John Montgomery Ward Historical Marker
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
John Montgomery “Monty” Ward (1860–1925) was one of the most influential figures in early baseball—and in the long struggle for players’ labor rights. Ward earned a law degree from Columbia University while playing professional baseball and used his legal training to challenge baseball’s powerful team owners. In 1885 he organized the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, the sport’s first players’ union, and led the fight against the reserve clause that bound players to their teams indefinitely. In 1890 Ward and the Brotherhood launched the Players League, an unprecedented attempt by players to challenge the owners’ control. Ward’s activism helped lay the groundwork for modern player free agency and labor rights in professional sports.
Details on the LHF Labor Landmarks Map.