William Bartholomay

William Bartholomay is a Chicago executive who made his living in the insurance industry. In 1962 he was the leader of a consortioum who bought the Milwaukee Braves, a National League Baseball franchise, from the previous Braves owner Lou Perini.

Despite the Braves success in Milwaukee, where the team had set league attendance records during the 1950s, Bartholomay was intent on moving the team to Atlanta, a growing regional center, where there was more television revenue, and where the new, 52,000 seat Fulton County Stadium had recently been built. Furthermore, Bill was an innovator and wanted to be the first man to bring a baseball team to the deep south. He worked with many social leaders to help attain his dream. After an extended legal battle with Milwaukee that kept the Braves in Milwaukee through the 1965 season, the National League agreed to the shift to Atlanta. The case ultimately led to baseball's guidelines on local ownership.

In 1976, he was approached by a friend, Ted Turner. Bill and Ted knew a baseball team and network deal would be a good way to market the Atlanta Braves on a national scale and provided programing for Ted Turner's developing network. Bartholomay agreed, and sold the controlling interest of the Braves to Turner of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and owner of CNN, while retaining his interest as Chairman.

Currently, William Bartholomay is Chairman Emeritus of the Atlanta Braves, and Vice Chairman of Willis Group Holdings, Ltd., an insurance firm and has served as President of Chicago Park District Board and on the Board of the Chicago Public Library. He has also served as Vice Chairman of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.