Benswanger Fund
Beethoven and baseball were central to William E. Benswanger's life. While music was his sustaining love, baseball was his career.
William became the Chief Executive of the Pirates baseball team in 1932 upon the death of his father-in-law, Barney Dreyfus. He must have done something right--he was credited for his carefully selecting of managers, coaches and scouts who had an "educated grasp" of the game--because the Pirates usually finished the season in the first division during those years. He brought about several firsts at the ballpark, among them Ladies Day, night baseball and free admission for children twice a week.
A musical force in the city, William served as President of the ÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Musician's Club and the ÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Chamber Music Society and on the Board of the ÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Symphony. He authored the Symphony's program notes for 20 years.
"If you ever lost a ball game, you'd be glad to go home and put your mind to something else," he once quipped.
He established the fund in 1965 to support the musical organizations in the city that were such an important part of his life.