Marge Schott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marge Schott
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| Born |
Margaret Carolyn Unnewehr
August 18, 1928 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | March 2, 2004 (aged 75) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Occupation | Owner of the Cincinnati Reds |
| Years active | 1968–1999 |
| Spouse(s) |
Charles J. Schott
(m. 1952; died 1968) |
| Awards | 1990 World Series Champion |
Marge Schott (born Margaret Carolyn Unnewehr; August 18, 1928 – March 2, 2004) was an American business leader in baseball. She was the main owner and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds, a team in Major League Baseball. She led the team from 1984 to 1999.
Marge Schott was only the second woman to own a major-league sports team in North America without inheriting the team itself. However, she did inherit the money that helped her buy the team.
She faced some challenges during her time as owner. Major League Baseball (MLB) stopped her from managing the team in 1993. This was because of comments she made that were unfair to some groups of people. She was banned again from 1996 to 1998 for other controversial statements. After these events, she sold most of her share in the team.
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Early Life and Business Start
Marge Schott was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was one of five daughters. Her father became very rich in the lumber business.
She went to Catholic schools and finished her studies at Sacred Heart Academy. While in college, Marge Schott joined the Theta Phi Alpha sorority.
In 1952, she married Charles Schott. His family was also very wealthy in Cincinnati. When Charles died in 1968, Marge inherited his car dealerships and other businesses. She was 39 years old and never married again. Marge Schott also did not have any children of her own.
Leading the Cincinnati Reds
Marge Schott loved the Reds baseball team her whole life. Since 1963, she held auctions to raise money for the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Many Reds players would attend these events.
In 1981, Schott bought a small part of the Reds team. She was part of a group led by two insurance leaders, William and James Williams. On December 21, 1984, she bought most of the team for about $11 million. This made her the main owner, and the first woman to buy an MLB team.
In 1985, she became the president and CEO of the club. Five years later, the Reds won the 1990 World Series. They beat the Oakland Athletics in a clean sweep.
Public Figure and Fan Favorite
Marge Schott quickly became one of the most well-known owners in baseball. The Reds team was always known for being family-friendly. Fans liked that she tried to keep ticket and food prices low. For example, a hot dog cost only one dollar. Box seats were around $12, which was the cheapest in baseball.
Unlike most team owners, she sat in a regular seat at Riverfront Stadium. She often signed autographs for fans. She also let groups of children run on the field before games. This showed her love for kids, especially since she couldn't have her own. Marge Schott was also famous for always having her pet Saint Bernard dog, Schottzie, with her.
Team Spending and Controversies
Some people criticized Marge Schott for not spending enough money. They felt she didn't invest enough to make the Reds a top team. She sometimes made comments about having to pay players who were injured. For example, she once complained about paying World Series hero José Rijo while he was hurt.
She also kept the team's office staff very small. It was said that she would turn down the heat and turn off lights to save electricity.
It was also known that Schott was not happy when the team won the 1990 World Series so quickly. The Reds beat the Oakland Athletics in only four games. She believed that team owners made the most money when a World Series went to Game 5, 6, or 7. She felt the quick win cost her a lot of money. She even refused to pay for a big celebration for the team. The players reportedly celebrated on their own with hamburgers.
Lou Piniella, who was the manager when the Reds won the World Series, left in 1992. He felt she did not support him when he was sued by an umpire.
Giving Back to the Community
Besides her love for the Reds, Marge Schott gave a lot of money to charities in Cincinnati. These included the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Cincinnati Zoo. The zoo even named an Asian elephant, Schottzie, after her dog. She later donated a second Asian elephant named Princess Schottzie II in 1996.
She also made a big donation to the Boy Scouts. This money helped create an 18-acre lake at Camp Friedlander. The lake was named 'Lake Marge Schott' in her honor.
Marge Schott also gave generously to events at the University of Cincinnati. This included the yearly Homecoming Parade. From 2006 to 2020, the university's baseball stadium was named Marge Schott Stadium. In June 2020, the university decided to remove her name from the stadium. This was because of her past comments and actions that were seen as unfair or prejudiced. The stadium was then renamed UC Baseball Stadium.
Later Life and Passing
Marge Schott was a long-time smoker. In 2001, she started having health problems. She was in the hospital twice for breathing issues. She also had pneumonia in 2003.
Schott was hospitalized again on February 9, 2004. She had breathing problems during her stay and needed life support. She passed away on March 2, 2004, at age 75. She died at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.
Her funeral was held at All Saints Catholic Church. She was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. She wore her famous red suit and an elephant brooch.
See also
- Cincinnati Reds
- History of the Cincinnati Reds
- List of Cincinnati Reds owners and executives
- List of people banned from Major League Baseball
- List of Theta Phi Alpha members
- Marge
- Women in baseball
