Jim Donahue
Encyclopedia
James Augustus "Jim" Donahue (January 8, 1862 – April 19, 1935) was an American
Major League Baseball
player from Lockport, Illinois
who played his entire career in the American Association
from through .
of the American Association in splitting time between the outfield
and catcher
, where he platooned with Charlie Reipschlager
. He played in 49 games
, and had a batting average
of .199. He returned the following season, again platooning at catcher, this time with Bill Holbert, and had a .282 batting average, which proved to be his best season at the plate. Following the season Donahue was sold to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
along with several other player on October 20, 1887, who then turned around and sold him on January 15, to the Kansas City Cowboys
along with several others.
With Kansas City in 1888, he had his most playing time, as he was considered the starting catcher. He played in 88 games, hit .234, and had a career high 11 doubles
. That season, he was also used as a substitute umpire
on two different occasions, but for the game on July 14, it became dubiously notable. Bridegroom pitcher Adonis Terry
claimed that he overheard Cowboy manager
Sam Barkley
order Donahue to call a Bridegroom runner out in the 9th inning of a 5-4 game. The Grooms walked off the field in protest‚ forfeit
ing the game‚ resulting in a 9-0 score. In , he returned to platooning, as the Cowboys promoted Charlie Hoover
to starter. Jim caught 46 games that season and split the remainder of his games between the left field
and third base
, while hitting .234, and 32 runs batted in.
After the 1889 season, the Cowboys folded and Jim did not play in the majors for the season, but returned for the Columbus Solons
, and played in 77 games, hit .218, and drove in 35 runs. This was Jim final major league season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player from Lockport, Illinois
Lockport, Illinois
Lockport is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, that incorporated in 1853. Lockport is located in northeastern Illinois, 30 miles southwest of Chicago, and north of Joliet, at locks connecting Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal with the Des Plaines River via the Lockport...
who played his entire career in the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
from through .
Career
Jim made his Major League debut with the New York MetropolitansNew York Metropolitans
The Metropolitan Club was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887...
of the American Association in splitting time between the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, where he platooned with Charlie Reipschlager
Charlie Reipschlager
Charles W. Reipschlager , was an American Association catcher who played from to with the New York Metropolitans and the Cleveland Blues. He batted and threw right-handed.He died in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1910....
. He played in 49 games
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,...
, and had a batting average
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 :...
of .199. He returned the following season, again platooning at catcher, this time with Bill Holbert, and had a .282 batting average, which proved to be his best season at the plate. Following the season Donahue was sold to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
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...
along with several other player on October 20, 1887, who then turned around and sold him on January 15, to the Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (American Association)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri for two seasons from to in the American Association. They were the third, and last incarnation of this franchise name, following the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association in and the Kansas City...
along with several others.
With Kansas City in 1888, he had his most playing time, as he was considered the starting catcher. He played in 88 games, hit .234, and had a career high 11 doubles
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....
. That season, he was also used as a substitute umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
on two different occasions, but for the game on July 14, it became dubiously notable. Bridegroom pitcher Adonis Terry
Adonis Terry
William H. "Adonis" Terry was an American Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from his debut with the Brooklyn Atlantics in , to the Chicago Colts in . In his 14 seasons, he compiled a 197-196 win–loss record, winning 20 or more games in a season four different times...
claimed that he overheard Cowboy manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Sam Barkley
Sam Barkley
Samuel E. Barkley was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he played for four different teams in six seasons from to .-Career:...
order Donahue to call a Bridegroom runner out in the 9th inning of a 5-4 game. The Grooms walked off the field in protest‚ forfeit
Forfeit (baseball)
In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, usually in the event when a team is no longer able to play. In the event of forfeiture, the score is recorded as "9 to 0", as per rule 2.00 of the Major League Baseball Rules Book...
ing the game‚ resulting in a 9-0 score. In , he returned to platooning, as the Cowboys promoted Charlie Hoover
Charlie Hoover (baseball)
Charles E. Hoover was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Kansas City Cowboys in 1888 and 1889.-External links:...
to starter. Jim caught 46 games that season and split the remainder of his games between the left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, while hitting .234, and 32 runs batted in.
After the 1889 season, the Cowboys folded and Jim did not play in the majors for the season, but returned for the Columbus Solons
Columbus Solons
The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
, and played in 77 games, hit .218, and drove in 35 runs. This was Jim final major league season.