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Dan Topping
Dan Topping
Dan Topping
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Daniel Reid Topping (June 11, 1912 – May 18, 1974) was an American sports executive who was part owner and president of the New York Yankees baseball team from 1945 to 1964. During Topping's tenure as chief executive of the Yankees, the team won 14 American League pennants and ten World Series championships.[1]

Key Information

Early life and career

[edit]

Topping was born on June 11, 1912, in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Rhea (Reid) and Henry Junkins Topping.[2] Henry Junkins Topping was the son of John A. Topping, an industrialist and president of Republic Iron and Steel. His mother Rhea was the daughter of Daniel G. Reid, who was known as the "Tinplate King" for his vast wealth in the tin industry. Daniel Topping inherited a portion of both fortunes. Topping had two brothers: Henry J. Topping (1914–1968),[3] and John Reid Topping (1921–1969).

Topping attended the Hun School and the University of Pennsylvania, and excelled in multiple sports.[2] He was an excellent golfer, qualifying for the United States Amateur Championships three times.[1] He worked in banking for a few years, opened and closed a small advertising agency, then purchased a partial interest in the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League in 1931. He became the majority owner of the club and improved the team, but the onset of World War II caused several players to join the military. Topping himself joined the Marines and served in the Pacific Theater for the majority of his tenure in the Corps.[2] He left the Marine Corps as a major and later became a colonel in the Ready Reserve.[1]

New York Yankees owner

[edit]

During the war, while serving in California, Topping ran into Larry MacPhail. MacPhail, then the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, and Topping were acquainted because both Dodgers athletic teams (baseball and football) played at Ebbets Field. In California, MacPhail told Topping of his interest in purchasing the New York Yankees. MacPhail invited Topping to join the syndicate attempting to purchase the team from the estate of Jacob Ruppert. Along with Del Webb, the group purchased a 96.88% interest in the Yankees for $2.8 million in January 1945. In March, they bought the remaining 3.12%, giving them complete control of the team.[2] MacPhail was named team president, while Topping and Webb were named vice presidents.

Topping as owner of the New York Yankees of the AAFC in 1946.

As a new Yankee owner, Topping wanted to move the Dodgers football team into Yankee Stadium. Tim Mara, owner of the New York Giants, who played in the Polo Grounds, held NFL territorial rights, and refused to permit this. During 1945, Topping's Brooklyn Tigers were merged with the Boston Yanks and the amalgam split its home games between Boston and Brooklyn as "The Yanks". Topping moved his team to Yankee Stadium anyway, joining the newly formed All-America Football Conference. Topping's team retained none of his players during the jump, in that the NFL ruled that the Yanks players remained under contract with Boston, but he was able to sign some of his former Brooklyn Dodger players to the football New York Yankees. The team was not one of the AAFC teams admitted to the NFL in 1950, and folded, with most of Topping's players going to Ted Collins's New York Yanks.

MacPhail became increasingly erratic and maniacal. After a drunken episode at the Biltmore at a Yankees 1947 World Series celebration dinner, MacPhail sold his share of the team to Topping and Webb for $2 million.[2] Topping and Webb became co-owners of the Yankees, each with a 50% share. Webb became active in American League affairs, while Topping directed team operations.

The two sold an 80% interest in the team to CBS in 1964 for $11.2 million. Webb and Topping each retained a ten percent share of the club.[4] Webb sold his interest in 1965. Topping remained as team president until September 19, 1966, when he sold his remaining stake in the Yankees.[1][5]

The exedra tombstone of Dan Topping in Woodlawn Cemetery

Personal life

[edit]

Topping was married six times, five of which ended in divorce.[1] He married heiress Theodora Boettger in 1932.[6] They were divorced in 1935.[7] His second marriage was to actress Arline Judge in 1937. They divorced in 1940, and Judge went on to marry his brother Henry. Dan Topping was then married to three-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sonja Henie from 1940 to 1946. His fourth marriage was to actress Kay Sutton in 1946. From 1954 to 1958, Topping was married to Manhattan model Alice Lowthers.[8] His final marriage was to Charlotte Lillard, which lasted from 1957 until his death.

Topping fathered nine children, including Dan Topping Jr.

He died of complications from emphysema in Miami Beach, Florida, on May 18, 1974, at age 61.[1] He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dan Topping

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Daniel Reid Topping (June 11, 1912 – May 18, 1974) was an American sports executive and heir to a steel fortune, best known as a co-owner and president of the New York Yankees franchise from 1945 to 1964, a period marked by the team's dominance in winning 15 pennants and 10 titles. Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Henry J. Topping, a lawyer, and Rhea Reid Topping, daughter of steel magnate Daniel G. Reid, Topping was heir to a substantial fortune from his maternal grandfather's steel interests, including a trust fund and later inheritance from his mother estimated in the millions upon her death in 1947. After attending the Hun School and studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked in advertising and banking before venturing into sports in the 1930s, acquiring the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League in 1934 and later relocating the team to Yankee Stadium as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference in 1946, renaming it the New York Yankees. During World War II, Topping served in the United States Marine Corps, rising to the rank of major and later colonel in the reserves. Topping's most enduring legacy stems from his partnership with and Larry MacPhail, who in 1945 purchased the New York Yankees from the estate of for $2.8 million, with Topping acquiring nearly 97% of the shares and assuming the presidency in 1947 after MacPhail's departure. Under his leadership, the Yankees established a dynasty, building powerhouse teams featuring stars like , , and Yogi Berra amid the league's integration following Jackie Robinson's debut, culminating in consistent postseason success through 1964. He sold an 80% stake to in 1964 for $11.2 million and his remaining interest in 1966, retiring from active sports management thereafter. Topping was named Executive of the Year in 1961 for his stewardship of the franchise. An avid amateur golfer who reached the quarterfinals of the 1935 British Amateur and won regional titles, Topping married six times, including to Olympic figure skater from 1940 to 1946, and had nine children; his final marriage to Charlotte Ann Lillard endured until his death from emphysema complications at age 61 in . Beyond baseball, he held directorships at National Airlines and , reflecting his broader influence in American business and entertainment.

Early life and education

Family background

Daniel Reid Topping was born on June 11, 1912, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was the son of Henry Junkins Topping and Rhea Helen Reid Topping. Rhea Reid Topping, Topping's mother, inherited the bulk of her father's vast fortune upon his death in 1925. Her father, Daniel G. Reid, was a prominent industrialist and tin-plate magnate, often referred to as the "Tinplate King" for his dominance in the American tin industry. Reid's estate was valued at over $40 million, which passed almost entirely to Rhea, establishing the family's substantial wealth. On his father's side, Topping's paternal grandfather was John A. Topping, an industrialist who rose from a payroll clerk to become the longtime president of the Republic Iron and Steel Company, a major player in the early 20th-century steel industry. This legacy of business success in heavy industry complemented the Reid fortune, contributing to the Topping family's affluent status. The combined inherited wealth from both maternal and paternal lines afforded the Topping family a privileged in Greenwich, one of Connecticut's wealthiest enclaves. This financial security granted young Dan Topping early access to elite social circles, recreational sports, and business networks that would influence his future pursuits.

Schooling and athletics

Daniel Reid Topping attended the Hun School, a prestigious in , where he excelled as a student-athlete. During his time there, Topping starred in football, , and hockey, demonstrating early prowess in multiple sports that foreshadowed his lifelong passion for athletics. Following his prep school years, Topping enrolled at the , continuing his involvement in competitive sports. He played both and football for the , contributing to the team's efforts during his tenure. Topping departed the university after his sophomore year without graduating, opting instead to enter the family business amid the economic challenges of the . Topping developed a particular affinity for golf as a young adult, emerging as a skilled low-handicap player. He competed in prominent national tournaments, qualifying three times for the United States Amateur and reaching the quarterfinals of the British Amateur in 1935. His achievements included winning the Metropolitan Amateur in 1934 and the Amateur in 1936, along with several club championships. This early immersion in professional-level sports was facilitated by his family's substantial wealth, which provided access to elite facilities and opportunities.

Pre-Yankees career

Early business and football ownership

After completing his education, Dan Topping briefly entered the banking industry, spending three years at a family-associated before seeking opportunities more aligned with his interests. This early professional stint reflected his privileged background as the grandson of industrialist Daniel G. Reid, but Topping quickly grew disillusioned with routine clerical work. In 1934, at age 22, Topping invested in by acquiring a partial interest in the of the (), purchasing half of the franchise from co-owner and becoming co-owner with John Simms "Shipwreck" Kelly. By around 1937, Topping had become the principal owner while maintaining the partnership with Kelly, steering the team through competitive seasons at , where it played alongside the baseball Dodgers. Topping managed the football Dodgers until 1945, navigating severe financial difficulties exacerbated by the economic hardships of . The team incurred consistent losses, with Topping personally investing approximately $500,000 by the mid-1940s without prospects of recovery, as attendance lagged and the league faced broader instability. Despite modest on-field success, including a third-place finish in the NFL's Eastern Division in , the franchise's viability waned, prompting Topping to relocate it to as a member of the rival in 1946, renaming it the New York Yankees. Following , Topping shifted his focus from football to ownership, selling his NFL interests and pursuing stakes in teams to capitalize on the sport's postwar popularity. This transition built on his lifelong athletic involvement, including competitive and school sports, but marked a deliberate pivot toward a more stable enterprise.

Military service

Daniel Reid Topping was commissioned as a captain in the Marine Corps in 1942, shortly after the entered , interrupting his career as a professional football team owner. He rose to the rank of major over the course of his service, which totaled 42 months in uniform, including 26 months overseas in the Pacific theater. By 1943, Topping had been serving as a , engaging in administrative duties such as organizing a league for military personnel in under the 14th Naval District. Topping's military roles focused on non-combat support, including training and administrative responsibilities, without sustaining injuries in direct , though he was exposed to the harsh conditions of wartime service in the Pacific. He received an honorable discharge in 1945 at the rank of major and later attained the rank of in the Marine Corps Reserve. The interruption of his pre-war business ventures by the war influenced his post-war decisions, prompting a shift toward new entrepreneurial pursuits upon returning to civilian life.

New York Yankees ownership

Acquisition of the team

In January 1945, Dan Topping, along with Larry MacPhail and , formed a syndicate that purchased 96.88 percent of the New York Yankees from the estate of longtime owner for $2.8 million. The group completed the acquisition of the remaining 3.12 percent interest from minority shareholders in March 1945, gaining full control of the franchise. Topping, leveraging his experience as a co-owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers football team in the during the 1930s, served as the primary financier by providing the bulk of the capital for the deal and assumed the role of team president upon its completion. MacPhail, a baseball executive, was appointed vice president and general manager, handling day-to-day operations under a ten-year contract. As concluded, the new ownership navigated the reintegration of players returning from military service by mailing contracts to 33 Yankees roster members in early 1945, including key figures like pitchers and outfielders who had been absent since 1942 or 1943. This process addressed salary negotiations and roster adjustments amid the transition to peacetime , with the 1945 season marking the team's return to fuller strength under interim manager Joe McCarthy. Among the early decisions, MacPhail hired as manager in late 1946 to replace McCarthy, who had resigned amid health issues, and Harris led the team starting in the 1947 season with a focus on veteran leadership. However, tensions arose due to MacPhail's increasingly erratic behavior, including alcohol-related incidents, which strained relations with Topping and Webb. These internal conflicts culminated after the 1947 season when MacPhail suffered a public breakdown following the World Series; Topping and Webb promptly bought out his one-third ownership stake for $2 million and terminated his contract, leaving the duo as sole principal owners.

Leadership and dynasty era

Under Dan Topping's leadership as co-owner and president of the New York Yankees from 1945 to 1964, the team entered its most dominant era, marked by strategic personnel decisions that solidified its status as a baseball powerhouse. Initially partnering with general manager Larry MacPhail until his ouster in 1947, Topping elevated George M. Weiss to the role of vice president and general manager, a move that proved instrumental in sustaining the franchise's success. Weiss, who had previously directed the Yankees' farm system since 1932, brought meticulous scouting and player development expertise to the front office. A pivotal early decision came after the 1948 season, when the Yankees finished third in the American League for the first time since 1925; Topping endorsed Weiss's recommendation to fire manager , who had led the team to the title. In his place, Weiss hired as manager on October 12, 1948, a controversial choice given Stengel's prior reputation as a clownish figure from his time with the and . Under Stengel's innovative platooning and motivational style, guided by Topping and Weiss's oversight, the Yankees embarked on a remarkable run, capturing 14 pennants and 10 championships between 1947 and 1964. This dynasty was fueled by the robust farm system Weiss expanded and refined, producing stars like , , and Yogi Berra while minimizing reliance on expensive trades or free agents. Topping's operational acumen extended beyond the field, particularly in capitalizing on the post-World War II economic boom to enhance fan experience and revenue. Attendance at surged from under 1 million in 1945 to peaks exceeding 2 million annually by the mid-1950s, driven by strategic upgrades including the installation of lights for night games in and ongoing maintenance to accommodate growing crowds. Topping prioritized fan engagement through affordable ticketing, family-oriented promotions, and leveraging the team's stars for public appearances, which helped maintain sold-out games during the era's television expansion. His efforts culminated in recognition as ' Executive of the Year in 1961, honoring the Yankees' eighth pennant and fifth title under his stewardship during that decade.

Sale and later involvement

In 1964, Dan Topping and his co-owner sold 80 percent of the New York Yankees to the (CBS) for $11.2 million, retaining a 10 percent stake each while valuing the entire franchise at approximately $14 million. The transaction, announced in August and finalized in November, represented a substantial financial return on their original 1945 purchase of the team for $2.8 million from the estate of . Topping continued in an operational capacity as team president and chief executive officer following the sale, providing advisory oversight during the transition. Topping's tenure post-sale was short-lived; on September 19, 1966, he resigned as president for personal reasons and sold his remaining 10 percent interest to , fully severing his ownership ties to the Yankees. This exit came amid the franchise's declining fortunes, as the Yankees failed to win another pennant until 1976, marking the effective end of the dynasty era that had produced 14 pennants and 10 titles under Topping and Webb's leadership. The sale's timing demonstrated Topping's business foresight, allowing him to realize significant profits—estimated at over $5.6 million from his share—before the team's competitive and financial struggles intensified. After 1966, Topping had no further active involvement with the Yankees, redirecting his efforts toward personal investments and corporate board positions, including directorships at National Airlines and . He resided primarily in , and , maintaining a low public profile until his death in 1974.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Daniel Reid Topping was married six times, with five of the unions ending in . His first marriage was to heiress Theodora Boettger on April 28, 1932, in ; the couple divorced in , in 1935. Topping's second marriage, to actress Arline Judge on April 9, 1937, produced his eldest child, son Daniel Reid Topping Jr., born February 1, 1938; they divorced in 1940. His third wife was Norwegian Olympic figure skater , whom he married on July 4, 1940, in New York; the high-profile union ended in divorce in 1946, shortly after Topping's acquisition of the New York Yankees, drawing media attention to their lifestyle. Topping married actress Kay Sutton on March 12, 1946, producing one daughter, Rhea; this marriage ended in divorce in 1952. His fifth marriage was to model Alice Meade Lowthers on September 20, 1952; they divorced in 1958 and had two children together. Topping's final marriage, to Charlotte Ann Lillard in 1957, lasted until his death in 1974 and produced five children; Lillard became a to his earlier children as well. In total, Topping fathered nine children across his marriages, with Dan Topping Jr. later serving in Yankees front-office roles. The family maintained residences in , including a apartment, a estate called Spencecliff in East Hampton, and later in , where Topping owned homes in Miami Beach and Palm Beach; these properties supported an affluent lifestyle bolstered by his inherited wealth. Topping's serial marriages to celebrities and socialites, often covered sensationally in , contributed to his public image as a glamorous but tumultuous figure in New York during the mid-20th century.

Death and legacy

In his later years, Dan Topping suffered from , a condition that progressively worsened and led to his death from related complications on May 18, 1974, at the Miami Heart Institute in , at the age of 61. Topping's funeral service was held on May 22, 1974, at 11 A.M. at All Souls Episcopal Church in Miami Beach, with a viewing that evening from 7 to 9 P.M. at Frank E. Campbell's funeral home on in ; his burial the following day was private. He was survived by his wife, Charlotte Ann Lillard Topping, and his nine children. Topping's legacy is inextricably linked to the New York Yankees' post-World War II dynasty, during which he served as co-owner and president from 1945 to 1964, a period when the team captured 14 pennants and 10 championships. Alongside partner and general manager George Weiss, Topping played a pivotal role in building and sustaining this era of dominance, including key decisions such as hiring manager in 1949. He sold an 80% stake to for $11.2 million in 1964 and his remaining interest in 1966. Topping was twice named Executive of the Year (1956 and 1961) for his stewardship of the franchise. Posthumously, Topping has been recognized for his business acumen in sports management, though he has not received formal induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

References

  1. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dan-topping/
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/20/archives/dan-topping-dead-at-61-yankee-owner-22-years-millionaires-clubs-won.html
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dan_Topping
  4. https://www.geni.com/people/Dan-Topping/6000000008521514217
  5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14602348/daniel_reid-topping
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/1925/01/23/archives/reid-fortune-left-to-his-daughter-mrs-rhea-topping-to-receive.html
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/12/archives/new-republic-steel-head-john-a-topping-elected-to-succeed-cd-cooper.html
  8. https://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/12-03-399.pdf
  9. https://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/17-05-621.pdf
  10. https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2012/05/news-nfl-s-brooklyn-dodgers/
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/23/archives/tigers-allege-pressure-by-rickey-to-buy-toppings-football-club.html
  12. https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-dan-topping-brook/121268991/
  13. https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/01/news-football-and-america-world-war-ii3/
  14. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-from-left-marine-lt-dan-topping-sonja-henie-at-the-stork-club-1943-128522288.html
  15. https://www.nytimes.com/1945/01/27/archives/yankee-club-sold-for-2800000-to-macphailtopping-syndicate.html
  16. https://www.nytimes.com/1945/02/25/archives/yanks-owners-buy-remaining-stock.html
  17. https://www.mlb.com/yankees/history/timeline-1940s
  18. https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/macphails-purchase-of-yankees-starts-new-dynasty
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/1945/01/18/archives/yankee-contracts-sent-to-33-players-back-from-the-war-fronts-in-the.html
  20. https://sabr.org/bioproj/topic/1947-yankees-ownership/
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/1947/09/25/archives/veteran-refuses-longer-contract-macphail-yankee-head-not-to-remain.html
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/1947/10/07/archives/decision-revealed-at-contests-end-macphail-quits-as-head-of-the.html
  23. https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/george-weiss-masterminded-nyc-baseball
  24. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/george-weiss/
  25. https://thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-yankee-stadium-old/
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Executive_of_the_Year
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/1964/08/14/archives/cbs-buys-80-of-stock-in-yankee-baseball-team-american-league-clubs.html
  28. https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/03/archives/cbs-formally-completes-purchase-of-yankees-from-topping-and-webb-us.html
  29. https://melikiancollection.com/artwork/archive-of-documents-related-to-the-sale-of-the-yankees-to-cbs-4229/
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/1966/09/20/archives/topping-resigns-as-yankee-chief-topping-resigns-as-president-of.html
  31. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/07/06/archives/reno-divorce-given-to-mrs-dr-topping-wife-of-amateur-golfer-gets.html
  32. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2351526/bio/
  33. https://www.nytimes.com/1940/07/05/archives/sonja-henie-bride-of-daniel-topping-olympic-figure-skater-star-of.html
  34. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/atlanta-ga/charlotte-smith-5363868
  35. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/daniel-topping
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