George W. Gage
Chicago White Stockings President
Born: (1812-03-09)March 9, 1812
Pelham, New Hampshire
Died: September 24, 1875(1875-09-24) (aged 63)
Chicago, Illinois
Teams

George W. Gage (March 9, 1812 – September 24, 1875) was an American baseball executive businessman, and politician who served as president of the Chicago White Stockings from 1872 to 1875. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago in 1869 as the Republican nominee and served as a member of the South Parks Commission. After he died in 1875, the city named a park after him, making him the namesake of Gage Park and the Chicago community of the same name.

Early life

Gage was born in Pelham, New Hampshire on March 9, 1812. He received a common school education.[1]

Business career

Gage started his career as a machinist in Lowell, Massachusetts. He began working in the hotel business in Methuen, Massachusetts, going to work in series of hotels in different parts of Massachusetts. He worked in the Merrimack House in Lowell, before moving on to Wild's Hotel in Boston. He then became the proprietor of the City Hotel in that city, being well regarded in that role.[1]

Gage operated the Sherman House Hotel

Gage moved to Chicago in 1853. In 1853, the Gage brothers acquired the lease of the Tremont House.[2][3] They brothers the Tremont House the most popular hotel in the city.[1] Together the brothers became prominent Chicago businessmen after running the Tremont House hotel and investing heavily in real estate.[1] After his success with the Tremont House, Gage began to also operate the equally-famous Sherman House Hotel, doing so until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.[1]

Baseball

The Chicago White Stockings had been disbanded following the Great Chicago Fire. On June 6, 1872, Gage was elected president of the "Chicago Base Ball Association," the corporate name of the White Stockings. The group intended to bring professional baseball back to Chicago.[4] The White Stockings team was revived in 1874, and Gage served as president until his death 1875.[5][6]

Government and politics

An active Republican, he lost the 1869 Chicago mayoral election a race. Gage was later appointed a city park commissioner on the South Park Commission.[7]

Death

Gage died on September 24, 1875, after a short period of illness. His death was seen as a surprise.[1] After Gage died in office as a commissioner of the South Park Commission, Gage Park, on the city's southwest side, was named after him.[7] After his death, Gage was succeeded as president of the Chicago Base Ball Association by team secretary William Hulbert.[8] Gage was survived by six children and his widow.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "George W. Gage". Chicago Tribune. September 26, 1875. Retrieved 15 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "James Couch Killed". Chicago Tribune. 11 February 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Bannos, Pamela (2021). "Hidden Truths: Pamela Bannos". hiddentruths.northwestern.edu. Northwestern University. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Chicago Tribune, June 7, 1872.
  5. ↑ New York Herald, November 29, 1874.
  6. ↑ Haupert, Michael. "Chicago Cubs team ownership history, 1876-1919 – Society for American Baseball Research". SABR. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Chicago Tours with Geoffrey Baer | Biking the Boulevards | WTTW". interactive.wttw.com. Biking the Boulevards with Geoffery Baer WTTW-TV PBS Chicago. 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Chicago Inter Ocean, July 31, 1876.
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