Books and articles about Win Mercer

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The 5'7" 140-lb Mercer was the ace of the lowly Washington (NL) club at the end of the 19th century; he went 25-18 in 1896 and 20-20 in 1897. A .285 hitter, he often played the infield or outfield when not pitching. He joined the Tigers in 1902 and went 15-18 with a career-best 3.04 ERA. The following winter, Detroit appointed the 28-year-old their player-manager for 1903. But that January 12, Mercer checked into a San Francisco hotel room and killed himself by inhaling poison gas. He left a suicide note warning of the evils of women and gambling. (AJA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 9, 1896: Washington defeats Pittsburgh 14–9 in a beanball battle. Senators pitcher Win Mercer hits three Pittsburgh batters while Pirate "Pink" Hawley plunks three Washington batters in a disastrous 11-run 7th inning, tying a mark he set on July 4, 1894. Hawley retires in 1900 after only nine seasons with a still-standing National League record of 195 hit batters. All told, eight batters are plunked in the contest, an NL-record five by Hawley. The five Washington batters hit by pitches ties the NL mark and won't be matched till July 2, 1969. » September 12, 1900: Sammy Strang, a rookie 3B, breaks in with seven hits for the Chicago Colts in a doubleheader against the Giants. Chicago catcher Johnny Kling and Giants pitcher Win Mercer collide at the plate in the 7th inning of the 2nd game, and Mercer is carried off the field unconscious. Chicago coasts, 9-1 in the opener, with Mercer the loser to Jock Menefee. New York takes the nitecap, 7-6, when Dummy Taylor fashions a 7-inning win over Jack Taylor. » August 10, 1901: In the 2nd game of a DH, Washington Nationals P Dale Gear gives up an AL record 41 total bases in losing 13-0 to the Athletics. The 23 hits include four doubles, four triples, and two HRs. Philadelphia A's P Snake Wiltse, brother of Hooks, has two doubles and two triples, just one of three hurlers in history to collect four extra-base hits in a game. His 10 total bases is a major-league record for a pitcher. Snake was acquired last month from the Pirates. In the opener, a 9-4 Washngton win, Nats' pitcher Win Mercer becomes the first AL hurler to steal home. Lajoie has a pair of homers for the A's in game 1, his second game in a row with two homers. He hit two in yesterday's game two win. He will lead the AL with 14, drive in 125 runs, and hit .422 to win the Triple Crown. » August 21, 1901: At Washington, umpire John Haskell is involved in another violent incident during the Washington-Sox game when Sox SS Frank Shugart punches Haskell after a disputed ball four call, followed by a Nationals bases loaded triple. Teammate John Katoll tries to add his two cents, and a fan jumps in punching Shugart. The police intervene and both players are arrested. Shugart will be expelled. Washington's Win Mercer lives up to his name with an 8-0 win over Chicago. » January 12, 1903: Detroit pitcher Win Mercer, winner of 15 games in 1902, commits suicide by inhaling gas in San Francisco's Occidental Hotel. Mercer had recently been named the Tigers manager.