Exec, 1866-1944. These men were the first to occupy the top leadership position in their respective games. Jay was a pivotal figure in the decades after American independence, brokering a treaty with the British that bears his name, something that earned the ire of anti-Federalists like Thomas Jefferson. He was the first Chief Justice to lead the Court. When the Black Sox scandal threatened to undermine the professional game, Landis was named the game’s first commissioner to help restore the sport’s credibility. In that role, he ruled with near absolute power. Landis joined the Hall in 1939. OF, b. 1945. A clubhouse prankster, played 20 seasons but managed to log over 130 games only once. IF OF Mgr, 1874-1955. A member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class of 1936, Branch Rickey called “The Flying Dutchman” the greatest player he had ever seen. 2B Mgr, b. 1925. First manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, was never able to pull the team out of the cellar of the standings.