, due to a [[malignancy]].<ref name=campbell>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2KEyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2838,3476674&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Miami News|title=Baseball Men Mourn Death Of Ed Barrow: Ex-Official Built Yankee Club, Put Ruth In Outfield|agency=United Press International|page=1B|date=December 16, 1953|access-date=September 23, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His body was kept at [[Campbell's Funeral Home]]<ref name=campbell/> and interred in [[Kensico Cemetery]] in Valhalla, [[Westchester County]], New York.<ref name=sabr/>

[[Image:1 Barrow 800.jpg|thumb|200px|Ed Barrow's mausoleum in [[Kensico Cemetery]]]]

==Legacy==
Barrow was the first executive to put numbers on player [[uniform]]s.<ref name=first/> He also announced the retirement of [[Lou Gehrig]]'s uniform number, the first [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers|number to be retired]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iOsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3508,611216&dq=ed-barrow+lou-gehrig&hl=en|newspaper=Berkeley Daily Gazette|title=Gehrig's No. 4 Is Retired by Yankees|agency=United Press International|page=10|date=January 8, 1940|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> Barrow was also the first executive to allow fans to keep [[foul ball]]s that entered the stands.<ref name=first>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r18bAAAAIBAJ&pg=4007,5060155&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|title=Ed Barrow and Baseball: The Man Who Built the Yankees Tells His Own Story|page=38|date=May 12, 1950|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> Barrow was also the first to require the playing of "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]", the United States' [[national anthem]], before every game, not only on holidays.<ref>{{cite book|first=Marty|last=Appel|title=Pinstripe Empire|publisher=Bloomsbury|location=New York|year=2012|page=223}}</ref>

In May 1950, an exhibition game was played in honor of Barrow, with Barrow managing a team of retired stars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sF8bAAAAIBAJ&pg=3000,5208326&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|title=Old-Timers Honor Ed Barrow Today: Traynor, Waner Play In Exhibition Game|agency=United Press International|date=May 13, 1950|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> Barrow was named on the [[Honor Rolls of Baseball]] in 1946 and elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] by the [[Veterans Committee]] in 1953.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1953-09-29 |title=Barrow, Bender Among Six Named To Hall of Fame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-barrow-bender-among-si/168712538/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Hartford Courant |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=United Press}}</ref>

On April 15, 1954, the Yankees dedicated a plaque to Barrow; the plaque first hung on the center field wall at [[Yankee Stadium]], near the flagpole and the monuments to [[Babe Ruth]], [[Lou Gehrig]] and [[Miller Huggins]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vEBSAAAAIBAJ&pg=1654,6265354&dq=ed-barrow&hl=en|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|title=Ed Barrow Plaque To Be Unveiled|agency=Associated Press|page=7C|date=March 28, 1954|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=60BSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4608,7753939&dq=ed+barrow+plaque&hl=en|title=Baltimore Tops List of 'Second Openers' Today|first=Jack|last=Hand|agency=Associated Press|page=12|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=April 15, 1954|access-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref> The plaques were later moved to the stadium's [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]].

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/edbarrowbulldogw00levi_0|url-access=registration|quote=ed barrow.|title=Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees' First Dynasty|first=Daniel R.|last=Levitt|year=2008|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=9780803229747 }}
==External links==

{{commons category}}
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[https://edwardbarrow.com/ Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees' First Dynasty]
*{{baseball-reference manager|barroed99}}
*{{bbhof|barrow-ed}}
*{{baseballstats|brm=barrow001edw}}

{{Detroit Tigers managers}}
{{Boston Red Sox managers}}
{{New York Yankees general managers}}
{{New York Yankees Presidents}}
{{1918 Boston Red Sox}}
{{New York Yankees HOF}}
{{1953 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Monument Park honorees}}
{{SN Executive of the Year}}
{{Honor Rolls of Baseball}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow, Ed}}
[[Category:1868 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox managers]]
[[Category:Burials at Kensico Cemetery]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers managers]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Indians managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball general managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball team presidents]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball executives]]
[[Category:Montreal Royals managers]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:New York Yankees executives]]
[[Category:Paterson Silk Weavers players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Springfield, Illinois]]
[[Category:Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) managers]]
[[Category:World Series–winning managers]]