Michael H. Sexton

Michael H. Sexton
Born	1863 Rock Island, Illinois
Died	January 18, 1937 (aged 73) Rock Island, Illinois
Nationality	American
Occupation	Minor League Baseball executive * National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues president (1909–1931) * Three-I League president (1901–1904; 1909) * Western League president (1902–1904) * Mississippi Valley League (1922–1924) president
Years active	1901–1931

Michael H. Sexton (1862–1937) was an American baseball executive, whose most significant role was as president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues from 1910 through 1932.

Born in Rock Island, Illinois, Sexton served as police chief in his hometown from 1893 to 1895. Sexton later became a partner in the Rock Island Steam Laundry and Towel Supply Company located downtown, where he was known affectionately as "Mr. Baseball" for his passion for the sport and his efforts to establish organized local baseball clubs.

At the Winter Meetings in 1909, Sexton was chosen to replace Patrick T. Powers as president of the NAPBL, a position Sexton held for 24 years, while collaborating to establish the system during his lengthy term.

Previously, Sexton served as president of the Three-I League from 1901 to 1904, and returned in 1909. Sexton also was the president of the Western League from 1902 to 1904, and later became the founder of a restarted Mississippi Valley League in 1922, serving as its president from 1922 to 1924, and again in 1927.

Back to 1901, the recent formed American League signed contracts with players who were dissatisfied with the pay and terms of their deals with the National League. This led to a conflict that increased enough to concern Powers, by then president of the Eastern League. As a result, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed on September 5, 1901, from a meeting held by Minor League executives at the Leland Hotel in Chicago. Powers was elected as the first president of the NAPBL, whose offices were established in Auburn, New York. Overall, fourteen leagues and 96 clubs were members during the first season in 1902. The purpose of the organization at the time was to maintain the independence of the leagues involved. Several executives did not sign the agreement and continued to work independently.

Consequently, Powers and his successor Sexton have been considered the fathers of Minor League Baseball, as they thought alike and acted alike, and were in agreement on the path that the NAPBL should take. Powers remained as president of the Eastern League, which would become the International League.

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