Phillip P. Piton (January 14, 1903 – January 23, 1983) was an American baseball executive, whose most significant role was as president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues from 1964 through 1971. He was born in Columbus, Ohio.Philip Piton (1903–1983)
''Ancient Faces''. Retrieved on December 4, 2015. ''MiLB.com.'' Retrieved on December 4, 2015.

Early life

Piton was a valuable collaborator to

baseball commissioner The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive officer of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the associated Minor League Baseball (MiLB) – a constellation of leagues and clubs known as "organized baseball". Under the direction of the Commiss ...

Kenesaw Mountain Landis Kenesaw Mountain Landis (; November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a United States federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death. He is remembered for his ...

during 15 years. In this lapse of time, Piton excelled as an operator within the professional baseball industry. He retired temporarily from the commissioner’s office during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, but returned to the baseball activities when George Trautman was elected as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues president in 1947. Following his retirement in 1971, Piton turned over 20 leagues and 155 clubs to his successor

Hank Peters Henry John Peters (September 16, 1924 – January 4, 2015) was an American professional baseball executive who held senior management positions for the Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball between ...

and, while attendance still was not improving, the downward slide had ended and the upward progression began its call. Piton died in 1983 in Columbus, Ohio, just nine days after his 80th birthday.

References

1903 births 1983 deaths Minor league baseball executives Sportspeople from Columbus, Ohio People from Franklin, Ohio {{US-baseball-business-bio-stub