Karen Croke

kcroke1@lohud.com

A Victorian home on Larchmont's Edgewood Avenue has a colorful and interesting history to it.

One of its owners was Harry H. Frazee, the one-time owner of the Boston Red Sox. Frazee reportedly got some of the money necessary to buy the house by trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees after the 1919 season. And we all know how that turned out.

The house has fared far better than the Red Sox did in the deal.

With seven bedrooms and six baths, the current owners bought a property that had many of its original architectural details intact and have modernized where necessary. It's now on the market for $2,650,000.

According to Arlene Gibbs, who has the listing for Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty, the earliest known records of the house date back to 1901.

In 1911, John A. Hoagland purchased the home with a trust left to him by his father, who was the founder and powerhouse behind the Royal Baking Powder Company. After living in the residence for many years, Hoagland sold the house to Frazee, who supposedly purchased the property with some of the cash he received after dealing Ruth to the New York Yankees.

HOW MUCH DID THAT HOUSE SELL FOR? Check NYDatabases for recent closings

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You might wonder, what was a Boston Red Sox owner doing in the middle of Yankee territory? During his years living in the home, Frazee sold the Red Sox and then got involved in Broadway theater, producing the Broadway hit “No, No, Nanette.”

He also commissioned the construction of several theaters. Frazee eventually sold the property to Daniel Kussel, another Broadway figure and playwright, who deeded the house to his mother and brother Milton. Milton lived in the house for 47 years.

A potential homeowner interested in its history will be thrilled to learn that much of the home's original architecture is intact, but the current homeowners have provided up-to-date, modern amenities such as a fully updated country-style kitchen with an original butler’s pantry, and remodeled baths.

Among its many special features are a glass-enclosed, wrap-around front porch, porte-cochere, uniquely coffered and plastered ceilings, stone fireplaces, and a third-floor great room, perfect for casual family gatherings. All the rooms are oversized — the house is 5,554 square feet in total — including a richly paneled, step-down family room.

“This beautifully designed, well-preserved historic home is a treasured trophy property,” said Gibbs. “From its ideal location near Larchmont’s ever-bustling downtown, to its impressive list of past ownership, there are so many reasons to choose this home — it is truly a must-see.”

Frazee, by the way, sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 and a $300,000 mortgage on Fenway Park after the 1919 baseball season.

Ruth died in 1948 and Frazee passed away in 1929. He's buried in Kensico Cemetery, ironically, not far from Ruth's grave in nearby Gate of Heaven.

LIKE THIS HOUSE?

ADDRESS: 59 Edgewood Ave., Larchmont

MLS: 4610730

PRICE: $2,650,000

ESTIMATED TAXES: $64,245

SCHOOLS: Mamaroneck

CONTACT: Arlene Gibbs, Julia B. Fee-Sotheby's Int'l Realty, 1946 Palmer Ave., Larchmont, 914-420-3344