Doc Adkins
Encyclopedia
Merle Theron Adkins (August 5, 1872 – February 21, 1934) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Americans
and New York Highlanders
. Adkins batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Troy, Wisconsin
.
on June 24, 1902 during a 6-7 loss to the Washington Senators
. He made four appearances (two starts) with Boston, posting a 1-1 record with an earned run average
of 4.05, walking seven and striking out three in 20 innings pitched
.
, pitching in two games, one of which was a start. In seven innings of work, he let up eight runs, six of which were earned, on 10 hits and five walks with a 7.71 ERA. His final Major League appearance came September 29, 1903 - the last day of the season - in a 10-4 win over the Detroit Tigers
.
. He also scouted players, notably discovering Ernie Shore
and calling him to the attention of Jack Dunn
, then the owner of the Baltimore Orioles
.
Adkins died in Durham, North Carolina
at age of 63. He is buried at Maplewood Cemetery.
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 for the Boston Americans
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"...
and New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Adkins batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Troy, Wisconsin
Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin
Troy is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,328 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Troy, and Troy Center are located in the town.-Geography:...
.
Boston Americans
Adkins made his debut with the Boston AmericansBoston 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"...
on June 24, 1902 during a 6-7 loss to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He made four appearances (two starts) with Boston, posting a 1-1 record with an earned run average
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 4.05, walking seven and striking out three in 20 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
New York Highlanders
Adkins spent the 1903 season with the New York HighlandersNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, pitching in two games, one of which was a start. In seven innings of work, he let up eight runs, six of which were earned, on 10 hits and five walks with a 7.71 ERA. His final Major League appearance came September 29, 1903 - the last day of the season - in a 10-4 win over the 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...
.
Retirement
After his retirement as a player, Adkins was affiliated with Trinity CollegeTrinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
. He also scouted players, notably discovering Ernie Shore
Ernie Shore
Ernest Grady Shore was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox during some of their best years in the 1910s....
and calling him to the attention of Jack Dunn
Jack Dunn
John Joseph Dunn was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball at the turn of the 20th century who later went on to become a minor league baseball club owner....
, then the owner of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
.
Adkins died in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
at age of 63. He is buried at Maplewood Cemetery.