Albert "Happy"
Benjamin
Chandler Sr

Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Executive, US Senator, Kentucky Governor. Born in Corydon, Kentucky, he Chandler briefly considered a career in professional baseball before deciding to pursue a legal career. He was educated at the University of Kentucky College of Law and admitted to the bar in 1925. In 1928, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate and was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1930. In 1935, he was elected the 44th Governor of Kentucky, serving until 1939. Following his term as governor, he was elected to the US Senate serving (1939-45). Following the death of Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Baseball owners decided that a new commissioner was needed with skills and influence to represent baseball's interests in Washington, D. C. Thus Chandler was elected and excepted the title as Baseball's 2nd Baseball Commissioner on April 24, 1945. Serving as Commissioner until to 1951, Chandler was instrumental in breaking Baseball's color integration barrier on the Major League level. He also negotiated the rights to broadcast the World Series games on radio and used the money from the contract to establish a pension fund for baseball players. In 1955, he was again elected as the 49th Governor of Kentucky and served until 1949. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died at age 92 in Versailles, Kentucky.

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