Born 12/22/1870 - Died 10/5/49 - Boxing
Jimmy, with the help of sportswriter and good friend Damon Runyon, did more to put Leiperville ( now Crum Lynne ) on the map than any other person. His Colonial Hotel on Chester Pike became a Mecca for boxing in the early 1900's. Runyon, who gave Jimmy his nickname, "The Baron of Leiperville", dedicated many of his columns to the Baron, and because of the column's syndication, Jimmy and the hotel were known nationwide. The Baron also managed boxers, and his first was Eddie Lenny, who became the first Italian American to fight for a world championship in 1899. He also managed Clifton Heights' Bobby Barrett, who fought for the world lightweight title; and the great black heavyweight contender, George Godfrey, who Jack Dempsey refused to fight. Jimmy's close relationship with Dempsey was well known. Dempsey lived at the Baron's hotel for a period of time, and Jimmy later refereed three of his fights: vs. Billy Miske, Battling Levinsky, and Tommy Gibbons.