E-gold and Billy Southworth: Difference between pages

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'''William Harrison Southworth''' ([[March 9]], [[1893]] - [[November 15]], [[1969]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[right fielder]], [[center fielder]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. Playing in [[1913 in sports|1913]] and [[1915 in sports|1915]] and from [[1918 in sports|1918]] to [[1929 in sports|1929]], he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in [[1929 in sports|1929]] and from [[1940 in sports|1940]] through [[1951 in sports|1951]].

{{npov}}

[[Image:e-gold.gif|right|Logo for e-gold Ltd]]'''E-gold''' is a modern privately issued [[digital gold currency]] working in the form of [[escrow]]. E-gold account holdings at all times represent a claim to a specified quantity of gold. The user may take physical delivery of the gold upon payment of an additional charge. However, most users permit the operator to retain possession of the purchased gold. E-gold transactions are completed electronically, usually over the [[Internet]], and they always settle by weight of the gold even if denominated in some other way. This ties the e-gold currency system directly to the value of gold in such a way that its value cannot be directly manipulated in the way that paper [[fiat currency]] can. Therefore, the value of any individual e-gold account fluctuates against national currencies according to the [[spot price]] of gold. Digital currency denominated in other [[precious metal]]s besides gold is also offered, including [[silver]], [[platinum]] and [[palladium]]. However, gold is by far the most popular precious metal used on the e-gold system.

Born in [[Harvard, Nebraska]], Southworth decided to play baseball despite his father's wishes. He batted .300 three times in his career, not counting shortened seasons.

Numerous [http://www.e-gold.com/unsecure/links.htm third party web sites] sell e-gold grams in exchange for a fiat currency, for a percentage transaction fee. Conversely, these third party web sites will sell fiat currency in exchange for e-gold grams, also for a percentage transaction fee. In this manner e-gold grams can be converted back and forth to a variety of fiat currencies of different countries. The amount of a particular fiat currency or e-gold necessary to complete a transaction is determined by the then current spot price of gold in relation to the value of the fiat currency.

In a 13-season career, he [[batting average|batted]] .297 with 52 [[home run]]s with 561 [[run batted in|RBIs]]. He [[stolen base|stole 138 bases]] in his career. He had 1296 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in 4359 [[at bat]]s.

The e-gold system could be viewed as a [[libertarian]] system of money because it is not subject to government policies in the same way as the [[Federal Reserve]] alters the value of the [[dollar]].

As a manager, he was very successful, almost accumulating a .600 winning percentage (.597). He was 1770-1044 all-time with four first-place finishes, and two [[World Series]] titles ([[1942 World Series|1942]], [[1944 World Series|1944]]). Southworth also won one World Series as a player ([[1926 World Series|1926]]).

== Advantages ==

Proponents of the e-gold system contend that it offers three potential benefits to the user:

Southworth began his managing career in 1928 with the [[Rochester Red Wings]] of the AA [[International League]], the top farm in the Cardinals' leading-edge [[farm system]]. After winning the IL pennant, he was promoted to St. Louis as manager for 1929. But the Redbirds, defending league champions, did not respond to Southworth's attempts at discipline and he was replaced at mid-season by [[Bill McKechnie]]. Although Southworth resumed his successful minor league managerial career that season, the firing began a downward spiral. Beset by struggles with [[alcoholism]], he even left baseball for two seasons. Finally, after a recovery, he rejoined the Cardinals' minor league system in 1935 and by 1939 he was again enjoying success as Rochester's manager.

1. A currency that protects against [[inflation]], [[devaluation]], and other possible economic risks inherent in fiat currencies.

In June [[1940 in sports|1940]], he received a second chance with the struggling Cardinals when owner [[Sam Breadon]] fired manager [[Ray Blades]] and promoted Southworth. This time, the Cards flourished under Southworth. They won 69 of 109 games and jumped from seventh to third place in 1940. The following season they won 97 games and finished second. Then, from 1942-44, the Cardinals won 106, 105 and 105 games, three pennants and two World Series titles. Southworth had presided over one of the most dominant three-year stretches in [[National League]] history. But in [[1945 in sports|1945]], his son, [[Major William Brooks Southworth]], died in a plane crash during military flight training. The Cards' manager rushed to the scene of the crash and was overcome with sadness, but began managing at the beginning of the season despite the tragedy. The Cardinals finished second that season, three games behind the [[Chicago Cubs]].

2. Protection of assets from arbitrary and potentially harmful actions by national governments and central banks which diminish the value of those assets held in fiat currencies. Proponents of the e-gold system believe that it offers a truly international and decentralized currency which is unattached to a [[central bank]] of a particular country or territory.

Southworth then moved to the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] in 1946, signing a then-lucrative managing contract for a reported $50,000 per season, and immediately led the Braves into the first division. In [[1948 in sports|1948]], spearheaded by the National League's best one-two pitching combination, lefthander [[Warren Spahn]] and righty [[Johnny Sain]], the Braves won their second NL pennant of the 20th century but were defeated in six games by the [[Cleveland Indians]] in the [[1948 World Series]].

3. An alternative to traditional forms of payment, which in some cases (especially in online transactions) may be less efficient or more costly. The e-gold system as well as other digital currencies provide a system where transactions clear instantly, this is in contrast to checks or credit card transactions which when used could take days for funds to be deducted from an account. Also, unlike other online payment systems such as [[PayPal]], there are no distinctions between merchant and non-merchant e-gold accounts. All e-gold accounts carry the same [http://www.e-gold.com/unsecure/fees.asp fees] and have the same capacity to receive and transmit e-gold account holdings. E-gold is mostly used for online [[micropayment]]s.

The following season saw Boston struggle on the field and in chaos off the diamond, with numerous players rebelling against Southworth's rules and regulations. The manager was rumored to be drinking heavily and near nervous collapse. With Boston at 55-54 in August, Southworth turned the Braves over to [[coach (baseball)|coach]] [[Johnny Cooney]] for the remainder of [[1949 in sports|1949]]. Southworth returned to his post in [[1950 in sports|1950]] - the rebellious players had been traded - and led the Braves back into the first division, but an aging team and declining attendance bode poorly for both Southworth's career and the Braves' future in [[New England]]. In [[1951 in sports|1951]], Southworth's club was only 28-31 on June 19 when he was fired and replaced by his former standout [[center fielder]], [[Tommy Holmes]]. He never managed again in the major leagues and the Braves abandoned Boston for [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] in March [[1953 in sports|1953]].

== Disadvantages ==

Some criticisms of the e-gold system are:

Billy Southworth died of [[emphysema]] at age 76 in [[Columbus, Ohio]].

1. There is no way of knowing if the e-gold operators really have the gold, which backs up the currency in the e-gold system. (Though e-gold's audits and [http://www.e-gold.com/examiner.html examiner,] which has updated statistics on outstanding liabilities and the total amount of each precious metal in its holding.)

== External links link==

2. Like Paypal, e-gold can only be used on the internet.

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/southbi01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com] - career managing record and playing statistics

[[Category:1893 births|Southworth, Billy]]

3. There is no way of having [[transactions]] reversed, even if there were a legitimate error or an unauthorized spend. E-gold's [http://www.e-gold.com/unsecure/e-g-agree.htm Terms of Use], in sections 2.3-2.6, stipulates that all spends are final and e-gold cannot be held responsible for any spend.

[[Category:1969 deaths|Southworth, Billy]]

[[Category:People from Nebraska|Southworth, Billy]]

4. Since all e-gold is backed by a physical [[commoditity]], it's subject to [[price fluctations]] that naturally occur around that commodity. This can be a major problem if there's a sudden increase in the supply of gold and you're holding e-gold currency, the value of your currency just decreased; you've lost money. This can, however, work both ways.

[[Category:Baseball managers|Southworth, Billy]]

[[Category:Major league right fielders|Southworth, Billy]]

[[Category:Major league center fielders|Southworth, Billy]]

[[Category:Cleveland Indians players|Southworth, Billy]]

== External links ==

[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players|Southworth, Billy]]

*[http://www.e-gold.com Official site]

[[Category:Boston Braves players|Southworth, Billy]]

*[http://www.dgc-soft.com DGC Developers]

[[Category:New York Giants baseball players|Southworth, Billy]]

[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players|Southworth, Billy]]

=== Other Suppliers of Electronic Gold Currencies ===

[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals managers|Southworth, Billy]]

*[http://pecunix.com/money.refined...welcome Pecunix]

[[Category:Boston Braves managers|Southworth, Billy]]

*[http://goldmoney.com/en/ GoldMoney]

*[http://www.e-bullion.com/ e-Bullion]

*[http://www.1mdc.com/ 1MDC]

*[http://www.e-dinar.com/ e-Dinar]

== See also ==

*[[Gold Standard]]

*[[Liberty Dollar]]

[[Category:Payment systems]]

[[id:E-gold]]

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