Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991

Happy Chandler was Major League Baseball Commissioner (1945-1951). Jim Gallagher, a sports wirter, had a long career in baseball. He served on the Playing rules Committee and as the Director of Amateur and College Baseball for the Commissioner's office during the tenures of Chandler, Frick, Eckert and Kuhn. prior to his time with the Commissioner's office, he was the General Manager of the Chicago Cubs and Scouting Director for the Phillies.

Happy Chandler was the second Major League Baseball Commissioner (1945-1951).

Governor, U.S. Senator, Commissioner of Baseball

Chandler, a native of Henderson County, Ky., attended Transylvania University, Harvard Law School, and the University of Ky. Law School. In the 1920's was assistant football coach at Centre College. He established a law practice in Versailles in 1925 and married Mildred Watkins the same year. In 1928 he was appointed Master Commissioner of Woodford County and soon won election to the state Senate. Chandler held the second place on the winning 1931 gubernatorial ticket headed by Ruby Laffoon. He became the governor's political enemy during their tenure in office, however, and opposed Laffoon's sales tax bill. He won two Democratic primaries and the general election to capture the governorship in 1935.

In 1938 he challenged Alben Barkley for the U.S. Senate, but was unsuccessful. Kentucky's other U.S. Senator, M.M. Logan, died the following year, however, and Chandler resigned as governor and was appointed to the vacancy. Chandler won the special election for the seat in 1940 and won a full term in 1942. He resigned from the Senate in 1945 when he was chosen Commissioner of Baseball. Chandler failed to win re-election to a second term as Commissioner in 1951. He did, however, win a second term as governor in 1955. His name was placed in nomination for President at the 1956 Democratic convention and received 36 1/2 first ballot votes. After losing the governorship in 1959, Chandler sought the office three more times, losing twice in Democratic primaries and once as an independent.