Editing Rick Ferrell (section)

==Early life==
Ferrell was born on October 12, 1905, in [[Durham, North Carolina]], to Rufus and Alice, and grew up on a 160-acre [[dairy]] farm near [[Greensboro, North Carolina]].<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Rick Ferrell">{{cite web|url=http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1957&pid=4360|title=The Baseball Biography Project: Rick Ferrell|author=Stevens, Brian|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|work=sabr.org|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Rick Ferrell statistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pferrr101.htm|title=Rick Ferrell|publisher=[[Retrosheet]], Inc|work=retrosheet.org|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> He was one of seven boys, and two of his brothers enjoyed long careers in baseball.<ref name=wesferrellsabr>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Mark|title=The Baseball Biography Project: Wes Ferrell|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/81a7570e|work=sabr.org|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> [[Wes Ferrell]] reached the major leagues as a [[pitcher]] while another brother,<ref name="Wes Ferrell statistics">{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pferrw101.htm|title=Wes Ferrell|publisher=[[Retrosheet]], Inc|work=retrosheet.org|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> George Ferrell, played as an [[outfielder]] in [[minor league baseball]].<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Rick Ferrell"/><ref name="George Ferrell statistics">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ferrel001geo|title=George Ferrell (minors)|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]].com|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> Rick attended [[Guilford College]] in Greensboro where he played both baseball and [[basketball]].<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Rick Ferrell"/>

In 1926, he was signed by the [[Detroit Tigers]] of the [[American League]]&nbsp;(AL),<ref name="Rick Ferrell statistics"/> and was assigned to play for the [[Kinston Eagles (Virginia League)|Kinston Eagles]] of the [[Virginia League]].<ref name="Rick Ferrell minors">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ferrel001ric|title=Rick Ferrell (minors)|work=baseball-reference.com|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> Shortly afterward, he was promoted to the [[Columbus Senators]] of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], and in 1928 he posted a .333&nbsp;[[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with them.<ref name="Rick Ferrell minors"/> His performance that season earned him an American Association All-Star position.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 9">{{cite book|last1=Ferrell|first1=Kerrie; William M. Anderson|title=Rick Ferrell, Knuckleball Catcher: A Hall of Famer's Life Behind the Plate and in the Front Office|date=2010|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=9780786458370|page=9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrSeqPavccEC&q=Rick+Ferrell}}</ref>

During the season, he personally asked Detroit's owner, [[Frank Navin]], if the organization had a plan in place to bring him up to the Tigers. Navin told him to be patient and return to Columbus.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 9"/> When the season concluded, another Columbus catcher, [[Hugh McMullen]], was called up to the major leagues, but to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] instead of the Tigers. Confused as to who actually owned his contract, Ferrell inquired with the Reds about his status with the organization, and was again told to return to Columbus.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 9"/> After reading through his contract, he believed he was being unfairly held in the minor leagues, so he petitioned the [[Commissioner of Baseball]], [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis]], to grant him a hearing.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 10">Ferrell; Anderson, Pg. 10</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=How Navin Took Carr for a Ride|author=Salsinger, H.G.|author-link=H. G. Salsinger|publisher=Grandstand Publishing, LLC|date=January 1949|work=[[Baseball Digest]]}}</ref> It was discovered that Columbus owner, [[Joseph Carr]], had been shopping Ferrell's contract, receiving offers as high as $50,000 ({{Inflation|US|50000|1929|r=-3|fmt=eq}}), though none were formally presented on paper. Navin protested to Landis, claiming he was unaware of what Carr was doing.

After the Commissioner completed his investigation, he determined that the Tigers and Reds had colluded to keep Ferrell in the minor leagues, and directed Carr to shop for buyers. This move by the two teams effectively hid him from the other major league teams' draft rights to increase Ferrell's sale price.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 10"/> This was a common, although illegal, practice during this era, so Landis declared Ferrell a [[free agent]], allowing him to sign a contract with any team he chose, except the Tigers.<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 10"/> After receiving offers from many major league clubs, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Browns of the AL for $25,000 ({{Inflation|US|25000|1929|r=-3|fmt=eq}}).<ref name="Ferrell Anderson, Pg 10"/>