Wally Snell
Encyclopedia
Walter Henry "Doc" Snell (May 19, 1889 – July 23, 1980) was a pinch-hitter/catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox
during the season. Following this brief baseball career he became a successful mycologist who worked primarily at Brown University
for the next 60 years.
, he played football
and basketball
at Brockton High School
, graduating in 1907. He then attended Phillips Andover Academy for two years, graduating in 1909, before enrolling at Brown University
.
At Brown, Snell was both a scholar and an athlete, as a Phi Beta Kappa
in academics and a catcher for four years on the varsity baseball team under coach Harry Pattee
. In 1913, he was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics
owner Connie Mack
, but broke his hand in a game at Brown and was dealt to the Red Sox.
In a six-game career, Snell was a .250 hitter (3-for-12) with one run
and one stolen base
without RBI
or home run
s. In two catching appearances, he committed one error in 13 chances accepted for a .923 fielding percentage
. Snell hit a single
in his first major league at bat
off Cleveland Naps
pitcher
Nick Cullop
on August 1, 1913. He was one of five catchers the Red Sox used during the 1913 season
.
Following his majors career, Snell continued to play some minor league baseball
while studying for his master's degree, playing in 1914 and 1915 in the International League
with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1914) and Rochester Hustlers
(1915), and for the Manchester
team of the New England League
(1915), becoming a first baseman
in his last baseball season.
and went on to a distinguished career as a college professor and athletic coach both in baseball and football at Brown University for 39 years. After retiring as a professor in 1959, he had written numerous professional papers on research in his field, published in scientific journals such as Mycologia
and Phytopathology. His research delved in areas as diverse as forest tree diseases, decay in building timbers, toxicity of creosote
s to wood-destroying fungi
, language of mycology
, and taxonomy
of bolete
s and hydnum
s (types of mushrooms and fungi).
Snell died at the age of 91 in Providence, Rhode Island
.
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...
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 briefly 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"...
during the season. Following this brief baseball career he became a successful mycologist who worked primarily at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
for the next 60 years.
Baseball career
Snell was a college three-sport athlete turned scientist. Besides baseballBaseball
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...
, he played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at Brockton High School
Brockton High School
Brockton High School, established in 1871, is a high school located in Brockton, Massachusetts and is the largest high school in Massachusetts and New England. Although it is smaller by approximately 200 students than Reading High School, Brockton is one of the largest high schools east of the...
, graduating in 1907. He then attended Phillips Andover Academy for two years, graduating in 1909, before enrolling at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
At Brown, Snell was both a scholar and an athlete, as a Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
in academics and a catcher for four years on the varsity baseball team under coach Harry Pattee
Harry Pattee
Harry Ernest Pattee was a professional baseball player who played second base for the 1908 Brooklyn Superbas. He went to college at Brown University.-External links:...
. In 1913, he was signed by 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....
owner Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, but broke his hand in a game at Brown and was dealt to the Red Sox.
In a six-game career, Snell was a .250 hitter (3-for-12) with one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and one stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
without RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
or home run
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...
s. In two catching appearances, he committed one error in 13 chances accepted for a .923 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Snell hit a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in his first major league at bat
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...
off Cleveland Naps
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...
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...
Nick Cullop
Nick Cullop (pitcher)
Norman Andrew "Nick" Cullop was a starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between and . A native of Chilhowie, Virginia, Cullop batted and threw left-handed...
on August 1, 1913. He was one of five catchers the Red Sox used during the 1913 season
1913 Boston Red Sox season
The 1913 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 4th in the American League with a record of 79 wins and 71 losses.- Opening Day lineup :- Roster :- Starters by position :...
.
Following his majors career, Snell continued to play some minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
while studying for his master's degree, playing in 1914 and 1915 in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1914) and Rochester Hustlers
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
(1915), and for the Manchester
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Manchester-by-the-Sea is a town on Cape Ann, in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 5,228.-History:...
team of the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
(1915), becoming a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in his last baseball season.
Doctoral career
After receiving his master's degree from Brown in 1915, Snell began to pursue his doctoral studies in 1916 at the University of Wisconsin. He earned a Ph.D. degree in botanyBotany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and went on to a distinguished career as a college professor and athletic coach both in baseball and football at Brown University for 39 years. After retiring as a professor in 1959, he had written numerous professional papers on research in his field, published in scientific journals such as Mycologia
Mycologia
Mycologia is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes papers on all aspects of the fungi, including lichens. It first appeared as a bimonthly journal in January of 1909, published by the New York Botanical Garden under the editorship of William Murrill. It became the official journal of...
and Phytopathology. His research delved in areas as diverse as forest tree diseases, decay in building timbers, toxicity of creosote
Creosote
Creosote is the portion of chemical products obtained by the distillation of a tar that remains heavier than water, notably useful for its anti-septic and preservative properties...
s to wood-destroying fungi
Wood-decay fungus
A wood-decay fungus is a variety of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as brown rot, and some, such as Armillaria , are parasitic and colonize living trees. Fungi that not only grow on wood but actually cause it to decay, are called...
, language of mycology
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
, and taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of bolete
Bolete
A bolete is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe, with a spongy surface of pores on the underside of the pileus...
s and hydnum
Hydnum
Hydnum is a genus of fungi in the Hydnaceae family. They are notable for their unusual spore-bearing structures of teeth rather than gills. The best known are the edible species Hydnum repandum and H. rufescens. The word is derived from udnon/ύδνον, an Ancient Greek word for truffle...
s (types of mushrooms and fungi).
Snell died at the age of 91 in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.