A furniture salesman and avid Phillies fan, Nugent married the secretary of Phillies owner William F. Baker in 1925. He was so full of suggestions for the club that Baker hired him to work in the office. Four years later Baker died and left Mrs. Nugent substantial ownership of the club. Nugent became president in 1932 and remained until he sold the team in 1941. He never had a winner, nor any money to work with, and had to sell players each year to finance the next spring training.
