On This Day

Cleveland Browns organization formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride

Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride (March 20, 1888 – November 10, 1972) was the founder of the Cleveland Browns professional American football team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National...

Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride (March 20, 1888 – November 10, 1972) was the founder of the Cleveland Browns professional American football team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). During McBride's tenure as owner of the Browns from 1944 to 1953, the team won five championships in seven appearances, by far the most successful period for any Cleveland sports team in the city's modern history.

McBride was also a real estate developer and investor active in Cleveland, Chicago and Florida. He owned taxi-cab companies in Cleveland and a horse racing news wire that sold information to bookmakers. He had ties to organized crime figures arising from the wire service, but was never arrested or convicted of a crime.

Events Before

  1. D-Day: The Normandy Landings

    Allied forces launch the largest amphibious invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy, France, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

  2. Omar al-Bashir is born

    Omar al-Bashir is born

  3. Army defeats Navy 10-7 in football "Arab Bowl," Oran, North Africa

    Army defeats Navy 10-7 in football "Arab Bowl," Oran, North Africa

  4. Siege of Leningrad lifted by the Soviets after 880 days and more than 2 million Russians killed

    Siege of Leningrad lifted by the Soviets after 880 days and more than 2 million Russians killed

  5. Battle of Eniwetok: US forces take Enewetak Atoll at the cost of 37 Americans killed or missing and 94 wounded; Japanese

    Battle of Eniwetok: US forces take Enewetak Atoll at the cost of 37 Americans killed or missing and 94 wounded; Japanese losses are 800 dead and 23 prisoners

Events After

  1. UN General Assembly meets for the first time in London

    The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ.

  2. United Nations Security Council holds its first meeting, at Westminster Central Hall in Westminster, England

    United Nations Security Council holds its first meeting, at Westminster Central Hall in Westminster, England

  3. American actor John Wayne (38) weds actress Esperanza Baur (25) in Long Beach, California; divorce in 1954

    American actor John Wayne (38) weds actress Esperanza Baur (25) in Long Beach, California; divorce in 1954

  4. NY Giants outfielder Danny Gardella is the first major leaguer to announce he is jumping to the "outlaw" Mexican Basebal

    NY Giants outfielder Danny Gardella is the first major leaguer to announce he is jumping to the "outlaw" Mexican Baseball League for contract worth $13,000; triggers US MLB Commissioner Happy Chandler to impose a five-year minimum ban on players who move to the rival league

  5. General Juan Perón is first elected President of Argentina

    Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer and politician who was the 29th and 40th president of Argentina, serving from 1946 to his overthrow in 1955, and from 1973 to 1974.

More from the 1940s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 20, 1945?
Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride (March 20, 1888 – November 10, 1972) was the founder of the Cleveland Browns professional American football team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). During McBride's tenure as owner of the Browns from 1944 to 1953, the team won five championships in seven appearances, by far the most successful period for any Cleveland sports team in the city's modern history.
Why is Cleveland Browns organization formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride historically important?
He owned taxi-cab companies in Cleveland and a horse racing news wire that sold information to bookmakers. He had ties to organized crime figures arising from the wire service, but was never arrested or convicted of a crime.

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