Books and articles about Jack Barry

Barry spent most of his career with pennant-winning teams and was the shortstop in the Athletics' famous "$100,000 Infield." A key component of Connie Mack's first dynasty, Barry was signed off the campus of Holy Cross and helped the Athletics to World Championships in 1910-11 and '13. Observers considered Barry vital to the A's chances. Ty Cobb's spiking of Barry in the heat of the 1909 pennant race, depriving Philadelphia of his services, is often cited as the reason Detroit won the flag, even though Barry hit only .215 that season.

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Not a great fielder, he was at least reliable, and he led AL shortstops in double plays in 1912. He was rated very highly by contemporaries, although he led in errors in 1910. That year he improved his batting to .259 with 60 RBI, 64 runs, and 52 walks in 487 at-bats. In the World Series, he had three runs scored and three RBI in the Athletics' 12-5 victory in Game Three. In 1911 he stole a career-high 30 bases and hit .368 in the World Series. The number-seven hitter's best year came in 1913, when he had career highs in batting (.275) and RBI (85). In 1914 he hit .071 in the World Series as Philadelphia was upset by the Miracle Braves. The disappointed and financially pressed Mack sold stars Barry and Eddie Collins to raise money to prevent further losses to defections to the Federal League.

New Red Sox owner Joe Lannin paid $8,000 for Barry in mid-1915. Used exclusively at second base, he hit .262 for Boston and proved to be the last piece in the pennant puzzle. Boston won consecutive World Championships in 1915 and 1916. Barry played only 94 games, hit just .203, and did not play in the World Series. His winning ways netted him $17,930 in WS shares over the course of his career.

Boston manager Bill Carrigan quit after the season to go into business, and Barry was named to replace him. He won 90 games, just one less than the 1916 team, but finished second to Chicago. As a player, he led AL second basemen in fielding but hit just .214. After spending all of 1918 in the military, he returned to a team, now managed by Ed Barrow, that was being sold off to bankroll new owner Harry Frazee's Broadway shows. When Barry hit .241 with only two RBI in 31 games, he was traded back to the Athletics in June. He chose to retire instead of reporting. (SFS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 17, 1908: In a rain-shortened game, Christy Mathewson throws his mitt on the field and defeats the Cards, 3-0, in six innings, with Harry Sallee taking the loss. With the Giants at bat in the 5th, John McGraw signals Cy Seymour to steal home-even though Cards C Bill Ludwig has the ball. Jack Barry, the next batter, then strikes out on three pitches, as the Giants race to beat the downpour. » April 12, 1911: Before the start of the opener in Philadelphia, 2B Eddie Collins, the best player on the champion A's, is presented with a new automobile. Jumbo Vaughn and the A's Chief Bender then display tough pitching, each allowing a run apiece through seven innings, but Jack Barry's error in the 8th allows Otis Johnson to score the winning run for the Yankees. Hippo Vaughn allows four hits in the 2–1 victory. » October 10, 1913: The bottom of the Athletics batting order—Jack Barry, Wally Schang, and Chief Bender—drives in all the runs, as Bender wins his 4th straight World Series game, 6–5. » July 2, 1915: The last place A's continue to dismantle, selling Jack Barry, part of the "$100,000 infield," for $8,000 to Boston. » July 3, 1915: The Red Sox split with the A's, losing the first game 7–3, before taking the nitecap, 11–0. Jack Barry makes his first appearance for the Sox, playing the final two innings against his old mates. » August 21, 1916: In Boston's 4–0 win at Cleveland, Jack Barry has four sacrifices for the Sox, tying a ML record. » October 12, 1916: Boston's 4–1 win in Game Five ends the Series. The Red Sox had 22 shares of $3,826. The Dodgers, less generous, $2,834. Red Sox manager Bill "Rough" Carrigan, who announced late in the season that he would be quitting, says good-bye to each of his players. Carrigan will return to manage the Red Sox in 1927, but his teams will finish last for three seasons. Jack Barry will take over as manager for the 1917 season. » December 8, 1916: The National Commission fines 51 players $25 to $100 for performing in post-season exhibitions. Among the guilty: Babe Ruth, Jack Barry, Duffy Lewis, 10 other Red Sox players, and Ty Cobb. » January 6, 1917: With Bill Carrigan reaffirming his decision to leave the Red Sox, Jack Barry is named as player-manager.