Chroniclers of the game have rarely been kind to Andrew
Freedman, principal owner of the New York Giants from January
1895 to September 1902. According to one team historian,
Freedman was “naturally arrogant (with) a bad temper at the end
of a very short fuse.” In much the same vein, Bill James
memorably described him as “George Steinbrenner on Quaaludes
with a touch of Al Capone” and “just this side of a madman”
while another commentator has awarded Freedman the distinction
of being “the most loathsome team owner in baseball history.”
But Andrew Freedman’s stormy tenure as Giants owner was, in
fact, only a chapter in the life of one of New York City’s most
prominent turn of the century figures. To Freedman, ownership of
the Giants was little more than a pastime, a diversion from the
weighty business and political affairs that dominated his life.
As a consequence, his stewardship of the team was mercurial,
with frequent managerial changes, angry ultimatums to fellow
magnates and battles with the sporting pres