Byron Bancroft (Ban) Johnson was inducted into the second MLB Hall of Fame class in 1937 along with Morgan Bulkeley, Nap Lajoie, Connie Mack, John McGraw, Tris Speaker, George Wright and Cy Young. Johnson had been the sports editor for the Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette. In 1894 he became president of the Western League which was a minor league. An opportunity to expand came in 1899 and the league changed its name to the American League after the season. Within another year the American League broke their agreement with the National League as a minor league organization and on January 28, 1901 Johnson declared that the American League was a competing major league. He served as American League president from 1901-1927.
Hall of Fame Page
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