Books and articles about Del Pratt

Yankee rookie manager Miller Huggins was strongly criticized in the New York press when he sent Urban Shocker to the Browns in a trade for six-year second baseman Del Pratt in 1918. But Huggins, a former second baseman himself, knew a good second baseman when he saw one, and the hard-nosed, hard-hitting Pratt was the AL's best after Eddie Collins. A former All-American back at Alabama, for three years he plugged a hole in the Yankee infield that eight players had failed to in the previous decade. He was traded to the Red Sox in late 1920.

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Pratt averaged 141 games a season, had good range, and led the league five times in total chances per game. He hit over .300 each of his last five seasons. Of his nearly 2,000 career hits, a quarter were doubles and triples. With the Browns in 1916, he led the AL with 103 RBI. He argued with his managers and even sued Browns owner Phil Ball for slander when Ball charged his team with easing up on an opponent. Pratt won an out-of-court settlement. (ADS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 14, 1913: At St. Louis, Walter Johnson tops Jack Coombs record of 53 straight scoreless innings when he stretches the record to 56 innings. But after Washington scores six runs, Johnson lets up against the Browns and Del Pratt's 4th inning single drives in a run that snaps the skein. Ahead 9–1, Johnson is relieved by Joe Boehling and Washington wins, 10–5. » April 25, 1914: Browns catcher Frank Crossin throws out Detroit's Sam Crawford at 2B, and the return throw from Del Pratt nips Ty Cobb at home, for a rare double play on a double steal. The Tigers win anyway 4–0. » August 29, 1915: George Sisler again pitches against Walter Johnson and this time wins, 2–1. He will be 4–4 for the Browns and 1–2 next year before moving permanently to 1B. Sisler is helped in the 8th inning when Brownie 2B Del Pratt nabs pinch runner Horace Milan, in his ML debut, with a hidden ball trick. Horace is the brother of teammate Clyde "Deerfoot" Milan. » September 8, 1917: Following yesterday's loss to Chicago, Browns owner Phil Ball accuses his players of laying down on the job because they dislike manager Fielder Jones. SS Doc Lavan and 2B Del Pratt sue him for $50,000 damages for alleged slanderous statements in St. Louis newspapers. Both are in the lineup, however, when Detroit beats the Browns, 1–0 in 12 innings. Ty Cobb triples off the RF fence in the 12th and scores on a sac fly. » January 22, 1918: The Yankees trade P Nick Cullop, P Urban Shocker, C Les Nunamaker, 3B Fritz Maisel, and infielder Joe Gedeon to the Browns for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt. Plank, a 300-game winner, retires, but Pratt gives New York three good years at 2B. Shocker is the gem, posting four straight seasons of 20 or more wins in St. Louis. Maisel, who the Yankees refused to trade in early 1916 for either Boston's Tris Speaker (and cash) or Chicago's Joe Jackson, will hit just .232 in 90 games and be gone. » December 15, 1920: The Yankees' Ed Barrow pries future Hall of Fame P Waite Hoyt, C Wally Schang, lefty Harry Harper, and IF Mike McNally from his former Boston team in exchange for 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen, OF Sammy Vick, and cash. » October 18, 1922: The Tigers trade pitchers Carl Holling and Howard Ehmke, along with infielder Danny Clark, outfielder Babe Herman, and $25,000 to Boston for 2B Del Pratt and P Rip Collins. Pratt has two more .300 seasons left; Collins and Ehmke provide long-term benefits to their clubs. Herman, 19, won’t make it to the big leagues until 1926, and then it will be with Brooklyn.