Wish Egan
Encyclopedia
Aloysius Jerome "Wish" Egan (June 16, 1881 - April 13, 1951) was a Major League Baseball
player and scout.
, Egan played three seasons as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
(1902) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1905–1906). He started 3 games for the Tigers in September 1902. Despite pitching 2 complete games with a 2.86 earned run average, Wish was 0-2 for the Tigers. In 1905, Wish was 6-15 as a starter for the Cardinals (including 19 complete games) before an arm injury ended his playing career.
, Dizzy Trout
, Jim Bunning
, Roy Cullenbine
, Hoot Evers
, Dick Wakefield
, Johnny Lipon
, Stubby Overmire
, Art Houtteman
, and Barney McCosky
. And it was at his urging that the Tigers traded Barney McCosky
for George Kell
in 1946. Egan reportedly started scouting Hal Newhouser
when Newhouser was playing Legion ball at age 15.
Egan developed a reputation as a tenacious talent scout. After his death, sportswriter Francis Stann wrote in Baseball Digest
:
In addition to his player discoveries, Wish Egan is also credited with having chosen the Tigers' spring training location in Lakeland, Florida
. An article from The Sporting News
in 1933 included an interview with Egan about the new training location. The article credited Egan as "the Tiger scout, who selected the site." The article also noted: "Egan made many contacts in Lakeland and found the city happy over the prospect of once more being the host to a big league club. It has not had such an opportunity since the Cleveland Indians decided to move from there several years ago and is looking forward eagerly to renewing the experience." http://motownsports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47335 The relationship between the Tigers and Lakeland is now the longest relationship in baseball between a team and its spring training home.
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...
player and scout.
Playing career
Born in Evart, MichiganEvart, Michigan
Evart is a city in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The city lies on the northern edge of Evart Township and is partially within neighboring Osceola Township.-History:...
, Egan played three seasons as a pitcher for 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...
(1902) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The 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. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1905–1906). He started 3 games for the Tigers in September 1902. Despite pitching 2 complete games with a 2.86 earned run average, Wish was 0-2 for the Tigers. In 1905, Wish was 6-15 as a starter for the Cardinals (including 19 complete games) before an arm injury ended his playing career.
Scout
Wish joined the Tigers organization as a scout (and occasionally as a coach) in 1910 and remained with the club for over 40 years until his death in 1951. His discoveries as a scout included Hal NewhouserHal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
, Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
, Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
, Roy Cullenbine
Roy Cullenbine
Roy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
, Hoot Evers
Hoot Evers
Walter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
, Dick Wakefield
Dick Wakefield
Richard Cummings "Dick" Wakefield , was a left fielder in Major League Baseball for 9 seasons with the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and New York Giants...
, Johnny Lipon
Johnny Lipon
John Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
, Stubby Overmire
Stubby Overmire
Frank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average...
, Art Houtteman
Art Houtteman
Arthur Joseph Houtteman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles...
, and Barney McCosky
Barney McCosky
William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
. And it was at his urging that the Tigers traded Barney McCosky
Barney McCosky
William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
for George Kell
George Kell
George Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
in 1946. Egan reportedly started scouting Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
when Newhouser was playing Legion ball at age 15.
Egan developed a reputation as a tenacious talent scout. After his death, sportswriter Francis Stann wrote in Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
:
"He used to descend into mine shafts to talk to fathers of boys who couldn't sign contracts because they were under age. He's been known to time a visit to a youngster's home while school still was in session and wipe dishes for the mother awaiting the boy's return. 'Parents are often underrated people,' Wish philosophized on occasion. 'I liked 'em on my side.'"
In addition to his player discoveries, Wish Egan is also credited with having chosen the Tigers' spring training location in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. An article from The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
in 1933 included an interview with Egan about the new training location. The article credited Egan as "the Tiger scout, who selected the site." The article also noted: "Egan made many contacts in Lakeland and found the city happy over the prospect of once more being the host to a big league club. It has not had such an opportunity since the Cleveland Indians decided to move from there several years ago and is looking forward eagerly to renewing the experience." http://motownsports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47335 The relationship between the Tigers and Lakeland is now the longest relationship in baseball between a team and its spring training home.