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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-1-2012

New York Tribune, February 1, 1912:

James Doyle, of Syracuse, third baseman of the Chicago [National League] club last season, who was stricken with appendicitis on Monday, was reported as being in a critical condition last night.

Doyle died 100 years ago today.

His was a really improbable, if brief, success story. The Cubs’ third baseman, Harry Steinfeldt, held out to start the 1911 season. In response, Frank Chance (completely rationally) waived Steinfeldt and gave the hot corner to Heinie Zimmerman, previously a utilityman. A month or so into the season, Johnny Evers broke down due to “Fudge Orgies and Nicotine Sprees”, so Zim slid over to second and Doyle, a 29-year-old rookie, became the third baseman. He played well in 1911; hit .282, 40 extra-base hits, OPS+ of 110, 3.5 BB-Ref WAR. Not bad for a guy who never would have seen a regular job if not for holdouts, nicotine, and fudge.

Less than four months after the 1911 season ended, Doyle was dead.

Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: February 01, 2012 at 06:27 AM | 6 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: dugout, history, obituaries

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1. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: February 01, 2012 at 06:33 AM (#4050957)

Oddly, the Birthday Team's shortstop also passed away while still an active player, also in the offseason after his age 29 season.

C: Billy Sullivan
1B: Lew Brown
2B: Hector Luna
3B: Tim Naehring
SS: Danny Thompson
LF: Joe Connolly
CF: Paul Blair
RF: Carl Reynolds

SP: Kent Mercker
SP: Brett Anderson
SP: Joe Harris
SP: Pete Wood
SP: Tom McGuire
RP: Ernie Camacho
RP: Cecilio Guante

Not that one: Jim Kelly

2. Hack Wilson Posted: February 01, 2012 at 09:12 AM (#4050977)

The first baseman above, Lew Brown, had a nickname of “Blower.” In 1880 London (England, I assume) a Blower Brown set a record of 553 miles for the closely followed six-day go-as-you-please walking-match. The baseball-playing Blower apparently did not play in 1880, but did in 1879 and 1881.

Are these two the same “Blower?”

3. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: February 01, 2012 at 09:22 AM (#4050982)

Great catch, Hack, but I think not. This article says the walking Blower Brown's first name was Henry.

And what's with people being nicknamed Blower? The only person who should use that nickname is Mike Blowers. Maybe Jim and Bob Brower too. Maybe.

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 01, 2012 at 01:15 PM (#4051196)

Minor league deals:

P Livan Hernandez to the Astros
1B Dan Johnson to the White Sox

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 01, 2012 at 06:56 PM (#4051621)

More minor league deals:

P Juan Cruz to the Pirates
P Chad Durbin to the Nats
DH Carlos Guillen to the Mariners

P Micah Owings to the Padres on a MLB deal - 1 yr/$1 mill. Should hit cleanup.

Blue Jays DFA OF Darin Mastroianni

6. vortex of dissipation Posted: February 01, 2012 at 09:27 PM (#4051689)

DH Carlos Guillen to the Mariners

Apparently they've decided he won't be a bad influence on Freddy Garcia.

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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-1-2012

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