Books and articles about Joe Tinker

Tinker was immortalized in Franklin P. Adams's verse, "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," better-known, although incorrectly so, as "Tinker to Evers to Chance." An intelligent, smooth-fielding, mediocre-hitting shortstop, Tinker and second baseman Johnny Evers, first baseman Frank Chance, and third baseman Harry Steinfeldt formed one of the better defensive infields of the day. But the celebrated Chicago trio did not actually turn that many double plays. During that era, none did, compared to today. Yet under Chance's often brilliant guidance, what the trio did was to bring fielding into focus. They devised new defensive strategies to defeat the bunt, the hit-and-run, and the stolen base (the key run-producing techniques of the dead-ball era) and implemented the first known version of the rotation play. They brought Chicago to four World Series, in 1906-08 and 1910. All three went on to manage the Cubs.

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Tinker had an aggressive, spirited playing attitude, but otherwise was quite an innocuous character. Yet one day in 1905, he argued with Evers over a cab fare, which led to a fistfight on the field. The contentious Evers would not speak to Tinker for decades, and gave him an unrepeatable nickname. Unbeknownst to one another, both were invited to help broadcast the 1938 Cubs World Series, 33 years after their falling-out. When they saw each other, after a moment's strained silence, they hugged and cried for some time.

Tinker first came up in 1902, and remained Chicago's everyday shortstop for 11 years. Always the elegant fielder, he led NL shortstops four times in fielding percentage, three times in total chances, twice each in putouts and assists, and once in double plays (he also led Federal League shortstops in total chances in 1914). He had superior speed, and stole an average of 28 bases a season for Chicago. On July 28, 1910, he tied a major league record by stealing home twice in one game. Though he was a respectable hitter, few pitchers feared his bat. Yet Christy Mathewson had trouble with him. Tinker registered a lifetime mark against the Giants great of almost 100 points better than his career batting average.

Tinker concentrated on his salary as few players had before. In 1909, earning a reported $1,500, he demanded a $1,000 raise. He sat out the early part of the season before settling for a $200 increase. After the 1912 season, the Cubs traded him to Cincinnati, where he became a shortstop-manager. Throughout the year, Tinker argued with owner Gary Hermann over money. Hermann, tired of the talk, sold Tinker to the Dodgers after the season. In the most outrageous player demand to that time, Tinker refused to play for either team unless "commissioned" with $10,000 of his $25,000 sale price. Federal League agents, always on the lookout for discontented stars, quickly signed Tinker as a player-manager with the Chicago Whales. Tinker brought them in second in 1914, and first in 1915. In 1916, he managed the Cubs, but finished fifth.

Tinker went on to become president and manager of Columbus (American Association), and bought controlling interest in the Orlando Gulls (Florida State League) in 1921. He briefly managed in the International League, and scouted for the Cubs. During the 1920s, he made and lost a fortune in Florida real estate; a stadium named after him was built on one property and was used by the Reds in spring training for decades. On his 68th birthday, he died from complications of diabetes. Along with Evers and Chance, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Committee on Baseball Veterans in 1946. (AA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 1, 1902: In today's split with the Phillies, Tinker, Evers, and Chance appear together in the Chicago Cubs lineup for the first time, but not in the positions that will earn them immortality. Johnny Evers, a New York State League rookie, starts at SS, with Joe Tinker at 3B, Frank Chance at 1B, and veteran Bobby Lowe at 2B. Philadelphia takes the opener, 11-3 behind White, while Chicago is victorious in the nitecap, 6-1, behind Jack Taylor's pitching. » September 13, 1902: Tinker, Evers, and Chance play their first game as a SS-2B-1B combo for Chicago. Germany Schaefer is at 3B as Chicago clips St. Louis, 12-0. » September 15, 1902: Chicago's infield combo of Tinker, Evers, and Chance pull off their first double play to back up Carl Lundgren's 6-3 win over the Reds. » November 17, 1903: Chicago Cubs SS Joe Tinker tells an interviewer that it is "impossible to fix" a ML baseball game. » September 14, 1905: Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers engage in a fist fight on the field during an exhibition game in Washington, IN, because Evers took a taxi to the park, leaving his teammates in the hotel lobby. The pair will not speak to each other ever again. » April 16, 1906: In Cincinnati, the Cubs lose 3-2 as Johnny Evers and Frank Chance get ejected. Following the game, Joe Tinker gets into a fight with a fan to complete the circuit. » July 17, 1906: The Cubs beat back the Giants, 6-2, as Three Finger Brown tops Christy Mathewson. Joe Tinker's 2-run homer in the 6th is the big blow for Chicago. The loss drops the Giants to six games behind the Cubs. » August 18, 1906: The Cubs turn back the visiting Giants, 6-2 behind Three Finger Brown. Christy Mathewson has an off day for New York, allowing 12 hits, three by his nemesis Joe Tinker. » July 20, 1907: Chicago's Carl Lundgren and New York's Christy Mathewson are stingy today with the Cubs twirler allowing just four hits while the Cubs scratch three off Matty. The Giants score in the 4th when Cy Seymour parks a drive in the bleachers with two on. Prevailing rules make the hit a single, with just one run scoring: it is enough as Matty wins, 1-0. Joe Tinker is hitless against Matty, the only time this year that Mathewson shuts down his nemesis. » July 17, 1908: In another classic matchup, Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson pair off with Brown winning 1–0. The Cubs pitcher allows six hits, with Matty giving up 7. The only run comes on a 5th inning inside-the-park home run by Matty's nemesis, Joe Tinker, who runs through the arms of 3B coach Heinie Zimmerman to score. In the 12 matchups between the two pitchers, Brown has won eight. A tragic occurrence happens during Tinker's home run dash when a boy, standing on the roof of a nearby building to view the game, falls 50 feet to his death. » July 18, 1908: The Cubs win by a run, beating the Giants, 5–4, behind Orval Overall. Hooks Wiltse takes the loss as Joe Tinker once again wins the game, this time with a two-run double in the 9th inning. Tinker also had a 6th inning triple off Hooks. » June 28, 1910: Joe Tinker steals home twice in Chicago's 11–1 home win over the Reds. Mordecai Brown is the winner. » June 28, 1911: In the Cubs' 11–1 win over the Reds, Joe Tinker becomes the first player to steal home twice in one game. Chicago will swipe home plate 17 times this year to establish the ML mark, which will be tied next year by the Giants in the NL. The Yankees will steal home 18 times in 1912 to set the ML mark. » August 5, 1911: Cubs manager Frank Chance suspends Joe Tinker and fines him $150 for indifferent play. He is reinstated the next day. » August 7, 1911: The matchup between Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson is something less than a pitching duel as Chicago bangs out 10 hits, including two singles, a double and a triple by Joe Tinker. Tinker also adds a steal of home. The Giants collect 13 hits, but Chicago wins the game, 8–6. » September 28, 1911: In Chicago, Joe Tinker doubles in two runs in the 3rd inning off Christy Mathewson, and the Cubs make it hold up, winning 2–1. » April 12, 1912: The Tinker-Evers-Chance double play combination (with Ed Lennox at 3B) plays its final ML game together, a 3–2 loss in Cincinnati. Vic Saier will replace Chance at 1B. » December 11, 1912: The Reds trade outfielders Mike Mitchell and Pete Knisely, infielders Red Corriden and Art Phelan, and P Bert Humphries to the Cubs for C Harry Chapman, P Grover Lowdermilk, and SS Joe Tinker, who will manage the Reds for one year. » November 24, 1913: Joe Tinker is out as Reds manager, but is still their property as a player. On December 12th he will be sold to Brooklyn for $25,000, $10,000 of which goes to him. P Earl Yingling and OF Herbie Moran are sent to Cincinnati later as part of the deal. When Charles Ebbets puts off signing Tinker, he jumps to the Feds, signing to manage Chicago for $12,000. » January 5, 1916: The National League, happy to be rid of fractious Cubs owner Charles W. Murphy, allows Charles H. Weeghman, owner of a restaurant chain and president of the Federal League Chicago Whales, to buy the Cubs for $500,000. By putting up $50,000, William Wrigley, Jr. becomes a minority stock holder. Whales manager Joe Tinker succeeds Roger Bresnahan, and the Cubs will play in the FL's newly built park on the North Side, soon to become Wrigley Field. » February 10, 1916: In a sweet deal, the Cubs send cash to the sinking Chicago Whales (Federal League) and bring back Three Finger Brown, Clem Clemens, Mickey Doolan, Bill Fischer, Max Flack, Claude Hendrix, Les Mann, Dykes Potter, Joe Tinker, Rollie Zeider, and George McConnell. » September 16, 1916: At Baker Bowl, Grover Cleveland Alexander is coasting with a two hit, 6–0 lead in the 8th over the Cubs, when weak-hitting Steve Yerkes lines a single followed by manager Joe Tinker's only hit of the year. On a DP grounder, 1B Fred Luderus pulls his foot of the bag and Chicago goes on to score three runs. Second-place Philadelphia wins, 6–3, to pull with one 1/2 games of Brooklyn.