J. A. Gammons
Encyclopedia
John Ashley "Daff" Gammons (March 17, 1876 – March 24, 1963) was an American baseball and football player, college football
and baseball
coach, amateur golfer, and insurance agent. He played professional baseball for one season, 1901, for the Boston Beaneaters. Gammons served as the head football coach at Brown University
in 1902, 1908, and 1909, and as its head baseball coach from 1901 to 1903.
. He attended Brown University
where he earned letters in football from 1895 to 1897, and baseball, including on the 1896 national championship team. He graduated from Brown in 1898, and then attended Harvard University
in 1899 and 1900.
, which still remained in business more than one hundred years later. One source considered Gammons to be "one of the leading insurance agents of Providence".
Gammons also continued his playing career in both football and baseball. In 1898, Gammons played football for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club
. At the end of Duquesne's season, he ran 60 yards on a punt return for a score against the 1898 Western Pennsylvania All-Star football team
. While in 1899, he played football for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
, followed by the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in 1900
and 1901
, and finally the Pittsburgh Stars
of the 1902 National Football League
. Gammons played semiprofessional baseball from 1898 to 1900 with clubs in Attleboro
and North Attleboro, Massachusetts. In 1901, Gammons was approached by two professional teams: the Milwaukee Brewers
of the American League
and the Boston Beaneaters of the National League
. He was hesitant to play professionally, because he wished to focus on his newly founded insurance business, but eventually signed with the Beaneaters. Gammons played with Boston for one season
.
Gammons also coached the Brown baseball team from 1901 to 1903. In 1902, his coaching duties were expanded to include that of head coach of the football team. Brown compiled a 5–4–1 record that season. Gammons later returned to that position in 1908 and 1909, in which the football teams compiled records of 5–3–1 and 7–3, respectively.
In 1917, Gammons led a group of investors which purchased the Providence Grays
baseball team of the International League
. He was named the club's president, but resigned that post in 1918 when he was appointed to the advisory committee of the Bureau of Mines during World War I
.
Gammons was also a skilled amateur golfer. A contemporary source called him "one of New England's best golfers." He won the 1924 Rhode Island Amateur Championship, in which he had previously finished as runner-up in 1919 and 1920.
Gammons died in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
on March 24, 1963. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
coach, amateur golfer, and insurance agent. He played professional baseball for one season, 1901, for the Boston Beaneaters. Gammons served as the head football coach 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 ,...
in 1902, 1908, and 1909, and as its head baseball coach from 1901 to 1903.
Early life
Gammons was born on March 17, 1876 in New Bedford, MassachusettsNew Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
. He attended 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 ,...
where he earned letters in football from 1895 to 1897, and baseball, including on the 1896 national championship team. He graduated from Brown in 1898, and then attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1899 and 1900.
Professional career
After college, Gammons embarked upon a professional career in the insurance business. In 1901, he founded his own insurance company, John A. Gammons, Inc. (later Gammons & Son), in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, 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...
, which still remained in business more than one hundred years later. One source considered Gammons to be "one of the leading insurance agents of Providence".
Gammons also continued his playing career in both football and baseball. In 1898, Gammons played football for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club
Duquesne Country and Athletic Club
The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club was a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1895 until 1900. The team was considered one of the best, if not the best, professional football teams in the country from 1898 until 1900...
. At the end of Duquesne's season, he ran 60 yards on a punt return for a score against the 1898 Western Pennsylvania All-Star football team
1898 Western Pennsylvania All-Star football team
The 1898 Western Pennsylvania All-Star football team was a collection of early football players, from several teams in the area, to form an all-star team. The team was formed by Dave Berry, the manager of the Latrobe Athletic Association, for the purpose of playing the Duquesne Country and Athletic...
. While in 1899, he played football for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
Pittsburgh Athletic Club (football)
The Pittsburgh Athletic Club football team, established in 1891, was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1892 the intense competition between two Pittsburgh-area clubs, the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, led to William Heffelfinger becoming the first known...
, followed by the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in 1900
1900 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team
The 1900 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team won the professional football championship of 1900. The team was affiliated with the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in Homestead, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh...
and 1901
1901 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team
The 1901 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team won the professional football championship of 1901. The team was affiliated with the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in Homestead, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh...
, and finally the Pittsburgh Stars
Pittsburgh Stars
The Pittsburgh Stars were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious mixture...
of the 1902 National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
. Gammons played semiprofessional baseball from 1898 to 1900 with clubs in Attleboro
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
and North Attleboro, Massachusetts. In 1901, Gammons was approached by two professional teams: the Milwaukee Brewers
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and the Boston Beaneaters of the National League
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...
. He was hesitant to play professionally, because he wished to focus on his newly founded insurance business, but eventually signed with the Beaneaters. Gammons played with Boston for one season
1901 Boston Beaneaters season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
.
Gammons also coached the Brown baseball team from 1901 to 1903. In 1902, his coaching duties were expanded to include that of head coach of the football team. Brown compiled a 5–4–1 record that season. Gammons later returned to that position in 1908 and 1909, in which the football teams compiled records of 5–3–1 and 7–3, respectively.
In 1917, Gammons led a group of investors which purchased the Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
baseball team of 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...
. He was named the club's president, but resigned that post in 1918 when he was appointed to the advisory committee of the Bureau of Mines during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Gammons was also a skilled amateur golfer. A contemporary source called him "one of New England's best golfers." He won the 1924 Rhode Island Amateur Championship, in which he had previously finished as runner-up in 1919 and 1920.
Gammons died in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
East Greenwich is a town in and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2010 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island....
on March 24, 1963. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971.