Ed Doheny
Encyclopedia
Edwin Richard Doheny was a former professional baseball player who played pitcher
in the Major Leagues from 1895-1903.
Graduating to the minor leagues, Doheny crossed the Canadian border in 1894 and pitched for Farnham, Quebec
. The next year he returned to Vermont and pitched for St. Albans, Vermont
. That year, a Boston sportswriter earned $100 for putting the National League's
New York Giants
on to Doheny. Major-league success seemed at hand for the 21-year-old Vermonter, whom the Boston Globe described as a "stonecutter".
in 1895, pitching rather unsuccessfully for six and a half seasons, accumulating a 37-69 mark before the Pittsburgh Pirates
acquired him in June 1901 for Heinie Smith
. Ed had gotten off to a 2-5 start that season in New York, but would become an immediate hit in Pittsburgh, going 6-2 the rest of the way with a 2.00 ERA, helping the team to their first National League pennant.
After a 16-4 performance with a 2.53 ERA in his first full season in a Pirate uniform in 1902, Doheny hurt his ankle, leaving him out of the postseason challenge series against various American League All-Stars.
In late July 1903, for reasons unknown, Doheny developed a "dead arm." Frustration mounted when he could no longer snap off his feared curve ball.
In lieu of his customary jovial approach to life, he turned caustic and bitter against his teammates and himself. He eventually went AWOL
from the team after exhibiting some strange behavior and arguing with his teammates, especially after he drank. As it turned out, Doheny had been convinced he was being followed by detectives and went home to Andover, Massachusetts
.
In the dressing room prior to the last game of the season, when he was told he would not pitch in the first championship series, he clenched his fists and started to swing wildly at anyone within reach. His teammates quickly subdued him; one of them summoned the police. Within minutes, Doheny was escorted in handcuffs from the locker room and driven to Danvers Asylum for the Criminally Insane
in Danvers, Massachusetts
.
Doheny returned to the team on August 15 and even though he was pitching fine, he really wasn’t the same man that he had been in the past. Things became worse as the month went on; he became more paranoid
and irrational. On September 21, Doheny left Pittsburgh in the company of his clergyman brother, who escorted him home again to get some treatment.
The team felt bad for their teammate and sent his uniform back to Massachusetts to try to cheer him up. Apparently, it had the wrong effect, as Doheny thought it was a sign that he was going to make a comeback and pitch again. On the evening of October 10, after being informed that the Pirates had just lost Game 7 of the 1903 World Series
, Doheny forcibly ejected his physician from his house, saying that "he did not need his attentions any longer." Early the next morning, Doheny attacked Oblerin Howard, his "faith cure doctor and nurse," with an iron stove poker, rendering him bloodied and unconscious. Doheny's wife rushed to the neighbors for assistance. Dressed in his nightclothes at the doorway to his house and armed with the iron poker, Doheny held off the police for an hour with threats to kill the first man who approached him. Finally overpowered by the police, Doheny was taken to the police station where, under the direction of Judge Andrew C. Stone, two doctors pronounced him insane. Doheny was committed on October 14 to the Danvers Asylum for the Criminally Insane, but did not respond to treatment. He remained a patient at the hospital until his death thirteen years later at the age of 43. His cause of death was listed as pulmonary tuberculosis.
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 the Major Leagues from 1895-1903.
Early life
Born in Northfield, Vermont, both his father, James, and his mother, Mary, were Irish immigrants. Northfield land records indicate that James' occupation was "railroad laborer," and the modest cottage on the east side of King Street where the Dohenys lived still stands at the foot of Turkey Hill. A sandlot star in his hometown at age 14, Ed soon outgrew the competition he could find in central Vermont.Graduating to the minor leagues, Doheny crossed the Canadian border in 1894 and pitched for Farnham, Quebec
Farnham, Quebec
Farnham is a town located in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Brome-Missisquoi regional county municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,809, making it the second most populated community in the RCM.- History :The...
. The next year he returned to Vermont and pitched for St. Albans, Vermont
St. Albans (town), Vermont
St. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont. The population was 6,392 at the 2010 census. The town completely surrounds the city of St. Albans, which was separated from the town and incorporated in 1902. References to "St. Albans" prior to this date generally refer to the town center, which...
. That year, a Boston sportswriter earned $100 for putting the National League's
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...
New York Giants
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....
on to Doheny. Major-league success seemed at hand for the 21-year-old Vermonter, whom the Boston Globe described as a "stonecutter".
1895-1902
He began his time in the show with the New York GiantsHistory of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
in 1895, pitching rather unsuccessfully for six and a half seasons, accumulating a 37-69 mark before the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
acquired him in June 1901 for Heinie Smith
Heinie Smith
George Henry "Heinie" Smith was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Louisville Colonels , Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Giants and Detroit Tigers . Smith batted and threw right-handed...
. Ed had gotten off to a 2-5 start that season in New York, but would become an immediate hit in Pittsburgh, going 6-2 the rest of the way with a 2.00 ERA, helping the team to their first National League pennant.
After a 16-4 performance with a 2.53 ERA in his first full season in a Pirate uniform in 1902, Doheny hurt his ankle, leaving him out of the postseason challenge series against various American League All-Stars.
1903 Season and death
The Massachusetts resident followed up his fine '02 campaign with a 16-8 mark in 1903. He had become an integral part of the strong Pirate starting rotation, yet in 1903 it all fell apart for the southpaw. Ed was first suspended on May 17 after brawling with the Giants during a 3-2 victory.In late July 1903, for reasons unknown, Doheny developed a "dead arm." Frustration mounted when he could no longer snap off his feared curve ball.
In lieu of his customary jovial approach to life, he turned caustic and bitter against his teammates and himself. He eventually went AWOL
Desertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
from the team after exhibiting some strange behavior and arguing with his teammates, especially after he drank. As it turned out, Doheny had been convinced he was being followed by detectives and went home to Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
.
In the dressing room prior to the last game of the season, when he was told he would not pitch in the first championship series, he clenched his fists and started to swing wildly at anyone within reach. His teammates quickly subdued him; one of them summoned the police. Within minutes, Doheny was escorted in handcuffs from the locker room and driven to Danvers Asylum for the Criminally Insane
Danvers State Hospital
Danvers State Hospital, also known as the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers, The Danvers Lunatic Asylum, and The Danvers State Insane Asylum, was a psychiatric hospital located in Danvers, Massachusetts....
in Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
.
Doheny returned to the team on August 15 and even though he was pitching fine, he really wasn’t the same man that he had been in the past. Things became worse as the month went on; he became more paranoid
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
and irrational. On September 21, Doheny left Pittsburgh in the company of his clergyman brother, who escorted him home again to get some treatment.
The team felt bad for their teammate and sent his uniform back to Massachusetts to try to cheer him up. Apparently, it had the wrong effect, as Doheny thought it was a sign that he was going to make a comeback and pitch again. On the evening of October 10, after being informed that the Pirates had just lost Game 7 of the 1903 World Series
1903 World Series
The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball. It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last...
, Doheny forcibly ejected his physician from his house, saying that "he did not need his attentions any longer." Early the next morning, Doheny attacked Oblerin Howard, his "faith cure doctor and nurse," with an iron stove poker, rendering him bloodied and unconscious. Doheny's wife rushed to the neighbors for assistance. Dressed in his nightclothes at the doorway to his house and armed with the iron poker, Doheny held off the police for an hour with threats to kill the first man who approached him. Finally overpowered by the police, Doheny was taken to the police station where, under the direction of Judge Andrew C. Stone, two doctors pronounced him insane. Doheny was committed on October 14 to the Danvers Asylum for the Criminally Insane, but did not respond to treatment. He remained a patient at the hospital until his death thirteen years later at the age of 43. His cause of death was listed as pulmonary tuberculosis.