Dolly Gray
Encyclopedia
William Denton "Dolly" Gray (December 4, 1878 in Houghton, Michigan
– April 4, 1956 in Yuba City, California
) was a left-handed professional baseball who played from 1909 to 1911 for the Washington Senators
. One source says he was born in Ishpeming, Michigan
.
of the old California League
. Following the 1902 season, the Angels
joined to the Pacific Coast League
, and in 1903 they had one of the greatest seasons in minor league baseball history. Gray went 23-20 with a 3.55 ERA that season. In 1904, Gray went 24-26, in 1905, he went 30-16, in 1906, he went 7-2 (during the 1906 season, Gray and many other West Coast players left to play on the East Coast after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake
, in 1907 he went 32-14 and in 1908 he went 26-11. He played in one game in 1909, winning it. In 1905 and 1907, he led the league in winning percentage.
's first big league home run on May 3 of that year, and on August 28 of that year, he set the major league record for most walks allowed in an inning, when he walked eight batters in the second inning. He also set the record for most consecutive walks in an inning, when he walked seven batters in a row. In total, Gray allowed 11 walks that game, giving up six runs and earning the loss in the process. Had he had better control, he may very well have won the game - he threw a one-hitter.
In 1910, Gray went 8-19 with a 2.63 ERA. He was second in the league in losses that year, fifth in wild pitches (9), ninth in earned runs allowed (67) and ninth in hit batsmen (10).
On April 12, 1911, Gray threw the very first pitch in Griffith Stadium
history. He also won the game that day, beating opposing pitcher Smoky Joe Wood. That would be one of only two wins for Gray in 1912 - overall that season, he went 2-13 with a 5.06 ERA. His ten wild pitches that season were fourth most in the league, and his ten games finished were eighth most in the league. Gray played in his final major league game on September 29, 1911.
Gray went 15-51 with a 3.52 ERA in his three year career. His .227 winning percentage is one of the worst all-time among pitchers with at least 50 career decisions. As a batter, Gray was pretty solid for a pitcher - he hit .202 in 218 big league at bats.
Statistically, Gray is most similar to Blondie Purcell
, according to the Similarity Scores at Baseball-Reference.com.
and Oakland Oaks
in that time.
Following his death, he was buried in Sutter Cemetery
in Sutter, California
.
In 2008, Gray was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame, along with Wheezer Dell
, Casey Stengel
and Lee Susman.
, composed by Benjamin Hanby
. One line in the song goes darling Nellie Gray, they have taken you away. His teammates mangled and distorted it darling and it became "Dolly."
Another source says his nickname came from the song Goodbye, Dolly Gray
.
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
– April 4, 1956 in Yuba City, California
Yuba City, California
Yuba City is a Northern California city, founded in 1849. It is the county seat of Sutter County, California, United States. The population was 64,925 at the 2010 census....
) was a left-handed professional baseball who played from 1909 to 1911 for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. One source says he was born in Ishpeming, Michigan
Ishpeming, Michigan
Ishpeming is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level...
.
Before the big leagues
Dolly Gray began his professional career during or before the 1902 season. In 1902, he pitched for the Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles Angels (California League)
The Los Angeles Angels were a professional baseball team that played in the California League in 1892, 1893, 1901 and 1902. Their first home park was Athletic Park....
of the old California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. Following the 1902 season, the Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
joined to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, and in 1903 they had one of the greatest seasons in minor league baseball history. Gray went 23-20 with a 3.55 ERA that season. In 1904, Gray went 24-26, in 1905, he went 30-16, in 1906, he went 7-2 (during the 1906 season, Gray and many other West Coast players left to play on the East Coast after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
, in 1907 he went 32-14 and in 1908 he went 26-11. He played in one game in 1909, winning it. In 1905 and 1907, he led the league in winning percentage.
Major league baseball
A 30-year old rookie, Gray made his major league debut on April 13, 1909. He made 36 appearances in his rookie season, starting 26 of those games. He we 5-19 with 19 complete games. That year, he led the league in earned runs allowed (87), was third in losses, seventh in walks allowed (77) and eighth in appearances. Gray gave up Tris SpeakerTris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
's first big league home run on May 3 of that year, and on August 28 of that year, he set the major league record for most walks allowed in an inning, when he walked eight batters in the second inning. He also set the record for most consecutive walks in an inning, when he walked seven batters in a row. In total, Gray allowed 11 walks that game, giving up six runs and earning the loss in the process. Had he had better control, he may very well have won the game - he threw a one-hitter.
In 1910, Gray went 8-19 with a 2.63 ERA. He was second in the league in losses that year, fifth in wild pitches (9), ninth in earned runs allowed (67) and ninth in hit batsmen (10).
On April 12, 1911, Gray threw the very first pitch in Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
history. He also won the game that day, beating opposing pitcher Smoky Joe Wood. That would be one of only two wins for Gray in 1912 - overall that season, he went 2-13 with a 5.06 ERA. His ten wild pitches that season were fourth most in the league, and his ten games finished were eighth most in the league. Gray played in his final major league game on September 29, 1911.
Gray went 15-51 with a 3.52 ERA in his three year career. His .227 winning percentage is one of the worst all-time among pitchers with at least 50 career decisions. As a batter, Gray was pretty solid for a pitcher - he hit .202 in 218 big league at bats.
Statistically, Gray is most similar to Blondie Purcell
Blondie Purcell
William Aloysius "Blondie" Purcell , was an American Major League Baseball player born in Paterson, New Jersey. He played for a total of 12 seasons while playing for eight different teams in two leagues...
, according to the Similarity Scores at Baseball-Reference.com.
Post-big league career
Following his major league career, Gray pitched in the Pacific Coast league from 1912 to 1913, retiring after the 1913 season. He played for the Vernon TigersVernon Tigers
The Vernon Tigers were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1909 through 1925. Vernon, California, was and is a small town in Los Angeles County. The Tigers, together with the Sacramento Solons, joined the PCL as new teams in 1909 as the league expanded from...
and Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
in that time.
Following his death, he was buried in Sutter Cemetery
Sutter Cemetery
Sutter Cemetery, also known South Butte Cemetery, is located in Sutter, California. One person of note buried here is Dolly Gray, who played major league baseball from 1909 to 1911....
in Sutter, California
Sutter, California
Sutter is a census-designated place in Sutter County, California, United States. It is part of the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area within the Greater Sacramento CSA...
.
In 2008, Gray was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame, along with Wheezer Dell
Wheezer Dell
William George Dell , was a Major League Baseball pitcher during 1912 and 1915-1917. Dell pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Robins. He was the first Nevada-born player in Major League history.-External links:...
, Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
and Lee Susman.
The nickname
Gray got his nickname Dolly from the 19th century song Nellie GrayNellie Gray
"Darling Nelly Gray" is a 19th c. popular song composed by Benjamin Hanby, and as such, is a pseudo-African-American folksong. Hanby composed the song while attending Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio in 1856, in response to the plight of a runaway slave named Joseph Selby or Shelby...
, composed by Benjamin Hanby
Benjamin Hanby
Benjamin Russell Hanby , also given as Benjamin Russel Hanby, was an American composer who wrote approximately 80 songs, the most famous of which are "Darling Nelly Gray", the Christmas song "Up on the House Top", and the hymn "Who Is He In Yonder Stall?".Hanby was born near Rushville, Ohio...
. One line in the song goes darling Nellie Gray, they have taken you away. His teammates mangled and distorted it darling and it became "Dolly."
Another source says his nickname came from the song Goodbye, Dolly Gray
Goodbye, Dolly Gray
"Goodbye, Dolly Gray" is a music hall song by Will D. Cobb and Paul Barnes . Popularised as a Boer War anthem, it was written during the earlier Spanish-American War....
.