Known as one the greatest innovators in major league baseball history Branch Rickey is known for developing everything from the farm team concept, batting helmets, sliding pits, pitching strings, batting tees and the first to hire a statistician in baseball and to use mathematical formulas to predict a team’s success in offensive and defensive situations.

Rickey will also forever be known as the baseball executive that broke the “color barrier” by signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and making him the first African American to play major league baseball

Born in Stockdale, Ohio in 1881 the son of Jacob and Emily Rickey devout Methodist Wesley “Branch” Rickey was raised on this farm located on Duck Run.

Early on Rickey’s mother instilled strong religious faith and a sense of moral purpose that greatly influenced his life.

Rickey attended a nearby one-room schoolhouse and later one in Lucasville but was unable to earn a high school diploma because the schools didn’t offer one.

While in his late teens Rickey was encouraged by a former teacher and coach James Finney to take an exam to become a schoolteacher.

After a course of intensive self-study, Rickey earned a teaching certificate and taught for two years in a school in Scioto County.

Rickey learned early that he had to show his command of the class by standing up to rowdy students, which he did on two notable occasions, using his fists to put strong, older boys in their place.

In March 1901 Rickey enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) in Delaware, Ohio.

Rickey played on the OWU football and baseball teams in his freshman year.

To help pay for college Rickey played for a local semi-pro baseball team for $25 per game during his summer vacation from college.

Much to his surprise Rickey found when he returned to OWU in the fall that he had lost his athletic eligibility by playing with the semi-pro team.  

Dr. James W. Bashford, President of OWU suggested that he sign a paper denying the charges that he had played for money in order to regain his eligibility but Rickey refused because it would be dishonest.

In 1903 while Rickey was a sophomore at OWU, President Bashford, who had been impressed by Rickey's honesty and character in the loss of his college eligibility offered Rickey the opportunity to take over as the school's baseball coach when the team’s baseball coach had resigned.

Rickey gladly accepted the position.

During his first season, Rickey witnessed a couple of notable instances of overt racism against the only black player on the OWU team, first baseman Charles Thomas.

These incidents made an "indelible" impression on him.

Rickey began his professional career as a catcher with the Cincinnati Reds in 1904 but was soon dropped from the rooster due to his refusal to play games on Sunday due to his religious beliefs.

In 1905 he signed with the St. Louis Browns and played two seasons before being sold to the New York Highlanders (later known as the Yankees) 1907.

Rickey’s professional playing career was short lived as his batting average dropped below .200 and in one game with the Highlanders he gave up 13 stolen bases to the opposing team while behind the plate.

This dubious major league record still stands today.

During this same time period Rickey taught and coached baseball and football at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and later he earned his law degree from the University of Michigan.

In 1913 Rickey returned to the major leagues as a manager of the St. Louis Browns.

Rickey served as the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1942-1950 and during his tenure as the Dodger’s chief executive signed Jackie Robinson resulting in the desegregation of major league baseball.

Rickey finished his major league career as the president of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1950-1955.