The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-21
JICCS DONOHUE
WAS One OF THE
GAMES GREATEST
Lead American League First
Sackers in Fielding For
Four Years
WORK FOR WHITE SOX IN
WORLDS SERIES GREAT
Was FavOrite With Fans and
With Players Because of Fine
Disposition

,Ilggs Donohue, who died Saturday,
In the Columbus State hospital Co
mmbusr Ohio was one OF the worlds
best first basemen Donohue's career
has been an interesting one in base
ball
Donohue lived in Springfield. Ohio.
and his first professional engagement
was with the Grand Rapids club OF
the Interstate league. He Joined the
club as a catcher. In 1898 he was
traded TO the Dayton club of the same
league. and caught for them until he
was traded 10 Wheeling. He was Sc
cured by the Pittsburgh club in 1901
and from there went to the Minneapo
lis club During the latter part OF
the season he Joined the Milwaukee
club. then under the leadership OF
Hughie Duffy. and at that time mem
Der of the American league
When the Milwaukee club was
transferred 10 81 Louis, Donohue
went with them and caught for the 81
Louis team under McAleer all that
season In 1903 he joined Joe Can.
tillion's Milwaukee club and was SHIFT.
ed TO first base. where he immediately
developed into the star tirStsackef
OF that league The following year
he was secured by Comiskey for mis-
Chicago team, and took rank after his
first wear with the White Sox as the
best fielding first baseman in The
American league. The second year
ne was with Comskey he practically
led the league, As only one man fin.
shcd ahead OF him, and Charlie Carr,
now managing the Kansas City club,
took part in less than 100 games
What wonderful fielding first
basemau Donohue was can be rea!-
lied by the fact that for four consec.
utive seasons he led the first la so.
men OF the American league in field
ing
In 1905. 1906. 1907 and 1908 ne
ranked ahead of all his fellow first
basemen
An odd fact about Jiggs record IS
that in the last four years he was
with the Chicago Americans he had
the same fielding average during two
different seasons. In 1908 and yOo
he had an average OF 9SS, and in 1907
and 1905 he ram up an average or .99l
In 1907 he established a record that
has never been equaled by another
first baSeman in the history OF the
game. In 1871 games he accepted 1886
chances at first base. This is -
markable record, when one remsm-
bers the number OF bad throws that ae
saved his infield. and he vas unique
tionably the cause of Lee Tannehll
being considered the best throwing
third baseman in the country.
Jiggs has another record. which viii
s,p Nl sol - Cor IA
%. at New York, when during the -
tire game he had bat one chance and
that an assist. he never had a put
out nor an error, an occurrence which
mas never again happened in tho his
tory OF the National or american
leagues.
Donohue's fielding was the sensa-
ton OF worlds series In which thore
was more rivalry generated than IN
any other event OF that kind before
or since The worlds series OF 1905
was between the two rival Chicago
clubs Chances men we're looked upon
10 have the championship at their
mercy. but Walsh. Altrock and
Whites pitching and George Robe
timely hits. together with Donohues
wonderful first base play. turned the
tide in favor of the White Sox, ena6-
ling them to win the most interesting
worlds championship ever held.
Donohue. like Fred Tenny, was one
Of the few good left-handed catchers
in the game, and. like Tenny, devel-
opeG into great first baseman.
In every league in which Donohue
ever played he was always one OF the
most popular players in the league. and
numbered his friends by the thou
sands His ability, together with MS
good nature and his aggressiveness In
a baseball game. made him great
n, orite with baseball fans all over
the country.
He was not only popular with fans.
but was one OF the best liked players
in the profession, being extremely
pCpular with his fellowplavers. not
ONLY on his own team. but with every
rlayer whom he knew
Comiskey. year before last. tried 20
get Jiggs back In the game, but he had
beer ont OF the game TOO long, and the
effort was unsuccessful