John Anthony Boyle (March 22 1866 – January 7 1913), nicknamed "Honest Jack", was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcherCatcher 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...
and
first basemanFirst 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. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, and is responsible for the...
in
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
. His younger brother,
Eddie BoyleEdward J. Boyle was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 3", 200 lb., Boyle batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
, played in .
Born in
Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. The municipality is located north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border. The population within city limits was estimated to be 333,336 in 2008, making it the state's third largest city...
, Boyle began his professional baseball career in 1886, playing in one game for the
Cincinnati Red StockingsThe Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
of the
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
. A pitcher by the name of Bob Mitchell is credited with his discovery.
On November 12, 1886, he was traded (along with $350) to the
St. Louis BrownsThe 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...
in exchange for
Hugh NicolHugh Nicol was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball. His debut game took place on May 3, 1881. His final game took place on August 2, 1890. During his career, he played for Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Stockings of the National League and St. Louis Browns of the American Association...
.
Jack caught only a couple of games until July 3.
John Anthony Boyle (March 22 1866 – January 7 1913), nicknamed "Honest Jack", was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcherCatcher 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...
and
first basemanFirst 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. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, and is responsible for the...
in
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
. His younger brother,
Eddie BoyleEdward J. Boyle was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 3", 200 lb., Boyle batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
, played in .
Early years
Born in
Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. The municipality is located north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border. The population within city limits was estimated to be 333,336 in 2008, making it the state's third largest city...
, Boyle began his professional baseball career in 1886, playing in one game for the
Cincinnati Red StockingsThe Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
of the
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
. A pitcher by the name of Bob Mitchell is credited with his discovery.
Career
On November 12, 1886, he was traded (along with $350) to the
St. Louis BrownsThe 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...
in exchange for
Hugh NicolHugh Nicol was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball. His debut game took place on May 3, 1881. His final game took place on August 2, 1890. During his career, he played for Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Stockings of the National League and St. Louis Browns of the American Association...
.
Jack caught only a couple of games until July 3. An injury to the regular catcher,
Al "Doc" BushongAlbert John "Doc" Bushong was a catcher in Major League Baseball.-Sources:...
, gave him his opportunity. He caught 87 straight games for the Browns using the old finger glove which preceded the protective mitt of the modern era.
Boyle accompanied
Charles ComiskeyCharles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key player in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
to the
Chicago PiratesThe 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 LeagueThe Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
team in 1890, but returned with him to St. Louis the following year. In 1892 Jack signed with the New York Giants for a sum of $5,500. This was the largest salary ever paid to a major leaguer at this time.
After one season with New York, he was traded (with Jack Sharrott and cash) on March 11, 1893, to the
Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are the defending World Series champions. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern...
in exchange for
Roger ConnorRoger Connor was a 19th century Major League Baseball player, born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Known for being the player whom Babe Ruth succeeded as the all-time home run champion, Connor hit 138 home runs during his 18-year career, and his career home run record stood for 23 years after his...
. There followed five years as a star catcher for the Philadelphia club. On July 9, 1898, he was sold by Philadelphia to the Giants for $1000. However, he did not play a single game for them and was returned to Philadelphia on August 15, 1898.
He also served as an umpire in the
National LeagueThe 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...
(4 games) and
American AssociationAmerican Association may refer to one of the following professional baseball leagues:* American Association , active from 1882 to 1891* American Association , active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997...
(1 game) between 1888 and 1897.
Final years
He opened a saloon in the Ohio River city on Seventh Street which grew into a successful business for him.
Boyle was 46 years of age when he died of
Bright's DiseaseBright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
at his home on Academy Avenue, Price Hill in
Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. The municipality is located north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border. The population within city limits was estimated to be 333,336 in 2008, making it the state's third largest city...
. He was interred at the St. Joseph New Cemetery in Cincinnati.
External links