Bob Howsam

Bob Howsam

Robert Lee Howsam (February 28, 1918 – February 19, 2008) was an executive in American professional sport who, in 1959, played a key role in establishing two leagues — the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced expansion of Major League Baseball from 16 to 20 teams in 1961–1962. Howsam later became further well known in baseball as the highly successful general manager and club president of the Cincinnati Reds during the "Big Red Machine" dynasty of the 1970s.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Howsam served as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II. He was the son-in-law of Colorado Senator and two-term Governor Edwin C. Johnson. Johnson also was involved with professional baseball as founder and first president of the postwar Class A Western League, a minor league that played from 1947–1958.