Hugh Duffy
1866-1954
OF 1888-1901, 04-06 Cubs, Chicago (PL), Braves, Milwaukee (AL), Phillies
Manager in 1901, 04-06, 10-11, 21-22 Phillies, White Sox, Red Sox
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- Led League in ba 94
- Led League in hr 94, 97
- Led League in rbi 94
- Hall Of Fame in 1945
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| Games | Average | HR | RBI |
|---|
| Career |
1738 | .324 | 106 | 1302 |
| Wins-Losses | Winning % |
|---|
| Manager |
535-671 | .444 |
Owner of the highest single-season batting average in ML history (.440 in 1894), Duffy was one of the' game's early stars. He was an outstanding outfielder for Boston in the 1890s, and later, as a Red Sox coach, was a tutor to the young Ted Williams. Originally an infielder in the New England League, Duffy idolized Cap Anson and signed with Anson's Chicago White Stockings (later the Cubs) for the 1888 season despite being offered more money by the local Boston club. Only 5'7", Duffy replaced Billy Sunday, soon to be a world-famous evangelist, as Chicago's right fielder. Duffy was sold to Boston (American Association) after three seasons, and then became a Brave when the AA broke up. With Duffy now patrolling centerfield, he and right fielder Tommy McCarthy became known as the "Heavenly Twins." Duffy hit over .300 in nine of his ten seasons in Boston, but 1894 was his best year by far. Not only did he hit .440, but he won baseball's first Triple Crown with 18 HR and 145 RBI as well. He also led the NL with 236 hits, 50 doubles, and a .679 slugging percentage. He never approached those numbers again, although he did win another home run crown in 1897. Duffy was not successful as a manager; in eight seasons, he finished over .500 only twice, never higher than fourth, and three times in the cellar. Still, as a Red Sox coach emeritus, he patiently indulged reporters' requests for tales of the good old days, while maintaining that his rookie pupil, Ted Williams, was the best hitter he had ever seen. In 1945 Duffy was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. (JK)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
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| » March 2, 1901: Jimmy Collins, Connie Mack's choice for the all-time best third baseman, leaves the Boston National League club to manage the American League's new Boston Somersets. The Beaneaters also lose OF Hugh Duffy, who will manage Milwaukee (AL), and C Billy Sullivan, who signs with the Chicago White Stockings. More than half the AL rosters—a total of 185—will be filled by NL players. » August 7, 1901:
The hits keep coming. In Cleveland, Milwaukee manager Hugh Duffy hits umpire Al Mannassau when a fly ball nicking the foul line is called fair, scoring the winning runs in a 5-4 win for the Blues. Duffy is suspended indefinitely.
» January 10, 1918:
Acknowledging that Ty Cobb, Speaker, and Collins are all good ball players, Cap Anson picks his all-time team, leaving them off. In the current issue of TSN, Anson selects, C–Buck Ewing and King Kelly; P–Amos Rusie, John Clarkson, Jim McCormick; 1B-himself; 2B–Fred Pfeffer; 3B–Ed Williamson; SS–Ross Barnes; OF–Bill Lange, George Gore, Jimmy Ryan, and Hugh Duffy. » September 29, 1920: The Yankees sign Red Sox manager Ed Barrow as business manager, completing the front office team that will build the game's most successful record. Hugh Duffy replaces Barrow in Boston.
» April 25, 1945: Baseball writers cannot seem to get any Hall of Fame candidates past the 75 percent requirement, but a committee selected to bring in some old-timers succeeds with a group of turn-of-the-century names: Jimmy Collins, Roger Bresnahan, Fred Clarke, Dan Brouthers, Ed Delahanty, Hugh Jennings, Mike "King" Kelly, Jim O'Rourke, Wilbert Robinson, and Hugh Duffy. Collins, overlooked in six HOF elections, was on the all-time teams of Connie Mack and John McGraw. » May 15, 1951: At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston. On hand are 29 old-timers who played, managed, or umpired in the AL in that first year including Connie Mack, Dummy Hoy, Cy Young, Hugh Duffy, Clark Griffith, Tom Connolly, Billy Sullivan, Wid Conroy, Bill Bradley, and Ollie Pickering. Eight of the 29 participated in the first AL game, played in Chicago on April 24, 1901.
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