Prior to his ownership of the Cardinals, Bidwill was a successful businessman and wealthy lawyer in Chicago, with ties to organized crime boss Al Capone.

[4] Bidwill's only physical participation in athletics came only during his time at St. Ignatius High School and Loyola University.

After graduation in 1916, he began his law practice, serving as assistant prosecutor for Chicago and corporation counsel.

[5] Bidwill was part owner of the Chicago Bears, after he helped George Halas buy Edward "Dutch" Sternaman's share of the team in 1933.

One night in 1932, Dr. David Jones, the then-owner of the Cardinals, and his wife were guests at an informal dinner party aboard Bidwill's luxurious power-cruising yacht, The Ren-Mar.

Half-jokingly, Bidwill's wife, Violet, asked Jones, "Why don't you sell the Cardinals to Charley?"

[7] After the war the AAFC placed a team in Chicago, the Rockets, which publicly pushed for the Cardinals to leave town.

In 1947 Bidwill outbid the Rockets for the rights to All-American Charley Trippi, signing him to a then record $100,000 contract.

[9] During her tenure as the Cardinals owner, she and her second husband, Walter Wolfner, relocated the franchise to St. Louis in 1960.