Donie Bush
Encyclopedia
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush (October 8, 1887 - March 28, 1972), was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
in the American League
for the Detroit Tigers
(1908–1921) and the Washington Senators
(1921–1923). In fourteen seasons in the major leagues, Bush displayed a keen eye and a talent for drawing bases on balls, drawing more walks during the decade from 1910–1919 than any other player in Major League Baseball. He was also an excellent contact hitter who was consistently among the league leaders in sacrifice hits, runs scored, and stolen bases. Bush is also remembered as one of the best fielding shortstops of the Dead-ball era
. He holds the Major League records for most triple plays (9) and most putouts in a season by a shortstop with 425. He was also regularly among the American League leaders in assists by a shortstop, and still holds the American League record for total chances by a shortstop. Bush was a true baseball man who spent 67 years (1905–1972) working in professional baseball as a Major League manager (including manager of the 1927 Pirates team that lost in the World Series to the 1927 Yankees), minor league manager, scout, owner, and executive. He remained active until 1972, succumbing to an illness and died eating a hot dog while working as a scout in Florida at age 84. He became known in Indiana as "Mr. Baseball."
and raised on the east side of that city. He played semi-pro ball for local teams, and began his professional career in 1905 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
with the Copper Country Soo.http://www.snake.net/nl/odds-and-ends.html After playing with South Bend (Central) in 1907, the Detroit Tigers
acquired Bush's contract and assigned him to the Indianapolis Indians
. Bush helped the Indians finish first in 1908, and by mid-September he was called up to play for the Tigers. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
played for a longer time as the Detroit shortstop. In 1914, Bush came in third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting behind Eddie Collins
and Detroit teammate Sam Crawford
. He also finished 14th in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1911 and 12th in 1913. For a player who did not hit for high average or power, his MVP votes were the result of his fielding as a shortstop and his talent for stealing bases, drawing bases on balls, and scoring runs.
, Bush helped lead the Tigers to the 1909 World Series
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Though Honus Wagner
's Pirates beat the Tigers 4 games to 3, rookie Bush was the surprise hitting star for Detroit. With Hall of Famers Ty Cobb
and Sam Crawford
slumping in the World Series (batting .231 and .250 respectively), Bush picked up the slack. He hit .318 during the seven-game series with an on-base percentage of .483, picking up 7 hits, 5 bases on balls, 3 sacrifice hits, and twice being hit by a pitch. Bush scored 5 runs and collected 3 RBIs in the World Series. In Game 3, he had 4 hits, and in Game 6, he had a hit, 2 walks and was hit by a pitch. Bush played all seven game of the World Series at shortstop, collecting 9 putouts, 18 assists, and 3 double plays (but also committing 5 errors).
Bush also holds the all-time Major League Baseball record (shared with Bid McPhee
) for most career triple plays with nine. Bush's triple plays came on May 4, 1910, April 24, 1911, May 20, 1911, September 9, 1911, April 6, 1912, August 23, 1917, August 14, 1919, May 18, 1921, and September 14, 1921. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology
. With bases on balls more prevalent in modern baseball, Bush now ranks No. 55 in MLB history, but in the early days of baseball, Bush and Collins were the all-time leaders.
pitcher Babe Ruth
having allowed no hits, Bush hit a scratch single in the 8th inning. After giving up the single to Bush, the Bambino struck out the Tigers' best three hitters in the 9th (Bobby Veach
, Sam Crawford
, and Ty Cobb
) to secure a 1-0 complete game shutout. In a 1942 speech in Los Angeles‚ Ruth called this game his greatest thrill. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology
stole 66 bases in 1992. Bush ranked in the Top 10 in stolen bases in the American League ten times from 1909-1919.
Despite hitting .250 for his career, Bush's talent for drawing walks pushed him into the Top 10 in On Base Percentage four times. His 1909 On Base Percentage of .380 was third in the American League behind teammate Ty Cobb
and Eddie Collins
.
Bush's speed and ability to get on base also made him one of the top run scorers of his era. He led the American League in runs in 1917 with 112 and was among the league leaders in runs ten times (1909–1915 and 1917–1919). http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bushdo01.shtml During the decade from 1910 to 1919, Ty Cobb
, Eddie Collins
, and Tris Speaker
were the only players to score more runs than Bush. His career high came in 1911, when he scored 126 runs, second only to Ty Cobb
.
Bush was also a contact hitter with a talent for sacrifice hits. He collected 337 sacrifice hits in his career, ranking him 5th on the all time Major League leader list (behind Hall of Famers Eddie Collins
and Willie Keeler
). He led the league with 52 sacrifice hits in 1909 (4th highest single season total in major league history), and hit another 48 (7th highest single season total in MLB history) in 1920.
In a sixteen-season career, Bush had a .356 On Base Percentage, 6,286 assists, 4,119 putouts, 2,165 total bases, 1,280 runs, 1,158 bases on balls, and 404 stolen bases.
(player/manager 1923), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1927–1929), and Chicago White Sox
(1930–1931), and Cincinnati Reds
(1933). In his managerial career, he was 497-539 in 1,045 career games, a .480 winning percentage
.
As player-manager for the Washington Senators
, Bush showed his baseball savvy in an August 2, 1923 game against the St. Louis Browns
. Bush noticed early in the game that Hank Severeid
and Wally Gerber
had swapped spots in the batting order and batted out of turn. In the second, fifth and seventh innings both Gerber and Severeid made outs so Bush said nothing. However, in the ninth inning, Gerber hit a single with two out and a runner on first base. Bush objected to the umpire that Gerber had batted out of order. Gerber was declared out to end the game. http://www.retrosheet.org/outturn.htm
After leaving the Senators, Bush became the manager for the Indianapolis minor league team for three seasons from 1924-1926.
His greatest success as a manager came with the Pirates from 1927 to 1929. The Pirates were loaded with talent during Bush's tenure including Hall of Famers, Pie Traynor
, "Big Poison" and "Little Poison" Paul Waner
and Lloyd Waner
, Kiki Cuyler
, and Joe Cronin
. Bush led them to a National League pennant in 1927 with a 94-60 record. Unfortunatey, they had to play the Yankees in the 1927 World Series
. The 1927 Yankees (110-44), with the Murderer's Row lineup, are considered one of the best teams of all time. The Yankees swept Bush's Pirates four games to none.
Bush is also remembered, and often criticized, for his feud with Pirates star Kiki Cuyler
during the 1927 season. Cuyler was unhappy about being switched from third to second in the batting order, and he allegedly slackened his effort for a few games. Bush reacted by benching Cuyler in August and not playing him again for the rest of the season, even keeping him out of the World Series. Bush ignored chants from Pirate fans, "We want Cuyler! We want Cuyler," in the games at Pittsburgh. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_6_61/ai_85481729/pg_5
After the season, the Pirates traded Cuyler to the Cubs.
Bush's Pirates finished in 4th place in 1928 and in 2nd place in 1929. During the 1929 season, Bush (who played most of his career in the Dead-ball era
) complained to a Pittsburgh reporter about the new "lively ball." The reporter described his encounter with Bush as follows: "The Pirate pilot was asked if the ball is as closely related to a rabbit as has been alleged by some indignant players. 'It's not a ball‚ it's a bullet‚' said Donie. 'Somebody's going to get killed if they don't watch out. A pitcher who has to put the ball over hasn't a chance. All he can do is to pitch and duck.'" http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology Bush resigned as the Pirates' manager on August 28, 1929.
After leaving Pittsburgh, Bush managed the Chicago White Sox
for two years in 1930 and 1931. While his years with the White Sox were also Luke Appling
's first two years in the major leagues, the White Sox lacked talent and finished 7th and 8th under Bush. The Sox lost 97 games for a .366 win percentage in Bush's final year in Chicago.
In 1932, Bush managed the Minneapolis Millers
in the American Association
to a 100-68 record and a first-place finish. http://stewthornley.net/millers_year_by_year.html His performance brought him back to the majors to manage the 1933 Cincinnati Reds
. Despite a roster with five Hall of Famer players (Ernie Lombardi
, Eppa Rixey
, Jim Bottomley
, Chick Hafey
, and Leo Durocher
), the Reds finished in last place, with 94 losses in their only season under Bush.
After leaving the White Sox, Bush returned to managing the Minneapolis Millers
from 1934-1938. http://stewthornley.net/millers_year_by_year.html
and Tom Yawkey
, bought the Louisville Cardinals
of the American Association
for $100,000. Bush and McKinney saw a quick opportunity to recoup their investment, selling Louisville shortstop and future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese
on July 27, 1939 for a reported $75‚000 and players to be named. Yawkey voted against the sale, but Bush and McKinney voted for it. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology After the 1940 season, Bush and his partners sold the Louisville franchise.
In 1941, Bush and McKinney bought the Indianapolis Indians
, Bush's hometown team for whom he had been a player in 1908 and a manager from 1924-1926. Bush served as the team president and general manager, and took over as the field manager for 1943 and part of 1944.
The Cleveland Indians
bought the Indianapolis franchise in 1951, and Bush worked for a time as a scout for the Boston Red Sox
. Four years later, the Indianapolis team became a community-owned team through a public stock offering. Bush became the first president of the community-owned team, a position he held until 1969. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
Bush spent 65 years (1907–1972) playing, managing or working in some capacity in professional baseball. In 1972, Bush was working as a scout for the Chicago White Sox
at age 84. While scouting at spring training in Florida, Bush fell ill and died three weeks later after returning home to Indianapolis. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8 http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Bush.Donnie.Obit.html He was 84.
." http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
Career statistics
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1908–1921) and 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...
(1921–1923). In fourteen seasons in the major leagues, Bush displayed a keen eye and a talent for drawing bases on balls, drawing more walks during the decade from 1910–1919 than any other player in Major League Baseball. He was also an excellent contact hitter who was consistently among the league leaders in sacrifice hits, runs scored, and stolen bases. Bush is also remembered as one of the best fielding shortstops of the Dead-ball era
Dead-ball era
The dead-ball era is a baseball term used to describe the period between 1900 and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919. In 1919, Ruth hit a then league record 29 home runs, a spectacular feat at that time.This era was characterized by low-scoring games and a lack of home runs...
. He holds the Major League records for most triple plays (9) and most putouts in a season by a shortstop with 425. He was also regularly among the American League leaders in assists by a shortstop, and still holds the American League record for total chances by a shortstop. Bush was a true baseball man who spent 67 years (1905–1972) working in professional baseball as a Major League manager (including manager of the 1927 Pirates team that lost in the World Series to the 1927 Yankees), minor league manager, scout, owner, and executive. He remained active until 1972, succumbing to an illness and died eating a hot dog while working as a scout in Florida at age 84. He became known in Indiana as "Mr. Baseball."
Semi-pro and minor leagues
Bush was born in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and raised on the east side of that city. He played semi-pro ball for local teams, and began his professional career in 1905 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
with the Copper Country Soo.http://www.snake.net/nl/odds-and-ends.html After playing with South Bend (Central) in 1907, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
acquired Bush's contract and assigned him to the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. Bush helped the Indians finish first in 1908, and by mid-September he was called up to play for the Tigers. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
Detroit Tigers
Bush was the Tigers' starting shortstop for thirteen seasons from 1909-1921. Only Alan TrammellAlan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
played for a longer time as the Detroit shortstop. In 1914, Bush came in third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting behind Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
and Detroit teammate Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
. He also finished 14th in the Most Valuable Player voting in 1911 and 12th in 1913. For a player who did not hit for high average or power, his MVP votes were the result of his fielding as a shortstop and his talent for stealing bases, drawing bases on balls, and scoring runs.
1909 season
In his first full season in Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, Bush helped lead the Tigers to the 1909 World Series
1909 World Series
The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first championship of the modern Major League Baseball era and the second championship in the club's history....
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Though Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
's Pirates beat the Tigers 4 games to 3, rookie Bush was the surprise hitting star for Detroit. With Hall of Famers Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
slumping in the World Series (batting .231 and .250 respectively), Bush picked up the slack. He hit .318 during the seven-game series with an on-base percentage of .483, picking up 7 hits, 5 bases on balls, 3 sacrifice hits, and twice being hit by a pitch. Bush scored 5 runs and collected 3 RBIs in the World Series. In Game 3, he had 4 hits, and in Game 6, he had a hit, 2 walks and was hit by a pitch. Bush played all seven game of the World Series at shortstop, collecting 9 putouts, 18 assists, and 3 double plays (but also committing 5 errors).
"It Ain't How Big You Are, It's How Good You Are"
Bush was one of the shortest players in the major leagues at 5 feet (1.5 m), 6 inches, and 130 pounds. He once said, "I used to tell 'em it ain't how big you are, it's how good you are. But whenever another team had an uncommonly small player, I'd slip up and compare heights. Always turned out he was an inch taller than me."Fielding records
Bush played in 1,867 Major League games at shortstop. Possessing both speed and agility, Bush collected more putous, assists, and chances than any other shortstop of the era. Nearly a century later, his 1914 total of 425 putouts is still the Major League record for shortstops. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_sspu.shtml His 1914 total of 969 chances is also still the American League record. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_ssch.shtml He led the American League in assists by a shortstop on five occasions: 1909 (567), 1911 (556), 1912 (547), 1914 (544), and 1915 (504). http://retrosheet.org/ In 1911, he totaled a remarkable 6.7 total chances per game.Bid McPhee
John Alexander "Bid" McPhee was a 19th century Major League Baseball second baseman. He played 18 seasons in the majors, from until , all for the Cincinnati Reds franchise. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
) for most career triple plays with nine. Bush's triple plays came on May 4, 1910, April 24, 1911, May 20, 1911, September 9, 1911, April 6, 1912, August 23, 1917, August 14, 1919, May 18, 1921, and September 14, 1921. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology
Bases on balls
Bush ranked among the league leaders in bases on balls twelve straight years, from 1909 through 1920. He walked over 80 times in each of his first seven full seasons. In 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1914, he led the league in the category. His career high was 118 bases on balls in 1915. During the decade from 1910–1919, no one had more bases on balls than Bush. At the time of his retirement in 1923, Bush had 1,158 walks, No. 2 on the all-time Major League walks list, trailing only Eddie CollinsEddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
. With bases on balls more prevalent in modern baseball, Bush now ranks No. 55 in MLB history, but in the early days of baseball, Bush and Collins were the all-time leaders.
Babe Ruth's Most Thrilling Game
Bush also broke up a noteworthy no-hitter on July 11, 1917. With Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
pitcher Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
having allowed no hits, Bush hit a scratch single in the 8th inning. After giving up the single to Bush, the Bambino struck out the Tigers' best three hitters in the 9th (Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....
, Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
, and Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
) to secure a 1-0 complete game shutout. In a 1942 speech in Los Angeles‚ Ruth called this game his greatest thrill. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology
Stolen Bases, runs and sacrifice hits
In addition to his prowess for drawing bases on balls and fielding, Bush's speed also made him a threat on the basepaths. His career total of 404 stolen bases places him 64th on the all-time list. Bush set the American League record for stolen bases by a rookie with 52, a record that stood until Kenny LoftonKenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...
stole 66 bases in 1992. Bush ranked in the Top 10 in stolen bases in the American League ten times from 1909-1919.
Despite hitting .250 for his career, Bush's talent for drawing walks pushed him into the Top 10 in On Base Percentage four times. His 1909 On Base Percentage of .380 was third in the American League behind teammate Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
.
Bush's speed and ability to get on base also made him one of the top run scorers of his era. He led the American League in runs in 1917 with 112 and was among the league leaders in runs ten times (1909–1915 and 1917–1919). http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bushdo01.shtml During the decade from 1910 to 1919, Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
, and Tris Speaker
Tris 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...
were the only players to score more runs than Bush. His career high came in 1911, when he scored 126 runs, second only to Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
.
Bush was also a contact hitter with a talent for sacrifice hits. He collected 337 sacrifice hits in his career, ranking him 5th on the all time Major League leader list (behind Hall of Famers Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
and Willie Keeler
Willie Keeler
William Henry Keeler in Brooklyn, New York, nicknamed "Wee Willie", was a right fielder in professional baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas in the National League, and the New York Highlanders in the American League.- Biography :Keeler's...
). He led the league with 52 sacrifice hits in 1909 (4th highest single season total in major league history), and hit another 48 (7th highest single season total in MLB history) in 1920.
In a sixteen-season career, Bush had a .356 On Base Percentage, 6,286 assists, 4,119 putouts, 2,165 total bases, 1,280 runs, 1,158 bases on balls, and 404 stolen bases.
Managerial career
Bush also served as a Major League manager for seven seasons with the Washington SenatorsMinnesota 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...
(player/manager 1923), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1927–1929), and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1930–1931), and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1933). In his managerial career, he was 497-539 in 1,045 career games, a .480 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
.
As player-manager 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...
, Bush showed his baseball savvy in an August 2, 1923 game against the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Bush noticed early in the game that Hank Severeid
Hank Severeid
Henry Levai Severeid born in Story City, Iowa was a Catcher for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Browns , Washington Senators and New York Yankees ....
and Wally Gerber
Wally Gerber
Walter Gerber was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox , primarily as a shortstop...
had swapped spots in the batting order and batted out of turn. In the second, fifth and seventh innings both Gerber and Severeid made outs so Bush said nothing. However, in the ninth inning, Gerber hit a single with two out and a runner on first base. Bush objected to the umpire that Gerber had batted out of order. Gerber was declared out to end the game. http://www.retrosheet.org/outturn.htm
After leaving the Senators, Bush became the manager for the Indianapolis minor league team for three seasons from 1924-1926.
His greatest success as a manager came with the Pirates from 1927 to 1929. The Pirates were loaded with talent during Bush's tenure including Hall of Famers, Pie Traynor
Pie Traynor
Harold Joseph "Pie" Traynor was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and radio broadcaster. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted and threw right-handed...
, "Big Poison" and "Little Poison" Paul Waner
Paul Waner
Paul Glee Waner , nicknamed "Big Poison", was a German-American Major League Baseball right fielder.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
and Lloyd Waner
Lloyd Waner
Lloyd James Waner , nicknamed "Little Poison", was a Major League Baseball center fielder. His small stature at 5'9" and 132 lb made him one of the smallest players of his era. Along with his brother, Paul Waner, he anchored the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield throughout the 1920s and 1930s...
, Kiki Cuyler
Kiki Cuyler
Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938. He was born in Harrisville, Michigan.Cuyler broke into the big leagues in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a fixture in the lineup in 1924...
, and Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
. Bush led them to a National League pennant in 1927 with a 94-60 record. Unfortunatey, they had to play the Yankees in the 1927 World Series
1927 World Series
In the 1927 World Series, the New York Yankees swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games. This was the first sweep of a National League team by an American League team....
. The 1927 Yankees (110-44), with the Murderer's Row lineup, are considered one of the best teams of all time. The Yankees swept Bush's Pirates four games to none.
Bush is also remembered, and often criticized, for his feud with Pirates star Kiki Cuyler
Kiki Cuyler
Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938. He was born in Harrisville, Michigan.Cuyler broke into the big leagues in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a fixture in the lineup in 1924...
during the 1927 season. Cuyler was unhappy about being switched from third to second in the batting order, and he allegedly slackened his effort for a few games. Bush reacted by benching Cuyler in August and not playing him again for the rest of the season, even keeping him out of the World Series. Bush ignored chants from Pirate fans, "We want Cuyler! We want Cuyler," in the games at Pittsburgh. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_6_61/ai_85481729/pg_5
After the season, the Pirates traded Cuyler to the Cubs.
Bush's Pirates finished in 4th place in 1928 and in 2nd place in 1929. During the 1929 season, Bush (who played most of his career in the Dead-ball era
Dead-ball era
The dead-ball era is a baseball term used to describe the period between 1900 and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919. In 1919, Ruth hit a then league record 29 home runs, a spectacular feat at that time.This era was characterized by low-scoring games and a lack of home runs...
) complained to a Pittsburgh reporter about the new "lively ball." The reporter described his encounter with Bush as follows: "The Pirate pilot was asked if the ball is as closely related to a rabbit as has been alleged by some indignant players. 'It's not a ball‚ it's a bullet‚' said Donie. 'Somebody's going to get killed if they don't watch out. A pitcher who has to put the ball over hasn't a chance. All he can do is to pitch and duck.'" http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology Bush resigned as the Pirates' manager on August 28, 1929.
After leaving Pittsburgh, Bush managed the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for two years in 1930 and 1931. While his years with the White Sox were also Luke Appling
Luke Appling
Lucius Benjamin Appling was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
's first two years in the major leagues, the White Sox lacked talent and finished 7th and 8th under Bush. The Sox lost 97 games for a .366 win percentage in Bush's final year in Chicago.
In 1932, Bush managed the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
to a 100-68 record and a first-place finish. http://stewthornley.net/millers_year_by_year.html His performance brought him back to the majors to manage the 1933 Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Despite a roster with five Hall of Famer players (Ernie Lombardi
Ernie Lombardi
Ernesto Natali "Ernie" Lombardi , was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Robins, the Cincinnati Reds, the Boston Braves and the New York Giants during a Hall of Fame career that spanned 17 years, from 1931 to 1947. He had several nicknames, including "Schnozz", "Lumbago", "Bocci",...
, Eppa Rixey
Eppa Rixey
Eppa Rixey Jr. , nicknamed "Jephtha", was an American left-handed pitcher who played 21 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1933...
, Jim Bottomley
Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition, he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.-Career:As a first baseman for the...
, Chick Hafey
Chick Hafey
Charles James "Chick" Hafey was an American player in Major League Baseball. Hafey was part of two World Series championship teams as a St. Louis Cardinal, and was selected by the Veteran's Committee for the Hall of Fame in .Playing for the St...
, and Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
), the Reds finished in last place, with 94 losses in their only season under Bush.
After leaving the White Sox, Bush returned to managing the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
from 1934-1938. http://stewthornley.net/millers_year_by_year.html
Minor league owner and executive
In 1939, Bush and two partners, Indiana banker, Frank McKinneyFrank McKinney
Frank McKinney was a backstroke swimmer from the United States. He was later a bank executive.The son of Frank E...
and Tom Yawkey
Tom Yawkey
Thomas Austin Yawkey, born Thomas Austin , was an American industrialist and Major League Baseball executive. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Yawkey became president of the Boston Red Sox in 1933, and was the sole owner of the team for 44 seasons, longer than anyone else in baseball history.-Early...
, bought the Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
for $100,000. Bush and McKinney saw a quick opportunity to recoup their investment, selling Louisville shortstop and future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
on July 27, 1939 for a reported $75‚000 and players to be named. Yawkey voted against the sale, but Bush and McKinney voted for it. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Donie_Bush_1887&page=chronology After the 1940 season, Bush and his partners sold the Louisville franchise.
In 1941, Bush and McKinney bought the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, Bush's hometown team for whom he had been a player in 1908 and a manager from 1924-1926. Bush served as the team president and general manager, and took over as the field manager for 1943 and part of 1944.
The Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
bought the Indianapolis franchise in 1951, and Bush worked for a time as a scout for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Four years later, the Indianapolis team became a community-owned team through a public stock offering. Bush became the first president of the community-owned team, a position he held until 1969. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
Bush spent 65 years (1907–1972) playing, managing or working in some capacity in professional baseball. In 1972, Bush was working as a scout for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at age 84. While scouting at spring training in Florida, Bush fell ill and died three weeks later after returning home to Indianapolis. http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8 http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Bush.Donnie.Obit.html He was 84.
Indiana's "Mr. Baseball"
Bush was elected to the Indiana Baseball hall of fame and was known as "Mr. Baseball" in Indianapolis. At baseball's 1963 winter meetings, major league executives named him "King of BaseballKing of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.- Background :The title was first awarded in 1951...
." http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees/inductee_detail.cfm?induc_id=8
Career statistics
| G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance... |
R | H | 2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
RBI | SB | CS Caught stealing In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
BA Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... |
OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes... |
SLG | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... |
SH | HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... |
| 1946 | 7210 | 1280 | 1804 | 186 | 74 | 9 | 436 | 404 | 75 | 1158 | 346 | .250 | .356 | .300 | 2165 | 337 | 29 |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- 1909 Detroit Tigers season1909 Detroit Tigers seasonThe 1909 Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 96-56, but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1909 World Series, 4 games to 3. The season was their 9th since they were charter members of the American League in 1901. It was the third consecutive season in which they won...
- 1915 Detroit Tigers season1915 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won a club-record 100 games and narrowly lost the American League pennant to the Boston Red Sox who won 101 games. Though four other Tigers teams have won 100 games , only the 1934 Tigers had a better winning percentage...
External links
- The Deadball Era
- Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
Accomplishments