The Greatest Baseball Family in the History of the Game

Transcription

1 JAMES THE LAST OF THE DELAHANTYS The Greatest Baseball Family in the History of the Game How the Six Sons of an Obscure Cleveland Teamster Each Became a Successful Baseball Player and Made the Name of Delahanty One Which has Never Been Equalled on the Diamond BY E. D. SODEN There have been many great names in Baseball, but only one genuinely great family. The obscure, hard working Clevelander whose six sons each carved out for himself a place in baseball history may well be proud of the name of Delahanty. For this name which these six brothers immortalized by their brilliant exploits will be remembered as long as the national sport which they served so brilliantly. I T is a common saying that no great man ever has an equally celebrated that among all the great names of history, those individual geniuses who have son. It is also true that where one dominated their own age and left their member of a family has won lasting fame names as models and guides for future usually no other member has been anywhere generations, there have been but few nearly so illustrious. It follows great families. The Caesars were one notgenerations, 17

2 18 THE BASEBALL MAGAZINE able example, and the relatives and descendants of the old Julius long ruled the world. The Bonaparte family in more modern times were perhaps as famous, but the fact remains that where a hundred individuals have achieved distinction far above the ordinary, there has been but one family to become equally famous. What has been true of history in a larger sense, has been equally true of baseball. There have been many stars, but almost every really celebrated player never had a brother equally fortunate. And this in spite of the fact that where one brother has won prominence in baseball circles he has usually had other members of his family who played the game and tried as hard as he for recognition which never came their way. Ty Cobb, the most impressive example of baseball success, has a brother, Paul, who, while he has secured a place of some credit in a western league, has not yet entered the major ranks and shows no present prospect of doing so. Fred Clarke, who for years has been the star of the Pittsburg Pirates and who is equally distinguished as player and manager, has a brother, Josh, who, to be sure, has played on major clubs, but never with any great degree of credit either to himself or the famous name he bears. Joe Jackson has a brother who, he says, is destined to outrank even his own brilliant work, but this kindly prediction of his has never been received with much credit by any big league manager up to date. In fact, Hugh Jennings, when I suggested the Jackson name as a possible addition to a future outfield, said, "Don't talk to me about this brother business. Every big league player has a brother, but they never make good." In fact, so widespread has this theory become (if it may be called a theory) that where a family has produced one great player nothing more is expected from any other member. Lightning they say, never strikes twice in the same place, and the capricious fortune which raises one budding athlete above his fellows soars completely over the heads of his less fortunate brothers, and reappears again somewhere else at a different time in a different city. However, the only rule to which there is no exception is the rule that there are exceptions in all cases, and so it is in this case. For in a game whose stars come only singly, there is one family where not only two but six brothers all achieved some measure of success, a family whose achievements are absolutely without parallel in the annals of the national sport. When a hundred world's series have been won and lost the name of Delehanty will still be remembered wherever a catcher's mask is worn, or a baseball bat is carried. For the first of the Delahantys, Big Ed, in the old days of the game, never had a superior if indeed he had an equal as a heavy batter and all-around genuine star player, while the last of the Delahantys, Jim, though now a veteran in the service, is still one of the really great players who are always in demand. And the father and mother of this famous family still reside in the same house they occupied at Cleveland when Ed, the eldest son, went forth to startle the baseball world and immortalize the family name. The elder Delahanty was a hard working man. He had no special interest in athletics, in fact was inclined to frown upon them. Conditions in Cleveland were none too good, and he was obliged to work long hours to support his growing family. He was a teamster who sometimes took contracts which netted him an additional sum of money, but usually found prospects none too bright. In these far from luxuriant circumstances grew up the six brothers and two sisters of the Delahanty family. Not being over-supplied with sources of amusement, the interest of the brothers, all of them athletically inclined, turned inevitably to baseball. Cleveland has for years offered remarkable opportunities to the growing boy who aspires to the National game as a profession. While its magnificent system of amateur baseball clubs is a product of recent years, its sand lots have, nevertheless, long been famous for the baseball stars they produced. Marquard, the peerless pitcher of the Giants, gained his first bid to fame on these same Cleveland sand lots, so did James Austin, Louis Evans of the St. Louis Nationals, and Pat Livingstone. Certainly these same sand lots have had

3 THE GREATEST BASEBALL FAMILY 19 a varied history and proven one of the greatest training schools of big league players yet known. It was on these very lots that Ed, the eldest of the six brothers, began to make a name for himself along in the late 80's. Ed was a big, athletic youth, husky, and strong, a typical six-footer of the old game when big men were the only type likely to appeal to aspiring managers. Here he spent what spare time could be given until he was about 18 years old, when he was offered a chance to break into the professional game at Mansfield, Ohio. From there he journeyed to Wheeling, and then to the Philadelphia Nationals. In the next eleven years Big Ed established a big league reputation which has never been surpassed. For eleven straight years he batted well over.300, twice he passed the.400 mark on one other occasion falling but one point short,.399, and in the following year batting for.394. Three others years he batted for.370 or above, and, in short, his poorest year in the whole grand series was his first when he hit for.312. It is doubtful if a greater batter ever lived than Ed Delahanty. Many fair baseball authorities have considered him the greatest of old-time players, for he was not alone a tremendous batter, perhaps the greatest natural hitter the game has ever known, but was also an all-around player of wonderful talent in every department of the game. Speaking of the elder Delahanty, Hugh Jennings, who knew him well, said, " I consider Ed Delahanty one of the most wonderful players who ever handled the bat. As a hitter he never had a superior, but he was a great player in every way." Ed was the first and greatest of this remarkable family. Almost all of his active career was with the Philadelphia Nationals, although, like practically every other star, he forsook that league in the year of the Brotherhood war, and cast his fortunes with his native city, Cleveland. Delahanty was also one of the old school players who deserted the National ranks for the American League, when that well-known organization came into being and divided the baseball world into two warring camps. JAMES DELAHANTY He went to Washington, where he was playing in 1903, when he met his death in an accident by falling from a railway bridge. Tom, the second of the Delahanty brothers, broke into the game some time after Ed. He was never the player that his brother proved to be, but he had a long if not specially brilliant baseball career, which extended over a period of about fifteen years.

4 20 THE BASEBALL MAGAZINE Most of his time was spent in the minors, though he played with Cleveland in 1895, and thus proved his capacity as a major leaguer. Tom has now long been out of the game, and is engaged in other business in Cleveland. Joe, the third of the brothers, also had a long baseball career. He also made good in the major leagues, and was with the St. Louis Nationals for two years. Jim, the fourth brother, we will treat a little later. Frank, the fifth, also played in major leagues, and was with the New York Americans for two years. Later on he was traded to Cleveland, but is now no longer an active player. Will, the youngest of the brothers, also passed through his minor league apprenticeship, and would, no doubt, have made good in the majors, had it not been for the fact that he hurt his arm and was obliged to leave the game. James, the fourth brother, and the last of the Delahantys on the diamond today, was born in 1880 in the same house in Cleveland where the Delahanty family had resided for many years. Like his great fore-runner, Ed, he gained his first experience on the Cleveland sand lots and began his first professional season with Lima, Ohio, when he was seventeen. He finished the season in this club and played third base throughout. From there he went to Montgomery, Ala., and finished the year at Allentown. He was later sold to Worcester, Mass., where he played part of the year in the New England League. From there he was sold to the Chicago Nationals, but broke his knee early in May and played no more that season. In 1902 he went to the Giants, playing 10 or 12 games for them, but finished the season with the Little Rocks in He was later enrolled with the Boston National Club, where he remained until During all this time he played mostly in left field, finally locating his true position while at Boston. "It is odd," says Delahanty, "that I should have played on the outfield so much when I consider myself so little fitted for that position. A great many players have trouble in locating the particular corner of the diamond where they can do their best work, and I certainly had my share. However, since I discovered that I was best fitted for second base, I have played that position most of the time and feel more at home there than anywhere else." In 1906 Delahanty went to Cincinnati, where he was obliged to move from his logical position to third base. In 1907 he went to the St. Louis Americans, but was later sold to the Washington club, where he remained until In this year he went to Detroit, where he has been ever since. Few players have had more varied experience than James Delahanty; with four clubs in the National League, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago and New York, and with three in the American League, St. Louis, Washington and Detroit. Delahanty has been favored with a wider view of conditions at the various clubs than perhaps any other player in the game to-day. "I have played every position on the infield," says Delahanty. "I played third base when I broke into the game and also at Cincinnati; shortstop at Allentown, second base in various places, and first especially with the Tigers last year. I have also played for years in the outfield, and know almost all the positions pretty well. I like second base better than any other, and believe I am best fitted for that position, though I do not care so much where I am playing so long as I am playing. The thing that worries the big league player more than any difficulty of his position is whether or not he is taking an active part in the game." "Last year was my best year in baseball," says Delahanty. "They figured that I was getting old and not likely to last very much longer, but I don't believe I showed any signs of it." Last year Delahanty finished virtually eighth among American League batters with the grand average of.339. He made 184 hits including 30 two-baggers, 14 three-baggers, and 3 home runs. He scored 83 runs. This was an average of 5 points better than Frank Baker, the world's celebrated slugger of the Champion Athletics. During Del Gainor's long absence from the game, Delahanty covered first base a good deal of the

5 THE GREATEST BASEBALL FAMILY 21 time, and did it in excellent fashion. He proved his right to be considered one of the leading utility men in the game in his striking aptitude to play a variety of positions. This is a valuable quality in a player which makes him far more useful to his club than a player even more capable who is able to cover but a single position in a creditable way. This year Delahanty started brilliantly, but was marked by misfortune before the season was half over. The celebrated "Ty"'Cobb, Ban Johnson incident in which the Tiger team revolted from the standard of the American League involved Delahanty and Davy Jones in even more difficulty than was Cobb himself. Rumor had it that Delahanty led this excusable but misguided enterprise and a measure of that criticism which always pursues a discredited cause rested upon his shoulders. After the affair had been smoothed over and settled to the satisfaction of the baseball authorities, Delahanty was still blamed, but he took whatever criticism came his way without complaint. Investigation showed that he was no more responsible than the other members of the club for this uprising. It was merely his habitual scrappy temperament which had drawn upon him a shadow of suspicion. Delahanty played in 4 or 5 games along toward the middle of the season in which he slumped rather badly. Jennings, in an effort to revive the drooping spirits of the club promptly benched him. Delahanty felt this enforced idleness keenly. Every player is likely to slump, "Ty" Cobb does that. In view of his long and brilliant career to be thrown into the discard for temporary failure to live up to form appeared unjust. When Delahanty was benched he was hitting in the neighborhood of.280, which, while not up to form was still good for an infielder. And incidentally, Delahanty is one of the best fielders in the game. Fortunately, however, Jennings felt the need of Delahanty's bat, and the great second baseman found himself once more in the active game, this time in the outfield. However Delahanty was glad enough to be back again in the game at all costs to care particularly what position he played. In all his big league career Delahanty has but one fault, if fault it may be called, and that is he has been often injured and prevented by his injuries from taking part in a great many games. When he was playing in the Southern League, he broke his shoulder at Little Rock and was out of the game for the rest of the season. While a member of the Boston Nationals, he broke an ankle at an exhibition game with Newark, N. J. He was laid up for a long time with this injury. On another occasion he broke his knee in a game in Brooklyn, which kept him out of the game for a month. Danger is always an element of modern baseball at the speed the audience of to-day demands. It is not to be wondered at that so many players are injured, as it is that not more succumb to the many accidents which yet lurk in every angle of the diamond. Still some players always go at top speed and are almost never hurt, like "Ty" Cobb, for instance, while others who are certainly less reckless than he, are severely injured, like Delahanty. It is the luck of the game, and the same fortune which smiles on one player frowns on the next. James is the last of the Delahantys. Ed., the oldest brother, and the most brilliant of the great family, is dead. Tom retired on the strength of his many years of service, and has a prosperous cafe in his native city. Joe, Frank, and Will are all engaged in various lines of business in Ohio. James is the sole representative of the family on the diamond, and in the course of events he should have still several years left in the big show. He is still a dangerous hitter. He is still fast, and there is no reason why he should not continue to uphold the illustrious fortunes of his family on those diamonds which the six brothers have cooperated to make famous. In view of the fact that last year was his best year, it seems clear that he has not yet completed his work as a ball player. Delahanty is married and resides in the winter at Cleveland. He has no cold weather occupation, but spends the time quietly so that he may be in the better trim for the summer. "I have no idea what I shall do when I am through with baseball," said Delahanty, "I have never made any definite

6 22 THE BASEBALL MAGAZINE plans for I have always considered that I have several years yet remaining before I shall have to say goodby to the big game. I have often wished for some quiet business in Cleveland, for I do not want to leave the city where I was born and where my father and mother still live. No doubt when the time comes I shall be able to engage in something which will be fairly agreeable. It is true that I like baseball. I shouldn't be a Delahanty if I didn't. It is true that I shall be sorry to leave it, for that day comes to all players sooner or later. But I want to have several more successful seasons before I do. "Ed. was by far the greatest member of our family. He was a greater player than I have ever been or shall ever be. He was still a player when he died, so he never had to resign to the minors. "I don't think second base is the hardest position to play, although it is not easy. I don't think a player ought to consider his own position the hardest, and I have never considered mine in that light. However, I won't venture to say just which is the hardest, for my opinion wouldn't settle the question. When it comes to talking about the greatest pitcher, however, I do have an opinion, and I am not afraid to express it. "There is no doubt in my mind that Walter Johnson is not only the greatest pitcher in the American League, but the greatest pitcher in the game to-day. He is a wonder, and there is no mistake about that." Jim is 5 feet 10½ inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He is slim, wellbuilt and athletic. He has a lean, thoughtful face, a resolute, alert air which is in keeping with his energetic nature. He is usually quiet, sober, reserved though invariably generous and accommodating. His fellow players think well of Delahanty, and he is popular wherever he goes. He never complains. If he is blamed unjustly, he takes it quietly though he is inclined to brood over anything that he considers mistreatment. He is always a consistent player, often a brilliant one and invariably a hard worker. This, in brief, is a characteristic of the Delahanty family. From Ed. down, through Tom and Joe and Frank and Will to Jim, of the present day, they are six brothers whose like has never been known in the annals of the game. All save Will, the youngest, became big league players, and he was deprived from that honor solely through injury. Ed. was one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest of old-time players. Jim, while his achievements never equalled those of his older brother, have made him a star of the present time. Families where two members gained any degree of notoriety have been exceedingly rare. But a family which produced six all successful, some brilliantly so, is so far above any other that there is absolutely no comparison. "I am the last of the Delahantys," said James, with a melancholy smile. "When I go there is no one to take my place. All my brothers are out of the game for good, so I want to keep on the big circuit as long as I can, for the baseball diamond has not been without a Delahanty for the last twenty years." Delahanty is still great. He has still several years of service left, but they will pass shortly. But although he is the last of the Delahantys and, though his big league course is nearing its completion, there is nothing which can terminate the Delahanty name. For that name is written high in the records of the national sport as a family which has never had even a close second, far less, an equal in baseball history.