Jack Rowe
Encyclopedia
John Charles "Jack" Rowe (December 8, 1856 – April 25, 1911) was an American
baseball
player.
Rowe was born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania
, in 1911. He first played baseball under Tom Loftus
with the Peoria Reds in 1878. In 1879, Rowe and his brother, Dave Rowe
, signed with the Rockford team in the newly formed Northwestern League. At Rockford, Rowe earned a reputation as one of the best hitters and bare-handed catchers in the game.
After the Northwestern League folded in early July 1878, Rowe signed with the Buffalo Bisons of the National League
. He played in eight games for Buffalo in 1879, batting .353 in 38 plate appearances. He remained with Buffalo for seven years from 1879 to 1885. While playing in Buffalo, Rowe was part of the group with Dan Brouthers
, Hardy Richardson
, and Deacon White
that came to be known as the "Big Four."
In 1886, the "Big Four" were sold by Buffalo to the Detroit Wolverines
. Rowe remained in Detroit through 1888, when the team disbanded. Rowe played shortstop for Detroit and was part of the 1887 Detroit Wolverines
team that won the World Series over the St. Louis Browns. He also hit for the cycle on August 21, 1886.
At the end of the 1888 season, the Detroit team folded, and Rowe was sold to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. Rowe and Deacon White decided instead to purchase the Buffalo team in the International League. The owner of the Pittsburgh team refused to release Rowe and White, reportedly saying, "If they don't want to play in Pittsburgh, they'll play nowhere." Rowe opted to play for Pittsburgh in 1889. In 1890, Rowe concluded his playing career as a player, manager, and owner of the Buffalo Bisons in the newly organized Players' League.
Rowe suffered a nervous breakdown
. He died in April 1911 at his daughter's residence on Cates Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri
, at the age of 55. He was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
His brother, Dave Rowe
, also played and managed in the major leagues.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player.
Rowe was born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Hamburg is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,114 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Hamburg, Germany.-Geography:Hamburg is located at ....
, in 1911. He first played baseball under Tom Loftus
Tom Loftus
Thomas Joseph Loftus is a former manager in the American Association, the National League, and the American League. His playing career began in 1877 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League, but he only played in nine career games in 1877 and 1883 as an outfielder...
with the Peoria Reds in 1878. In 1879, Rowe and his brother, Dave Rowe
Dave Rowe (baseball)
David Elwood "Dave" Rowe was an American Major League Baseball center fielder and manager from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His brother, Jack Rowe also played and managed in the Major leagues. Over the course of Rowe's career, he had 383 hits and a .263 batting average...
, signed with the Rockford team in the newly formed Northwestern League. At Rockford, Rowe earned a reputation as one of the best hitters and bare-handed catchers in the game.
After the Northwestern League folded in early July 1878, Rowe signed with the Buffalo Bisons of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He played in eight games for Buffalo in 1879, batting .353 in 38 plate appearances. He remained with Buffalo for seven years from 1879 to 1885. While playing in Buffalo, Rowe was part of the group with Dan Brouthers
Dan Brouthers
Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
, Hardy Richardson
Hardy Richardson
Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons...
, and Deacon White
Deacon White
James Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
that came to be known as the "Big Four."
In 1886, the "Big Four" were sold by Buffalo to the Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
. Rowe remained in Detroit through 1888, when the team disbanded. Rowe played shortstop for Detroit and was part of the 1887 Detroit Wolverines
1887 Detroit Wolverines season
The 1887 Detroit Wolverines season was a season in American baseball. The team won the 1887 National League pennant, then defeated the St. Louis Browns in the 1887 World Series. The season was the team's 7th since it entered the National League in 1881...
team that won the World Series over the St. Louis Browns. He also hit for the cycle on August 21, 1886.
Rowe suffered a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
. He died in April 1911 at his daughter's residence on Cates Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, at the age of 55. He was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.
His brother, Dave Rowe
Dave Rowe (baseball)
David Elwood "Dave" Rowe was an American Major League Baseball center fielder and manager from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His brother, Jack Rowe also played and managed in the Major leagues. Over the course of Rowe's career, he had 383 hits and a .263 batting average...
, also played and managed in the major leagues.