Branch Rickey, manager of the St. Louis American League team, was born at Lucasville, Ohio, December 20, 1881. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University, he played professional ball with Lamar club, of Iowa South Dakota League, in 1903. The following year he was tried by Dallas, of Texas League, and Cincinnati Nationals gave him a trial in the fall of that year, but released him. The following year he was with St. Louis Americans and Dallas, and was drafted by Chicago Americans. He was traded to St. Louis, played a year with that team, and was sent to New York Americans in a trade. In 1908 he retired to become coach at Michigan Univer- sity. but also scouted with St. Louis Americans with such good results that he was appointed manager in the fall of 1913.