Christy Walsh (sports agent)

Christy Walsh (baseball agent)

Walter "Christy" Walsh is considered the first baseball agent. He is most famous as Babe Ruth's agent.

Wash was born in St. Louis, Missouri on December 2, 1891.(1) A 1911 graduate of St. Vincent's College in Los Angeles, California. (1) Walsh was by training a lawyer.(3) Walsh married Madeline Souden on April 4, 1935, was divorced and had one child. (1)

Walsh began his career with the Los Angles Herald as a reporter and cartoonist. Walsh began his career as a ghostwriter when he interviewed Christy Mathewson in 1912 when Mathewson was vacationing in California.(2)

In 1921 Walsh ghostwrote an article for World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker in which he described the 1921 Indianapolis 500.(2) Walsh and Rickenbacker split the profits of approximately $800.(3)

Walsh was drawn to New York City and was hired by Maxwell-Chalmers Automobiles in advertising.(3) He was fired from the job, considered the idea of ghostwriting in show business, but quickly went into sports.(3)

Christy Walsh was determined to meet George Herman "Babe" Ruth and become his ghostwriter and commercial agent.(4) Walsh was attempting to put together a group of syndicated ghost aided columnists and wanted Ruth as his star.(4)

Walsh tried repeatedly to meet with Ruth but had little success. In February 1921 Walsh staked out the Ansonia Hotel in New York City where Ruth was staying with his wife Helen.(4)(3) Walsh was in the delicatessen next to the Ansonia when he overheard the owner taking a call from Ruth.(4) Ruth had ordered beer to be sent up to his room but the owner could not find the delivery boy.(4) Walsh volunteered to take the delivery to Ruth and the owner agreed.(4) Walsh told Ruth what he could do for him (ghost writing opportunities) and told him of his experience.(4) Ruth was intrigued and they agreed to meet the next day in Penn Station.(3) Walsh and Ruth, along with Mrs Ruth, met the next day after Walsh had prepared a contract. Mrs Ruth held the autograph seekers at bay while Walsh met with Ruth behind an iron gate.(3) Ruth signed the contract(3). The contract read as follows:

Mr Geo. "Babe" Ruth New York City

Dear Mr Ruth:

Approved and Accepted George H. Ruth (signature)

It is further agreed that I wll furnish you (Geo H Ruth) a full and complete report of newspapers and amount contracted for up to the first of each succeeding month.

On opening day 1921 Walsh presented Ruth with a check for $1,000, sixty days earlier than he had verbally promised.(4) Walsh placed articles for Ruth for 15 years.(4)He used several sports writers as Ruth's ghosts, including future Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick and William J. Slocum.(4) Walsh served as Ruth's agent and money manager.(3) Walsh set up a trust fund and bought annuities for Ruth.(3) Walsh, along with Ruth's second wife Claire, put Ruth on a budget and provided him with money as needed.)3) Walsh served as Ruth's financial advisor and was responsible for keeping Ruth solvent in retirement.(6) The system set up by Walsh provided Ruth with financial security for life.(3) Ruth trusted Walsh and leaned on him for all of his commercial ventures.(4) Ruth said of Walsh, "I can't do anything without consulting my business manager...You'll have to call him in New York". (4)

...
Wikipedia