MacPhail began his career as a front office executive for the Cincinnati Reds in 1933. While there, he was credited with modernizing the team's operations, introducing radio broadcasts of games, and signing several of the game's brightest stars, including Hall of Famers Ernie Lombardi and Joe DiMaggio. He also played an important role in helping to break Major League Baseball's color barrier, signing African American players like Larry Doby and Satchel Paige.
In 1938, MacPhail was hired to be the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers. During his tenure with the Dodgers, he was credited with transforming the team from a perennial cellar-dweller to a championship-caliber franchise. He is credited with signing stars such as Jackie Robinson, Dixie Walker, and Pee Wee Reese. His trade for pitcher Kirby High also proved to be a key move, as High went on to become one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League.
After leaving the Dodgers in 1942, MacPhail served as the Vice President of the National League from 1942 to 1945. He then rejoined the baseball ranks in 1945 as the president and general manager of the New York Yankees. During his time in New York, MacPhail helped to build the Yankees into the most successful franchise in the league. He signed stars like Yogi Berra, Joe Page, and Phil Rizzuto, and was credited with bringing World Series titles to the Yankees in 1947 and 1949.
MacPhail's career in baseball was remarkable. He was responsible for countless changes that shaped and modernized the game as we know it today. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978 in recognition for his many accomplishments.
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