Jack Dunn
Encyclopedia
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.
Dunn was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania
and grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey
. When he was nine, a boxcar ran over his left arm while playing at a local railway. He was told by doctors that his arm had to be either amputated or risk death. He declined an amputation, but his arm was left crippled from above the elbow and couldn't lift the arm above his neck.
In he played for Toronto in the Eastern League, and the following year he reached the major leagues as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
. He bounced around the majors for seven years, having one good season with the Bridegrooms in 1899, with a 23-13 record. When he wasn't playing, Dunn studied how the game worked from the sidelines. He was also a shortstop and right fielder. After , he pitched and managed in the minors for a few seasons, winning an International League
pennant in .
In , Dunn took over as manager of the Baltimore Orioles
, a minor league club with no connection to the current major league team by that name. He bought the team a year later with a $10,000 loan from Philadelphia Athletics
owner/manager Connie Mack
and developed a minor league powerhouse by scouting and developing his own players. He signed players by how they looked instead of skill, sometimes never seeing a player play before offering a contract.
Dunn first achieved renown in 1914, when his Orioles were running away with the league pennant but losing money at the box office because of a rival Federal League
team in town purporting to be a major league club. To make his payroll, Dunn had to move the team to Richmond, Virginia
and sell off his star player, Babe Ruth
, and 11 other players to the majors. He later said that selling Ruth was his biggest regret.
The team moved back to Baltimore in 1916, and Dunn again put together a juggernaut, ultimately signing 10 more players who went on to have solid major league careers. The best of these was pitcher Lefty Grove
, who went 109–36 as an Oriole between 1920 and 1924. By that time, Dunn's team was in the midst of winning seven straight International League
championships, many by huge margins.
Dunn's team was regarded as the equal of many major league teams, and he kept them so by refusing to trade or sell players to the majors. It wasn't until the 1925 off-season, when the other, struggling teams in the league made an agreement with the majors on a set price for transferring players, that Dunn finally relented and began selling his stars for money. His team won one more league title in 1925 and then dropped back into the pack.
Dunn was indirectly responsible for Ruth's famous nickname, with Ruth's teammates referring to him as "Dunn's $10,000 Babe" for the price he drew, and in addition to Grove, discovered other quality major leaguers such as Jack Bentley
, Ernie Shore
, George Earnshaw
, Dick Porter
and Tommy Thomas
.
Dunn ran the Orioles until his death from a heart attack in 1928.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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...
at the turn of the 20th century who later went on to become a 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...
club owner.
Dunn was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
and grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
. When he was nine, a boxcar ran over his left arm while playing at a local railway. He was told by doctors that his arm had to be either amputated or risk death. He declined an amputation, but his arm was left crippled from above the elbow and couldn't lift the arm above his neck.
In he played for Toronto in the Eastern League, and the following year he reached the major leagues as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He bounced around the majors for seven years, having one good season with the Bridegrooms in 1899, with a 23-13 record. When he wasn't playing, Dunn studied how the game worked from the sidelines. He was also a shortstop and right fielder. After , he pitched and managed in the minors for a few seasons, winning an 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...
pennant in .
In , Dunn took over as manager 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...
, a minor league club with no connection to the current major league team by that name. He bought the team a year later with a $10,000 loan from 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/manager 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...
and developed a minor league powerhouse by scouting and developing his own players. He signed players by how they looked instead of skill, sometimes never seeing a player play before offering a contract.
Dunn first achieved renown in 1914, when his Orioles were running away with the league pennant but losing money at the box office because of a rival Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
team in town purporting to be a major league club. To make his payroll, Dunn had to move the team to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
and sell off his star player, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, and 11 other players to the majors. He later said that selling Ruth was his biggest regret.
The team moved back to Baltimore in 1916, and Dunn again put together a juggernaut, ultimately signing 10 more players who went on to have solid major league careers. The best of these was pitcher Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
, who went 109–36 as an Oriole between 1920 and 1924. By that time, Dunn's team was in the midst of winning seven straight 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...
championships, many by huge margins.
Dunn's team was regarded as the equal of many major league teams, and he kept them so by refusing to trade or sell players to the majors. It wasn't until the 1925 off-season, when the other, struggling teams in the league made an agreement with the majors on a set price for transferring players, that Dunn finally relented and began selling his stars for money. His team won one more league title in 1925 and then dropped back into the pack.
Dunn was indirectly responsible for Ruth's famous nickname, with Ruth's teammates referring to him as "Dunn's $10,000 Babe" for the price he drew, and in addition to Grove, discovered other quality major leaguers such as Jack Bentley
Jack Bentley (baseball)
John Needles Bentley was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of nine seasons with the Washington Senators, New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. For his career, he compiled a 46-33 record in 138 appearances, with a 4.01 earned run average and 259...
, 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....
, George Earnshaw
George Earnshaw
George "Moose" Earnshaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in parts of nine seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was the American League wins leader in 1929 with the A's...
, Dick Porter
Dick Porter
Richard Twilley Porter was a Major League Baseball player who played as an outfielder from -...
and Tommy Thomas
Tommy Thomas (baseball)
Alphonse "Tommy" Thomas , was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1926-1937. He would play for the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Red Sox...
.
Dunn ran the Orioles until his death from a heart attack in 1928.