FREDERICK KIMBALL STEARNS Frederick Kimball Stearns, chairman of the board of directors of Frederick Steams Company, under whose leadership this famous Detroit institution ha.* won its high place of world-wide reputation, was born in Buffalo, New York, December 6, 1854, a son of Frederick and Eliza H. (Kimball) Frederick Kimball Stearns was an infant when brought to Detroit by his parents. His early education was received in tho Philo M. Patterson Classical school and in 1873 he entered tho University of Michigan, but left in his junior year to become identified with his father's business. He began work in tho laboratory and was employed in every department there, as well as in all of tho offices, and it was this experience whieh gave him sueh a mastery of the details of the different departments and such a thorough preparation for the position he was afterwards to hold as president of the company. Assuming the presidency in 1987, at the age of thirty-three years, he formulated plans for the continued development of the already large business, whieh to him seemed to be really ia its infancy. It has been given to him today to witness the sueceas of these plans in the marvelous growth of the honse of Frederick Stearn Company. It is interesting to note that there are few institutions of sueh magnitude that have been directed from their inception to their sixty-fifth anniversary by only two presidents, and it is even more unusual that the first of these two executives was succeeded by hi* son, who held that office until 1921, when he resigned to accept the newly created office of chairman of the board of directors. Although not in direct active charge of Frederick Stearns ft Company, Mr. Steams still guides its polley and retains the same interest in the business as he did in the days when he was its active head. He is president of Frederick Stearns ft Company, Limited of Panada. Some years ago Mr. Stearns moved to California and erected a winter home at 722 Creaeent drive, Beverly Hills, whieh has bceome famed for tho hospitality dispensed within. During his residence in Detroit, Mr. Stearns was foremost in developing public spirit and furthering progressive movements in music and art. In fact, he has always been known us a patron of the line arts, particularly of music, of which he has a wide knowledge. He has traveled very extensively and to good advantage. He is fond of outdoor athletic sports and was a ball player of considerable repute during his college days, having been captain of the varsity "nine." It was on account of his intimate knowledge of the game that he was induced to take the presidency of the Detroit Baseball Club In 1885 and 1887, which under his administration corralled the "Big Four" and made Detroit famous by winning the National League championship, also the world's championship by the defeat of the St. Louis Browns, American Association champions. This feat established a new record in baseball history. Mr. Stearns' interest in amateur athletics also placed him in the presidency of the Detroit Athletic Club, for four terms, of which club he was one of the founders, and he was also the vice president of the American Amateur Athletic Union. Mr. Stearns is widely known as a traveler, having begun in 1909 the travels which have earned for him the title of "The Tramp De Luxe." A believer in the maxim "See America First," he has traveled to every part of the United States and has made a score of trips to Europe. In fact there are few corners of the globe which he has not visited. Mr. Stearn art library was considered the most complete In the state, and for many years he served as a trustee of the Detroit Museum of Art. He is an accomplished musician and wss the organizer and most liberal supporter of the Detroit Orchestral Association which was formed in 1905 This organization was designated as the "backbone of the musical situation in Detroit." Mr. Stenrns was president of the society until 1910 and upon his retirement a loving cup was presented to him by his friends and associates in appreciation of his services. Tbe present Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an outgrowth of the Detroit Orchestral Association. Mr. Stearns was also president of the Detroit Musical Society. His musical library was pronounced the best in the city. Mr. Stearns did not abandon his musical interests when he moved to California, as indicated by his position on the hoard of directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. A republican in politics, Mr. Stearns takes only a good citizen's interest in supporting the best men and measures. He is a member of the Detroit Hoard of Commerce and also a member of Detroit's leading clubs, including the Detroit, University, Detroit Athletic, Detroit Boat, Country ind Detroit Automobile Delta Phi fraternity and the Automobile Club of America at New York city. Mr. Stearns' philanthropies and charities are many and have been carried out with as little publicity aa possible. Many years ago his attention was attracted to a pen drawing in a Christmas number of "Life," entitled "The Empty Stocking." The artist had depicted a little girl in a desolate garret in the early dawn of Chriatmns morning, weeping before a ragged, empty stocking which she, in childlike faith, had hung the evening before in the hopes that Santa might remember her. The pathos of the child in the picture so impressed Mr. Stearns that he resolved to form Tbe Empty Stocking Boeinty, with himself as the sole member, and determined that, so long as he lived and was able, no little ones of Detroit should awaken Christmas morning to find an empty stocking. Each year he secured names and addresses from the associated charities and poor commissioners of those fam- ilies with children which received assistance from the city, and beginning about Mr. Stearns for many years, or until the organization of such Christmas charitable societies as the Goodfellows Club, dispenses a charity that was enormous and did it so quietly that not even his closest friends knew of it. For some weeks previous to Christmas a certain part of his factory organization was engaged ia the purchasing and sorting of gifts which were to go to needy poor children, tbe number of whom at times reached as high as five thousand. There were caps, mittens, stockings, toys, candy and many other articles delivered by the wagons and trucks of the company to destitute children of all nationalities and creeds. This practice is still maintained by Mr. Stearns, although in late years not so extensively, as much of this work is being done by the more recently formed organizations of charitable intent. It may be remarked in parsing that all of Mr. Stearns' gifts were given anonymously, or in the name of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas. Mr. Stearns was married at Detroit on October 16, 1878, to Helen E. Sweet and four children were born to them, namely: Helen Louise, who is now the wife of Ralph Maynard Dyar of Beverly Hills, California; Frederick Sweet, vice president and treasurer of Frederick Stearns & Company; Marjory, the wife of Kdward Waite Hubbard of Now York; and Alan Olcott of Pasadena, California. HELEN ELIZABETH (SWEET) STEARNS (Mrs. Frederick Kimball Stearns). 1685 Jefferson Av. Detroit. Mich. Born Buffalo. NY.; dau. Allen Slocum and Helen (Olcott) Sweet; ed Detroit. Mich.; m Detroit. Oct. 16, 1878. Frederick Kimball Stearns; children: Helen Louise, Frederick Sweet, Marjory, Alan Olcott. Interested in suffrage question. Member Indoor Athletic Club. Grosse Polnte Hunt Club. Drama League Favors woman suffrage and much interested in question. Woman's WHO'S WHO of America A biographical dictionary of contemporary By John William Leonard

Detroit Wolverines Photo from Wikipedia The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437 before disbanding, taking their lone pennant (and World Series) in 1887. Franchise history Founded at the suggestion of Detroit mayor William G. Thompson, the Wolverines played the first game of major league baseball in Detroit on May 2, 1881, in front of 1,286 fans. Their home field was called Recreation Park, and it consisted of a wooden grandstand located between Brady Street and Willis Avenue. This stadium was demolished in 1894, though its location is indicated by a historical marker in what was once left field. The name of the ball club derives from Michigan being known as "The Wolverine State". The team name "Wolverines" is now primarily associated with University of Michigan sports. Though they folded after only eight seasons, the Wolverines occupy an important place in baseball history. On September 6 1883, they conceded 18 runs in a single inning against the Chicago White Stockings, the most ever in MLB. In 1885, new owner Frederick Kimball Stearns began spending heavily in an attempt to create a 'super-team' by buying high-priced players. Most notably, he purchased the entire Buffalo Bisons franchise that August, to secure the services of its stars: Dan Brouthers, Jack Rowe, Hardy Richardson, and Deacon White, the so-called "Big Four". This strategy quickly met resistance from his fellow owners, who changed the league's rules governing the splitting of gate receipts, reducing the visiting team's maximum share to $125 per game. Detroit was not yet the Motor City, and its population was too small to support a highly paid team. The Wolverines' home gate receipts were not sufficient to sustain their payroll, and Stearns was forced to sell his stars to other clubs. The Wolverines' most successful season came in 1887, when they were crowned as the champion of the National League with a record of 79 wins and 45 losses. After the season, they defeated the St. Louis Browns, champion of the rival American Association, in a series of exhibition matches, winning ten of the fifteen games played. These games were a predecessor to the modern World Series, which did not begin until 1903. Three Detroit players hit for the cycle: George Wood on June 13, 1885, Mox McQuery on Sept. 28, 1885, and Jack Rowe on Aug. 21, 1886.