Fred Knorr

Frederick August Knorr II (July 9, 1913 – December 26, 1960 ) was an American radio executive and part-owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball from 1956 until his death in 1960.

A native of Detroit and a graduate of Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, his first job in radio was at WHLS in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1937. In addition to being owner, Knorr also served as president in 1957 before being replaced by Harvey Hansen on April 19, 1957.

The team under Knorr's new direction supported integration of baseball, a position that was contrary to Walter Briggs Sr.'s longtime segregationist stance. On June 6, 1958, Ozzie Virgil Sr. became the first black player for the Tigers.

In late December 1960, Knorr, 47, died of burns suffered when he accidentally fell into a bathtub of scalding water while vacationing in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hotel. Upon his death, Fetzer became majority owner.