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Tip O'Neill (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
James Edward "Tip" O'Neill (May 25, 1858 – December 31, 1915) was a Canadian left fielder
in Major League Baseball
in the late 19th century.
Nicknamed "The Woodstock
Wonder" though born in nearby Springfield, Ontario, O'Neill played ten seasons, 1883
-1892
, for the New York Gothams
, the St. Louis Browns
of the American Association
, the Cincinnati Reds
, and the Chicago Pirates
of the Players' League. He batted
.326 over his career. He also pitched
for two seasons, winning 16 games and losing 16 games, with an ERA
of 3.39.
O'Neill led the league at least once in most hitting categories, including batting average in 1887
(.435) and 1888 (.335). During the 1887 season, bases on balls were counted as hits, which inflated O'Neill's batting average as reported at the time to .492 (scored regularly, O'Neill hit .435). In 1887, O'Neill won the only hitting triple crown
in American Association history, hitting .435 with 14 home runs and 123 RBI. That same season, he drew 50 walks, which gave him (according to the rules of the time) 275 Hits. That figure has since been lowered to 225.
The award presented to the top Canadian baseball player of the year, as selected by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
, is called the Tip O'Neill Award
.
Former Speaker of the House
and U.S. Representative
Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill
was nicknamed after him in his youth.
O'Neill was president of the Western League
until his death in 1915.
O'Neill moved to Montreal and owned a saloon. He died in a streetcar accident on December 31, 1915. He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Woodstock, Ontario
.
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...
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...
in the late 19th century.
Nicknamed "The Woodstock
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
Wonder" though born in nearby Springfield, Ontario, O'Neill played ten seasons, 1883
1883 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters*American Association: Philadelphia Athletics*Inter-State League: Brooklyn Atlantics*Northwestern League: Toledo Blue StockingsInter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined to play Boston...
-1892
1892 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters defeated Cleveland Spiders, 5 games to 0 - First half of season :-Second half of season:-Overall record:-Events:...
, for the New York Gothams
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
of 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...
, the 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....
, and the Chicago Pirates
Chicago Pirates
The Chicago Pirates were a baseball team in the Players' League for a single season in 1890. The team played their home games at South Side Park . Their powerful National League rivals were the Chicago White Stockings. The Pirates recruited most of the White Stocking's players, and for this reason...
of the Players' League. He batted
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 :...
.326 over his career. He also pitched
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...
for two seasons, winning 16 games and losing 16 games, with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.39.
O'Neill led the league at least once in most hitting categories, including batting average in 1887
1887 in baseball
-National League final standings:-American Association final standings:-National League statistical leaders:-American Association statistical leaders:-January–March:...
(.435) and 1888 (.335). During the 1887 season, bases on balls were counted as hits, which inflated O'Neill's batting average as reported at the time to .492 (scored regularly, O'Neill hit .435). In 1887, O'Neill won the only hitting triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
in American Association history, hitting .435 with 14 home runs and 123 RBI. That same season, he drew 50 walks, which gave him (according to the rules of the time) 275 Hits. That figure has since been lowered to 225.
The award presented to the top Canadian baseball player of the year, as selected by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
, is called the Tip O'Neill Award
Tip O'Neill Award
The Tip O'Neill Award is an award given out by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the Canadian baseball player "judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball." It is named for Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer...
.
Former Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
and U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
was nicknamed after him in his youth.
O'Neill was president of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
until his death in 1915.
O'Neill moved to Montreal and owned a saloon. He died in a streetcar accident on December 31, 1915. He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...