MovieChat Forums > Major League (1989) Discussion > Was Marge Schott the real life version o...

Was Marge Schott the real life version of Rachel Phelps?


Sans the outwardly bigotry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYrT_Kk_gr0

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Not even close.

As far as we know Rachel Phelps was not racist.

Marge Schott was in her 50's when she bought (did not inherit) a minority interest in the Reds, and 3 years later gained a controlling interest. Despite being anti-semantic and racist, she was actually very kind to children. She always tried to keep ticket and concession prices low at Reds games, and was a life long fan of the team, and wanted them to win.

Both were cheap, but for different reasons. Phelps just wanted the drive attendance down enough so she could move the team, in which time she would probably start spending. Schott was just plain cheap. She refused to hire scouts, put up a scoreboard for other games, or even basic upgrades to the stadium. And she really hated paying players while they were hurt, although her racist views may have been a factor in that.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_(film)#In_popular_culture

Rachel Phelps' character is loosely based on that of Georgia Frontiere, a past owner of the Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams, in the way she took over the franchise and how she was initially perceived. She took over ownership and control of the Rams upon the death of her husband in 1979, and eventually moved the team to her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri in 1995. The Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016.

https://books.google.com/books?id=5XC7CQAAQBAJ&pg=PP50&lpg=PP50&dq=Georgia+Frontiere+major+league+rachel+phelps&source=bl&ots=pVdPGIlHH9&sig=ACfU3U3RfuLK0gp7wQ6yuTx9hJoFNyH0zw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKzN_sxfftAhVFzlkKHaHaBYo4ChDoATAIegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=Georgia%20Frontiere%20major%20league%20rachel%20phelps&f=false

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Marge Schott to the best of my knowledge, was the first woman to purchase a majority interest in one of the "Big 4" North American professional sports leagues instead of merely inheriting it like Rachel Phelps did from her late husband.

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Very interesting video! Thank you for posting it. I knew somethings about her but, not everything. I just think it is ironic/hilarious that of all people, Jesse “Hymietown” Jackson had the balls to call out anyone’s racism/anti-Semitism..... He is one of the biggest racist/anti-Semites alive!

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