Robert Hedges (baseball)

Nicknamed as "Colonel Bob," Hedges is considered to be the first major league owner to view baseball as a purely business venture.

Consequently, he invested in innovations that he believed would improve his bottom line by increasing fan attendance (such as through the installation of an electronic scoreboard and the hiring of the first live announcer) or by protecting his assets (such as by taking out life insurance policies on players and developing the first canvas to protect the playing surface from rain).

Hedges sold the team to Federal League owner Phil Ball to prevent cannibalization of the St. Louis baseball market, as the presence of three professional teams in the city and the corresponding stiff competition for players caused each franchise to experience financial losses.

[3] Hedges, who grew up on a farm and began his career working as a clerk for Jackson County, became wealthy through the manufacture of carriages.

In 1900, with profits soaring, he sold his business, as he had correctly surmised that his industry was greatly threatened by the rise of the automobile.