Gene Callahan was an amazing man with a sunny disposition who worked in three cynical industries--newspapers, politics, and baseball. Growing up in Milford, Illinois he dreamed to be a MLB pitcher but realized that he could not make his beloved St. Louis Cardinals or any other team despite his strong desire to pitch in the big leagues. He had a wonderful career as a newspaper man in Springfield and later became the press secretary and adviser for two legendary Illinois politicians: Paul Simon and Alan Dixon. He finally made to the Major League Baseball right after his boss Alan Dixon got defeated in the historic 1992 Illinois Senate race by Carol Mosley Braun. Out of work after more than two decades as a political insider, he dreamed again of being a St. Louis Cardinal working in their front office. The Redbirds blew a chance to hire what many considered one of the most honest persons who ever worked in politics. Undaunted that his beloved Cardinals was not interested in him, he reached out to Chicago White Sox majority owner Jerry Reinsdorf who encouraged him to pursue a third career in baseball. It was Mr. Reinsdorfs help and encouragement that Gene got the inside track on becoming MLBs first government relations staffer. After having a brief interview with the Chicago Cubs, who were being threatened by then Commissioner Fay Vincent to move to the National League West, which would destroy the TV ratings of WGN/Tribune Company that owned the Cubs, Reinsdorf got Gene pointed in the direction of the Milwaukee Bucks owner, who happened to be Brewers owner Bud Seligs close friend and college roommate. MLB was being rocked with labor strife and Congressional threats of losing its anti-trust exemption. Selig seized on Genes inside knowledge of workings of the nations Capital and created the 1st lobbying position for MLB. Later, Gene told me and others several times that he was surprised that Reinsdorf gave him so much inside information about baseballs troubles with Congress to allow him to get hired in this new position. Inquiring later after being hired, Gene said he was that Reinsdorf had checked him out and that knew Gene could be trusted and keep his mouth shut. Spurned by his Cardinals, Gene became a regular at US Cellular Field. He was legendary for his manners and his insistence on people promptly returning phone calls. He now has a daughter who is Congresswoman: Rep. Cheri Bustos. Sadly, his son Dan Callahan, who was the baseball coach at SIU, died in 2010 of cancer. Gene was a mentor to me and a huge supporter of my dream of creating a museum that celebrated Chicago baseball. His memory and legacy of steering MLB through some turbulent times in the mid-1990s will be honored by the Chicago Baseball Museum. Gene Callahan was old school! He will be missed by all.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 02:36:26 +0000
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