Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker | ||
---|---|---|
Runs batted in | 782 | |
Teams | ||
As player
As manager | ||
Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
Member of the National | ||
Baseball Hall of Fame | ||
Induction | 1946 | |
Election method | Old-Timers Committee |
Joseph Bert Tinker (July 27, 1880 – July 27, 1948) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played from 1902 through 1916 for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Chicago Whales of the Federal League.
Born in
Tinker returned to minor league baseball as a part-owner and manager for the
With the Cubs, Tinker was a part of a great double-play combination with teammates Johnny Evers and Frank Chance that was immortalized as "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" in the poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon". However, Evers and Tinker feuded off the field. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, the same year as Evers and Chance. He has also been honored by the Florida State League and the city of Orlando.
Early life
Tinker was born in
Tinker started his professional baseball career in 1900, at the age of 19, when
In 1901, Tinker batted .290 for the Portland Webfoots of the Pacific Northwest League as their third baseman. He led the league with 37 stolen bases. Receiving interest from the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds of the National League (NL), Tinker decided on the Cubs when teammate Jack McCarthy told him that he felt mistreated from his time with the Reds.[1]
Major league career
Chicago Cubs
When he purchased Tinker's contract, Cubs manager Frank Selee was seeking a replacement at shortstop for Barry McCormick, who had joined the St. Louis Browns of the rival American League. Tinker won the job during spring training.[1] As a rookie in 1902, Tinker batted .261, but also led NL shortstops with 72 errors.[1] Johnny Evers, also a rookie, played second base for the Cubs. With Frank Chance, the team's first baseman, the trio first played together on September 13, 1902,[3] and collaborated on their first double play on September 15.[4]
In the 1903 season, Tinker's batting average improved to .291, and he also contributed 70 RBIs. Tinker led all NL shortstops in the 1906 season with a .944 fielding percentage.[1] On September 14, 1905, Tinker and Evers engaged in a fistfight on the field because Evers had taken a cab to the stadium and left his teammates behind in the hotel lobby. They did not speak for years following this event.[4]
Tinker led all shortstops in the NL in double plays turned in the 1905 season.
In the 1908 season, Tinker played all 157 games on the Cubs' schedule. In addition to batting .266, he led the team with 146 hits, six home runs, 14 triples, and a .391
In 1909, Tinker, who earned $1,500, demanded a $2,500 salary. He accepted a $200 raise.[13] The Cubs reached the 1910 World Series, and though Tinker batted .333 in the series, the Cubs lost to the Philadelphia Athletics in five games.[14] Following the 1910 season, Tinker threatened to quit the Cubs and play baseball in Australia over a salary dispute.[15]
Tinker led the NL with 486 assists in the 1911 season and led all shortstops in putouts with 333.[16] In August 1911, Chance suspended Tinker for the remainder of the season for using profanity,[17] though he was reinstated two days later.[18]
Cincinnati Reds
Murphy named Evers the new manager of the Cubs for the 1913 season. Tinker did not want to play for Evers[1] and met with Murphy and Evers to discuss his transfer to the Reds.[23] Murphy was unhappy with Tinker's high salary demands, which led him to agree to trade Tinker to the Cincinnati Reds in December 1912. The Reds received Tinker, Harry Chapman and Grover Lowdermilk in exchange for Red Corriden, Bert Humphries, Pete Knisely, Mike Mitchell, and Art Phelan.[1][24] He signed a contract for an undisclosed salary.[25]
Tinker missed several weeks during the 1913 season when he gave blood for his wife's blood transfusion.[26] Tinker finished the season with a .317 batting average, .445 slugging percentage, and a .968 fielding percentage, all career highs, in 110 games. However, the Reds as a team struggled, finishing the season with a 64–89 win–loss record.[1] Due to the Reds' struggles, Herrmann challenged Tinker's managerial style and sought his resignation. Tinker refused to resign.[27]
Chicago Whales and Cubs
In October 1913, Tinker and Herrmann conferred, leading to Tinker signing a contract to remain the Reds manager for the 1914 season.[28] However, Herrmann fired Tinker in November, leaving him to seek a contract from another team. Tinker complained that Herrmann did not seek his input on player transactions, while Herrmann charged that Tinker did not accept his authority.[28][29]
Charles Ebbets, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, viewed Tinker as a good replacement for the released Bob Fisher, their shortstop in 1913.[30] The Cubs, Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies were also interested in acquiring Tinker.[31] Ebbets secured Tinker's release from the Reds for $15,000, with another $10,000 to be paid to Tinker. The teams also agreed to swap players, with Earl Yingling and Herbie Moran going to Cincinnati and Dick Egan joining Brooklyn. Ebbets entered contract negotiations with Tinker.[32]
However, Tinker never received the $10,000 promised to him by Ebbets.[33] He insisted on a $10,000 salary for the 1914 season, higher than the $5,000 Brooklyn was willing to pay. Tinker was willing to accept a three-year contract if it paid $7,500 per season.[34][35] Tinker decided to jump to the Federal League rather than sign with Brooklyn, signing a three-year contract worth $36,000.[36][37] He was considered the first "star" player to jump to the Federal League,[2][38] though he signed with the Federal League the same day as Mordecai Brown.[39]
Joining the
Charles Weeghman, the owner of the Whales, purchased the Cubs and consolidated his two Chicago rosters, retaining Tinker as his manager.[43] Due to the high combined salaries of the Cubs and Whales, which included Brown and Roger Bresnahan, Tinker was tasked with releasing extraneous players from their contracts.[44] He served as the player-manager of the Cubs for the 1916 season.[45]
Career summary
Tinker was the starting shortstop for the Chicago Cubs from 1902 to 1912. He was a speedy runner, stealing an average of 28 bases a season and even stealing home twice in one game on July 28, 1910.[3] He also excelled at fielding, often leading the National League in a number of statistical categories (including four times in fielding percentage). During his decade with the Cubs, they went to the World Series four times, winning in 1907 and 1908.
Despite being just an average hitter, batting .268 for his career in an era of high batting averages, Tinker had a good amount of success against fellow Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson,[46] batting .350 against the Hall of Fame pitcher over his career.[2] In Mathewson's 1912 book, Pitching in a Pinch, he referred to Tinker as "the worst man I have to face in the National League."[1]
Tinker is perhaps best known for the "Tinker to Evers to Chance" double play combination in the poem "
Tinker was also noted as a fighter. In addition to fighting Evers, Tinker defeated Egan in a fight after a game[4] and fought Rabbit Maranville during a game.[47] In 1908, he was arrested for assault when he got into a fight with a fan at a saloon he owned.[48] He was acquitted of the charge.[49]
Later life
In December 1916, Tinker became part-owner of the
Tinker's wife continued to suffer through poor health, so Tinker sold his interest in the Columbus team after the 1920 season and moved to
Tinker ended his involvement in professional baseball, focusing instead on his real estate ventures during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. He developed a successful real estate firm,[57] buying and selling land in Orange County and Seminole County.[53] He purchased the Longwood Hotel, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in 1926.[5] Tinker convinced Reds owner Garry Herrmann to use his stadium in Orlando for their spring training site in 1923.[2]
Tinker made up to $250,000 in his real estate business.
During the 1930 season, Tinker returned to baseball as a
According to some tellings, Tinker and Evers did not speak to one another again following their fight for 33 years, until they were asked to participate in the radio broadcast of the 1938 World Series, played between the Cubs and the New York Yankees. Neither Tinker nor Evers knew the other had been invited.[13][65] However, in 1929, Tinker joined with Evers in signing a 10-week contract to perform a theatrical skit on baseball in different cities across the United States.[4]
Tinker had serious health problems in his later life. Complications of
Honors
Tinker was elected into the
Tinker Field, a former stadium once in the shadow of Camping World Stadium (previously known as the Citrus Bowl), and the Tinker Building, Tinker's office in Orlando, are on the National Register of Historic Places.[13] Tinker was posthumously inducted into the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2009, in its inaugural class.[74]
See also
- List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball player-managers
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Jacobsen, Lenny. "Joe Tinker". The Baseball Biography Project. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g White, Russ (July 24, 1988). "Joe Tinker: Baseball Legend Who Led 3 Lives". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b Singer, Tom (June 25, 2008). "Power of poem immortalizes Cubs trio: Tinker to Evers to Chance flourished in early 1900s". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Tinker Field Has Real Baseball Legend Behind It". Orlando Sentinel. July 27, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c Robison, Jim (September 30, 1999). "For Central Florida, Tinker Was Team Player". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "2001 Seattle Mariners Statistics".
- ^ "1906 World Series – Chicago White Sox over Chicago Cubs (4–2)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Under Knife of Surgeon: Chicago Cubs' Clever Shortstop Is Operated Upon for Appendicitis". The Pittsburgh Press. March 3, 1907. p. 19. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "1907 World Series – Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4–0)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "1908 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "1908 World Series – Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4–1)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Member of Great 'Evers-Tinker-Chance' Trio Reminisces". The Pittsburgh Press. April 7, 1932. p. 25. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ a b c Whitley, David (July 27, 2008). "Ol' Joe Tinker deserves better than dead cats". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "1910 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs (4–1)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker May Quit The Cubs: Great Shortstop Considering Offer to Introduce American National Pastime in Australia". Detroit Free Press. December 24, 1910. p. 9. Retrieved May 11, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ "1911 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Fined And Suspended: Reprimanded by Chance for Failing to Get Fly Balls, He Answers Profanely and Is Given Severe Punishment; Declares Penalty is Unjust and Undeserved". The Pittsburgh Press. August 6, 1911. p. 6. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Chance Has Reinstated Tinker". Trenton True American. August 8, 1911. p. 4. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "Griffith to Manage Reds. – Sentiment Has Changed and Herrmann Will Probably Retain Him". The New York Times. October 30, 1911. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "Shortstop Tinker of the Cubs Is Peeved". Daily Kentucky New Era. January 3, 1912. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "1912 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "1912 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker Still Aspires To Be Manager of Reds". The Toledo News-Bee. United Press International. November 12, 1912. p. 12. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Now Manager of Cincinnati". Meriden Morning Record. December 12, 1912. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Signs Contract With Reds: Tells Herrmann He Wants First Class Catcher, a Pitcher, and Outfielder. Gives Banquet To Friends". The Gazette Times. December 19, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker's Blood For Wife. – Cincinnati Shortstop Awaiting a Call to Undergo Transfusion". The New York Times. July 15, 1913. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker Will Not Resign". The Pittsburgh Press. August 15, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tinker Signs To Manage Reds in 1914: Former Cub Comes To Terms With Herrmann—No Real Differences Existed. Garry Said To Be Satisfied". The Gazette Times. Associated Press. October 31, 1913. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Dethroned. Is Booetd Out of His Job on the Reds. Herrmann Says that He Tried to Usurp Authority, While Joe Says He Simply Refused to Be Dictated to and Just Asked for Proper Authority". Los Angeles Times. November 26, 1913. p. III1. Retrieved May 14, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ "Brooklyn Baseball Club Wants Tinker – Deposed Manager of Reds Will Not Play with Cincinnati or Chicago". The New York Times. November 27, 1913. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Pirates Have Inside Track For Tinker: Clarke's Chances of Solving Infield Problem Now Growing Very Bright. Herrmann Must Be Cautious". The Gazette Times. December 4, 1913. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Ebbets Closes Deal For Joe Tinker – Yingling and Moran to Go to Cincinnati and Egan to Come to Brooklyn". The New York Times. December 20, 1913. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ISBN 1439108374. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Brooklyn Fixing Up Salary for Joe Tinker". The Toronto World. December 22, 1913. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker May Refuse To Go To Brooklyn; Wants To Join Cubs". The Saskatoon Phoenix. December 15, 1913. p. 8. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Jumps National League – Cincinnati Short Stop Signs to Manage Chicago Club in Federal League. Ebbets to Restrain Him; Brooklyn Club Had Paid $15,000 for His Release and Offered Player $10,000 Besides Big Salary". The New York Times. December 27, 1913. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker May Not Play Ball: President Murphy Thinks Tinker Accepted Terms With Brooklyn Nationals. Sweeney On Fence; Al Bidwell Has Signed Contract With the St. Louis Federals". The Saskatoon Phoenix. February 7, 1914. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker And His Career". Meriden Morning Record. February 17, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker and Brown Sign Contracts; Their Three Years' Salary Is Guaranteed by a Bonding Company". The New York Times. December 30, 1913. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ "Seaton Accepts Terms; Brooklyn Federals to Pay Pitcher $8,500 a Year for Three Seasons". The New York Times. April 11, 1914. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ "Federals Offer Job to Johnson: Tinker Bids High for Idaho Marvel and "Smoky Joe" Wood". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 8, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ James, p. 211
- ^ "Joe Tinker To Manage Cubs: According to Charley Weeghman Windy City Club Will Play Under Feds' Leader". Evening Tribune. Providence, Rhode Island. December 21, 1915. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Salary List of Cubs and Whales is Large: Contracts of Joe Tinker, Mordecai Brown, Bresnahan and Other Stars Held by Club". Evening Tribune. January 17, 1916. p. 17. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Criticised By Scribes". The Pittsburgh Press. April 8, 1916. p. 16. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Still Matty's Worst Foe – Chicago Short Stop, Always Able to Bat "Big Six", Wins Second Game for Cuba". The New York Times. September 29, 1911. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ "Maranville And Joe Tinker Fight: Myers and Mann Also Get Into The Scrap in Cincinnati. Giants and Pirates Split, Phillies and Cubs Score Shutouts. National League Results. National League Standing. National League Games Today. Braves Lose, Then Win. Reds Take First Game Only After 11-Inning Struggle". Boston Daily Globe. September 14, 1913. p. 10. Retrieved May 9, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ "Joe Tinker Arrested for Assault". The New York Times. October 6, 1908. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ James, p. 208
- ^ "Millionaire Meat Packer of Chicago Joins Joe Tinker In Purchas Of Columbus Club". The Milwaukee Journal. December 23, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Baseball Notes". Los Angeles Times. January 14, 1920. p. III3. Retrieved May 8, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ a b James, p. 212
- ^ a b c d Andrews, Mark (November 28, 1999). "Tinker's Fortunes Vanished Quickly". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker's Wife Suicides: Former Baseball Star Was Away From Home When Deed Took Place". The Evening Independent. December 26, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Orlando Woman Becomes Bride Of Joe Tinker". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. May 10, 1926. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker of Baseball Fame Wed in Florida". The Milwaukee Journal. April 15, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Popular and Prosperous". The Evening Independent. Newspaper Enterprise Association. April 2, 1923. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "Joe Tinker Near Death: Old Chicago Cub Star Is Given Only 24 Hours By Physician". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. December 4, 1936. p. 58. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ Bell, Brian (August 27, 1930). "Joe Tinker Will Try To Boost Jersey City From League Cellar". Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. p. 6. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Famous Joe Tinker Joins Buffalo Bisons". Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. December 5, 1929. p. 21. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker New Manager of Jersey City Club". Edmonton Journal. August 12, 1930. p. 7. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker May Pilot Ponies In Eastern Race: Owner A. J. Sheehan Wants One Time Member of Chicago Cub's Hallowed Infield To Manage Team --Taking Him Would Please Yankee Management". Hartford Courant. January 25, 1931. p. C5. Retrieved May 8, 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ "Joe Tinker Back In Diamond Game". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. May 24, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Resigns as Orlando Manager". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. July 25, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ Joe Tinker - Baseballbiography.com
- ^ "Joe Tinker Reported In Serious Condition". Ottawa Citizen. Associated Press. February 2, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ MacGill, Chris (April 12, 1946). "Joe Tinker Predicts No Americans Will Stick It Out With Mexicans". The Florence Times. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Joe Tinker Awaits Amputation of Leg". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 14, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tinker's Leg Removed; His Condition Is Good". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 17, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "As Cubs shortstop... Joe Tinker's Death Comes As Surprise: Famous Cub Shortstop Dies Unexpectedly On 68th Birthday". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 28, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Final Rites For Tinker". The Meriden Daily Journal. Associated Press. July 31, 1948. p. 4. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ "New Plaques Placed in Baseball Hall of Fame". Reading Eagle. International News Service. July 21, 1947. p. 11. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ "Orlando Slates Big Joe Tinker Day". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. April 4, 1947. p. 16. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ Wild, Danny (October 20, 2009). "Carter to attend Hall of Fame ceremony". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
External links
- Joe Tinker at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Joe Tinker managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Joe Tinker at The Deadball Era
- Joe Tinker at Find a Grave