The Schott Heard 'Round the World

 

Editor's Note: This blog finds and documents the final resting place of the famous, and sometimes, the infamous.  They're not always nice people.

"When you don't have kids and you're in a Catholic family - one of my sisters has ten children in eleven years - she's part rabbit - you feel kinda guilty about that.  So, I want to do things for other people's children."

Marge Schott was born Margaret Carolyn Unnewehr in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 18, 1928.  She was one of five daughters born to a family that earned its wealth in the lumber industry.  She doubled that fortune when she married Charles Schott, who's family owned several car dealerships in the Cincinnati area, all of which she'd inherit upon his death in 1968 (see Trivia below).

Like many in the Queen City, Schott was a huge baseball fan and of her home team, the Cincinnati Reds. She bought a minority interest in the team in 1981, buying control interest just three years later.  She is notable for being the first woman to buy an MLB team.

Her ownership years represented both sides of the coin.  While she was praised for keeping seats and concession prices below average and for creating a family friendly environment, she was also criticized for failing to invest in the team itself.  While most owners would be thrilled with a World Series victory, which the Reds claimed in 1990, Schott publicly criticized her own team for winning it in four games, one shy of a major financial windfall.  As a result, she refused to pay for a post-game celebration, leaving the winners to pay for it themselves. 

Her mouth got her into trouble on more than one occasion.  In 1993, she was suspended for one year and fined $25,000 for using derogatory language against her minority players.  She faced a similar suspension just three years later, after making public comments praising Adolf Hitler.  By 1999, the MLB had had enough, and she was forced to sell the team.

By 2004, a lifetime of smoking had finally caught up with Schott.  She was hospitalized on February 9th, the reasons for which are still unclear.  She developed breathing problems during her stay however, and was eventually put on life support.  She ultimately passed away on March 2nd at the age of 75.

Marge Schott was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, Ohio.  She is wearing her signature red suit.

Location: Section #1, Lot #49, Grave #32

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• If you want to learn more about Marge Schott, take a voyage to your public library, or Amazon.  It's all in books.
  
  
• As is custom, this blog began with a famous quote.  That statement really was the nicest thing this blogger could find attributed to Schott, who was known for saying some truly awful things.
  
  
• Schott owned two car dealerships in the Cincinnati area, both of which bore her name.  She did her own commercials for them too.  Check out this one on YouTube and tell 'em Schottzie sent you!
  
  
• Despite the controversies, Schott was known for her philanthropy.  She made frequent donations to the University of Cincinnati, who in turn, named their baseball stadium after her.  Her name was taken down in 2020, however, and is today simply known as the UC Baseball Stadium.  When she died, she left an estate valued at $124 million to charity.
  
  
• Schott is not the only controversial figure you'll find at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.  It's also the final resting place of Charles Keating, Jr., who made headlines in the 1980s for his role in the savings and loan scandal.  He ultimately served four and half years for wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud.