Early Years
Fred M. Saigh was born in Springfield, Illinois on June 27, 1905, the son of Lebanese immigrants who owned area grocery stores. Fred attended Bradley University in Peoria and earned a law degree from Northwestern University in 1926.
Following school, Fred moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He believed in the virtues of hard work, determination, and accepting responsibility. His virtues led to his quick rise to become a successful tax and corporate attorney. In 1946, Fred became the principal in purchasing two architecturally notable office buildings—the Railway Exchange Building, which housed the Famous-Barr stores for decades, and the Syndicate Trust Building. The purchase of these buildings became national news and established Fred as a visionary in the St. Louis Community. However, within a few years, Fred would truly become a part of St. Louis' history.
The St. Louis Cardinals
In 1947, Fred Saigh and Robert Hannegan, then the Postmaster General and Democratic Party Chairman, purchased the St. Louis Cardinals from Sam Breadon. Fred modernized the team’s business practices and changed the system for ticket purchases, allowing ordinary fans the opportunity to buy choice seats during the season and tickets if the team went to the World Series. In 1949, Fred bought Hannegan’s share, becoming the sole owner. During that season, 1,400,000 fans turned out for the Cardinals, setting a new home-attendance record for St. Louis. In addition to being popular with fans, Fred earned the respect and loyalty of the baseball players. He renegotiated salaries with generous raises and insisted that rookie players deserved more than the major league’s prescribed minimum salary. In the spring of 1952, Fred placed a blank contract in front of Stan Musial and told him to fill in the amount he felt he deserved. The figure was acceptable to both parties, and baseball history was made. The two men remained friends for the rest of their lives.
In 1953, Fred sold the team to Anheuser-Busch for three-quarters of a million dollars less than he would have received for out-of-state interests. Remaining loyal to St. Louis and its fans, Fred decided the Cardinals belonged in St. Louis, ensuring that St. Louis remained a Major League Baseball city. Peter Golenbock, author of The Spirit of St. Louis — A History of the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns, includes a chapter entitled “The Saigh Era.” Here, Golenbock states, “The great irony of the story was that when Saigh sold to Anheuser-Busch, he, more than anyone, including Gussie Busch, realized how much the deal would benefit the beer company, and he bought a substantial block of Anheuser-Busch stock. That investment over the years would make Fred Saigh one of the richest men in St. Louis history.”
Establishment of the Foundation
Following the team sale, Fred returned to his office to track his investments and study financial publications. Known as an extraordinarily generous man, he spent much of his time helping those less fortunate by giving anonymously to organizations and individuals without seeking anything in return. In his later years, Fred enjoyed dinners with friends, ball games, the theater, and travel. He was most proud of establishing a foundation to continue his charitable acts beyond his lifetime. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life in the St. Louis metropolitan community by supporting charitable projects, primarily benefitting children and youth through education and healthcare initiatives.
After a brief illness, Fred Saigh died on December 29, 1999, at 94. For over twenty-five years, the Saigh Foundation has proudly carried on Fred’s legacy, honoring him through contributions which serve the children of St. Louis. Throughout this time, the Foundation has awarded over $70,000,000.
This gallery pays tribute to Fred Saigh — philanthropist, community benefactor, hard worker, and caring friend. We hope these images are, in the words of a young lady who was helped by Fred’s generosity — a "heart’s hall of fame.” Laurie wrote a poem celebrating Fred’s life; this is its final stanza:
- We’ll never forget you, Mr. Saigh,
- Thoughts of you will always remain,
- Locked forever in our memories,
- And our heart’s hall of fame.