Walter Briggs Sr. facts for kids

Walter Owen Briggs Sr. (born February 27, 1877 – died January 17, 1952) was an American businessman and sports team owner. He was a part-owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team from 1919 to 1935. After that, he became the sole owner until he passed away in 1952. Briggs also helped start the Detroit Zoo in 1928. He paid for many of its first animal exhibits himself. He also supported Eastern Michigan University and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Walter Briggs' Life Story

Walter Briggs was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on February 27, 1877. His parents were Rodney D. Briggs and Ada Warner. From a young age, he loved watching the Detroit Tigers baseball team. When he was young, he worked for the Michigan Central Railroad. Later, in 1908, he started his own company called Briggs Manufacturing Company. This company made car bodies for the growing auto industry. Later, it also started making things like sinks and toilets.

Becoming a Baseball Team Owner

In 1919, a part-owner of the Tigers, Bill Yawkey, died. The other owner, Frank Navin, then arranged for Briggs and another businessman, John Kelsey, to buy a share of the team. Briggs bought 25 percent of the club. He had always wanted to see the Tigers play in the 1908 World Series but couldn't get a ticket. Owning a part of the team meant he would never miss a game again.

In 1927, Briggs bought Kelsey's share. This made him a full partner with Navin. However, he let Navin lead the team while Navin was alive. After Navin died in 1935, Walter Briggs became the only owner of the Detroit Tigers.

Walter O. Briggs House, also known as "Stonehedge," in Detroit.

Briggs Stadium and Team Success

As the owner, one of Briggs' first big actions was to improve Navin Field, the Tigers' home stadium. It could hold 23,000 fans at the time. He added a second level to the grandstand and made the park into a large bowl shape. The stadium reopened in 1938 as Briggs Stadium. It could now hold 58,000 people. The stadium was later renamed Tiger Stadium.

Briggs was known for having a team that was paid well. Under his ownership, the Tigers won two American League championships (in 1940 and 1945). They also won a World Series championship in 1945.

Challenges and Changes

Briggs had a reputation for not treating all people equally. He did not sign black players to the team. He also only allowed black fans to sit in certain parts of Briggs Stadium where the view was not very good. Even though he hired black workers at his factory, they faced unfair treatment. The Detroit Tigers did not have their first non-white player until 1958. This was six years after Briggs passed away. They were one of the last teams in Major League Baseball to allow black players.

The grave of Walter Owen Briggs Sr. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Walter Briggs died on January 17, 1952, in Miami Beach, Florida. He was 74 years old. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.

Walter Briggs' Family and Legacy

His Children

His son, Walter Briggs Jr., briefly took over the Tigers after his father's death. However, a court later made him sell the team in 1956.

His daughter, Jane Briggs Hart, was a famous pilot. In the 1960s, she became one of the Mercury 13. These were women who passed the same physical tests as the male astronauts. She died in 2015.

A Family Apology

In 2017, Walter Briggs' great-grandson, Harvey Briggs, wrote an article for the Detroit Free Press. In it, he publicly apologized for his great-grandfather's actions regarding race when he owned the Tigers. Harvey wrote that even with all the good his great-grandfather did for Detroit, he could not ignore the fact that "He was a racist." Harvey added that it was important to acknowledge his family's past.

See also

• Detroit Tigers/Managers and ownership