Books and articles about Jake Daubert

In his day, Daubert was the National League's best all-around first baseman. The lefthander was a two-time NL batting champion and steady .300 batter for ten years of the dead ball era. He escaped the Pennsylvania coal mines and the minor leagues in 1910, taking over first base for Brooklyn at age 26. He was a model of consistency, fielding within a .989-.994 range for 15 years, and was mobile enough to average 10.5 chances per game and take part in 1199 double plays. A chop hitter, he twice led the league in triples and had 165 lifetime. He also had a NL record 392 sacrifices, 4 in one 1914 game for another record.

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Daubert was modest, polite, and colorless, though a tiger about money. WWI and competition with the Federal League raised salary levels generally, and Daubert's went from $5,000 to $9,000. Charles Ebbets probably guaranteed his 1916 Dodger pennant by extending Daubert's $9,000 another four years (and treating Zack Wheat and Nap Rucker liberally as well).

When the major leagues shortened the 1918 season and tried to prorate salaries, Daubert sued Ebbets for the unpaid balance ($2,150) and got most of it in a settlement. Furious at this, Ebbets traded him to Cincinnati in 1919 for the less-talented Tommy Griffith. Daubert helped lead the Reds to a pennant and a tarnished World Championship in the Black Sox WS.

Daubert benefited from the change to the lively ball. In 1922, at age 38, he had 205 hits for a .336 average, scored 114 runs, and hit 12 HR. Late in the 1924 season he became ill, and a month later died from complications after an appendectomy. (ADS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 7, 1911: The Giants lose a heartbreaker to Brooklyn in the 9th inning when, with Bert Tooley on 1B, Jake Daubert lofts a high fly for the apparent 3rd out. But Fred Snodgrass drops the ball and Tooley scores the final run in the Superbas, 4–3 win. The Giants are virtually tied with the Cubs, winners of two today. » August 6, 1912: Inspired in part by the Ty Cobb suspension and the Tigers' brief strike in May, the formation of a Players' Fraternity is announced, headed by attorney and former player Dave Fultz. Leading players include Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Mickey Doolan, and Jake Daubert. The goals are to oppose contract violations, rowdyism, and anything that may "impair a player's ability." At one point, a strike will be called for a Brooklyn attempt to send an obscure player, Harry Kraft, down to Newark, but many teams balk at the strike call, and it is rescinded. » April 5, 1913: An exhibition game with the newly christened Yankees opens Ebbets Field; 25,000 are on hand to watch Nap Rucker beat the American Leaguers, 3–2. The first home run is hit by Brooklyn's Casey Stengel, who legs out an inside-the-parker in the 1st. Jake Daubert legs out another round tripper in the 2nd. The Yanks suffer a loss when Zack Wheat spikes starting SS Claud Derrick on his throwing hand. Derrick will play just seven games before New York ships him to Sacramento (PCL). » October 4, 1913: Despite the Dodgers' 6th-place finish, 1B Jake Daubert earns a new Chalmers automobile as the NL MVP. Daubert led the NL at .350 and will repeat his batting title in 1914. » July 4, 1914: The Dodgers drum the Braves, sweeping a doubleheader, 7–5 in 11 innings and 4–3 in the nitecap. The nitecap is especially hard fought: Lefty Tyler plunks Dodger SS Ollie O'Mara on the neck and when Jake Daubert crosses the plate with the winning run in the 9th, he collides with Braves C Hank Gowdy and is knocked unconscious. Boston (26–40) is 10 1/2 games in back of New York. » August 15, 1914: Brooklyn 1B Jake Daubert ties a major-league record by recording four sacrifice bunts in the 2nd game of a doubleheader sweep against Philadelphia, 8–4, and 13–5. Daubert, who can't run because of an injured ankle, also lays down two sacrifice bunts in the first game. » August 20, 1916: Giants 1B Fred Merkle is traded to Brooklyn for C Lew McCarty. Brooklyn needs help because regular 1B Jake Daubert is hurt. » October 1, 1916: Hal Chase, with a lock on the NL batting title, is honored before the Reds–Pirates game in a ceremony featuring actress May Buckley. Chase then collects two hits in the Reds 4–0 win to finish the season at .339, outdistancing runner-up Jake Daubert. A month ago, Prince Hal was at .307, while Jake leading the league at .325. With today's win the Reds tie the Cards for 7th place. » February 1, 1919: After winning an out-of-court settlement of his suit against the Dodgers for the balance of his salary ($2,150) when the 1918 season ended a month early, former MVP Jake Daubert is traded to the Reds for OF Tommy Griffith. » October 9, 1924: In the 2nd death to strike the Cincinnati team this year, Reds 1B Jake Daubert dies at 40 from complications from an October two operation for gallstones and appendicitis. Daubert's teammates, barnstorming in West Virginia when they hear of his death, cancel the rest of their games.