Philip K. Wrigley, also known as P.K. or Phil, was born December 5, 1894 in Chicago, IL. He was the second, quiet child of the outgoing business man, William Wrigley Jr.. During World War II, Wrigley enlisted for four years in the United States Naval Reserve. He had 3 children; Two daughters named Dorothy and Ada, and a son named William. He was married to Helen Blanche Atwater.
Wrigley became the owner of the Chicago Cubs after the death of his father in 1932. He also became the owner of two major league baseball fields, one of which was located in Chicago, IL and the other one was located in Los Angeles, CA. At first, when he was asked to take over his father's baseball team, Wrigley was hesitant to because he thought of himself as being more of a business man than a baseball man. Although he was hesitant at first, Wrigley ended up deciding that the team kept the memory of his father alive, therefore, he decided to go for it and take over the Chicago Cubs. Wrigley didn't only own the Chicago Cubs, but he was also the owner of the well known chewing gum company, Wrigley's. |
Besides taking over his father's baseball team and owning a successful company, Wrigley founded the All American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. This helped boost his profits when there was a decline of in income when professional, male, baseball players were drafted due to the war.
During the war, the Cubs were having very bad luck getting to the world series, but this didn't hinder the Wrigley stadium's chances of becoming and remaining one of the most famous baseball stadium in the United States. Philip Knight Wrigley, unfortunately, passed away on April 12, 1977, at the age of 82. With his passing, he passed down the title of owner of the Cubs and Wrigley's chewing gum company to his son William. After his death, he was remembered by keeping the name of his ballpark, "Wrigley Field." |
Phillip K. Wrigley
Owner of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley chewing gum company, and founder of the AAGPBL.