Jack Coombs
Encyclopedia
John Wesley "Jack" Coombs (November 18, 1882 – April 15, 1957), nicknamed Colby Jack after his alma mater
, was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played with the Philadelphia Athletics
(1906–1914), Brooklyn Robins
(1915–1918), and Detroit Tigers
(1920). Coombs set a number of records in the American League
and World League which stand to this day, and, when he won 31 games while losing nine in 1910, he became one of only 13 pitchers to win 30 games in a season since 1900.
Born in LeGrand, Iowa, Coombs was a 1906 graduate of Colby College
in Waterville, Maine
, where he was a chemistry major and a member of Delta Upsilon
. He also participated in football, track, and tennis. Colby's baseball field is named for him.
Three weeks after graduating, he pitched in his first major league game for Philadelphia. His best season was . Besides his record of 31-9, he led the American League
in wins
(31), games played
(45), and shutout
s (13). He also won three games in the 1910 World Series
, in which the Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs
. He made appearances in the 1911
and 1916 World Series
. In , he was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
for one season before he returned to playing.
Coombs became a championship-winning coach at Duke University
(1929–1952) who sent many players to the majors. Duke University
's baseball field is named after him
.
He spent his retirement as a sports historian and writer. In 1945, he published, "Baseball - Individual Play and Team Strategy".
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
, was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played with the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1906–1914), Brooklyn Robins
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1915–1918), and 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...
(1920). Coombs set a number of records 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...
and World League which stand to this day, and, when he won 31 games while losing nine in 1910, he became one of only 13 pitchers to win 30 games in a season since 1900.
Born in LeGrand, Iowa, Coombs was a 1906 graduate of Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
in Waterville, Maine
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, where he was a chemistry major and a member of Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
. He also participated in football, track, and tennis. Colby's baseball field is named for him.
Three weeks after graduating, he pitched in his first major league game for Philadelphia. His best season was . Besides his record of 31-9, he led 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...
in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(31), games played
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,...
(45), and shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (13). He also won three games in the 1910 World Series
1910 World Series
The 1910 World Series featured the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs, with the Athletics winning in five games to earn their first championship.Jack Coombs of Philadelphia won three games and Eddie Collins supplied timely hitting...
, in which the Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He made appearances in the 1911
1911 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1911 at Polo Grounds in Manhattan, New York-Game 2:Monday, October 16, 1911 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-Game 3:Tuesday, October 17, 1911 at Polo Grounds in Manhattan, New York-Game 4:...
and 1916 World Series
1916 World Series
In the 1916 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins four games to one.Casey Stengel shone on offense for the Robins in the 1916 Series but the Red Sox pitching core ultimately proved too much for the denizens of Flatbush...
. In , he was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for one season before he returned to playing.
Coombs became a championship-winning coach at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(1929–1952) who sent many players to the majors. Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's baseball field is named after him
Jack Coombs Field
Jack Coombs Field is a baseball stadium in Durham, North Carolina, USA. It is the home field of the Duke University Blue Devils college baseball teams. The stadium holds 2,000 people. It was dedicated in 1951 and named after former Duke baseball coach Jack Coombs...
.
He spent his retirement as a sports historian and writer. In 1945, he published, "Baseball - Individual Play and Team Strategy".
See also
- Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1937Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1937The 1937 process of selecting inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame was markedly different from the initial elections the previous year. As only half of the initial goal of 10 inductees had been selected in 1936, members of the Baseball Writers Association of America were once again given...
- Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1938Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1938The 1938 elections to select inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame were conducted along much the same lines as the 1937 vote. Toward the goal of 10 initial inductees from the 20th century, 8 had now been selected; members of the Baseball Writers Association of America were once again given...
- Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1946Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1946Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1946 were conducted by methods refashioned and then fashioned again during the year. As in 1945 the Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent players and elected no one...
- Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1948Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1948Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1948 followed the same procedures as 1947.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from players retired less than 25 years, with provision for a runoff in case of no winner...
- List of members of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
- Philadelphia Baseball Wall of FamePhiladelphia Baseball Wall of FameThe Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame is a collection of plaques, mounted on a brick wall in the Ashburn Alley section of Citizens Bank Park, the ballpark of the Philadelphia Phillies...
- Top 100 Major League Baseball hit batsmen leaders
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions