Bill Veeck, Jr.

Bill Veeck, Jr. is credited with helping to start the Cactus League when he moved his team to Tucson from Florida in 1947. Urged by Arizona State Senator Hiram Corbett of Tucson, Veeck wanted to move his newly acquired team to be near his Southern Arizona guest ranch. He was able to accomplish his goal when he found another owner willing to join him in the desert, N.Y. Giants owner Horace Stoneham.

As owner of multiple teams (Indians, Browns, White Sox), he signed Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, just months after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier.