John B. Day

Who was John B. Day?

John Bailey Day was the founding owner of the independent New York Metropolitans in 1880 and leased the Polo Grounds for them to play in, which was the first baseball venue in Manhattan, New York City. In 1883 his New York Gothams/Giants of the National League began play at the same site. By 1885 he concentrated his attentions on the Giants team. Encountering financial difficulties, mainly as a result of the 1890 Players League revolt, in 1893 he sold the Giants franchise to Cornelius C. Van Cott. He briefly managed the Giants in 1899, and in 1900 served as the National League's Chief of Umpires.