 Hugh Jennings
Detroit A.L.
 1945:
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
1907-20
Player-Manager (07-18) of Detroit
Graduate of Cornell University Law School
1896:
Led NL with 121 RBIS with no homeruns
HUGHIE JENNINGS
Jennings, Hugh Ambrose "Ee-Yah"
b: 4/2/1869, Pittston, Pa. d: 2/1/28, Scranton, Pa.
BR/TR, 5'8.5", 165 lbs. Deb: 6/1/1891 MCH
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YEAR TM/L G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
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1891 Lou-a 90 360 53 105 10 8 1 58 17 36 .292
1892 Lou-N 152 594 65 132 16 4 2 61 30 30 .222
1893 Lou-N 23 88 6 12 3 0 0 9 3 3 .136
Bal-N 16 55 6 14 0 0 1 6 4 3 .255
Yr 39 143 12 26 3 0 1 15 7 6 .182
1894 *Bal-N 128 501 134 168 28 16 4 109 37 17 .335
1895 *Bal-N 131 529 159 204 41 7 4 125 24 17 .386
1896 *Bal-N 130 521 125 209 27 9 0 121 19 11 .401
1897 *Bal-N 117 439 133 156 26 9 2 79 42 .355
1898 Bal-N 143 534 135 175 25 11 1 87 78 .328
1899 Bro-N 16 41 7 7 0 2 0 6 9 .171
Bal-N 2 8 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 .375
Bro-N 51 175 35 57 3 8 0 34 13 .326
Yr 69 224 44 67 3 12 0 42 22 .299
1900 *Bro-N 115 441 61 120 18 6 1 69 31 .272
1901 Phi-N 82 302 38 79 21 2 1 39 25 .262
1902 Phi-N 78 290 32 79 13 4 1 32 14 .272
1903 Bro-N 6 17 2 4 0 0 0 1 1 .235
1907 Det-A 1 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250
1909 Det-A 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 .500
1912 Det-A 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1918 Det-A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --
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Total 17 1285 4904 994 1527 232 88 18 840 347 ?117 .311
One of the most popular players of his time, Hughie was a 'game' player and manager. Known for his aggressive
style of play, every game was a honorable battle to Hughie as his famous battlecry 'Ee-Yah' indicated . His opponents
admired him for his style of play as he was even-tempered and extremely personable. He started out from humble
beginnings when, as a child in a Pennsylvania coal-mining town, he landed his first job as a 'braker boy' (applying
the brakes to the coal cars). Hughie knew that in order to succeed in life he would have to be determined to reach
a goal and not worry about the obstacles along the way. His ticket to success was playing baseball. He loved the
game and first became a catcher as a youth. In 1890, he landed a job with a semi-pro team and he knew that his
passion to win on the field was a cornerstone for succeeding in life. He quickly moved to the majors playing for
Louisville and so confident of his skills, he demanded $50 a month more than the club was willing to pay. The club
grudgingly acquiesed to Hughie's terms. Moving from first base to shortstop, Hugh found himself traded to Baltimore
the following year. It was the perfect match. Managed by Ned Hanlon and teamed with players (and future Hall of
Famers) like John McGraw, Wee Willie Keeler and Joe
Kelley, Baltimore played each game with 'smarts', passion and gritty determination. His statistics during the
first 4 years with Baltimore were outstanding. He was a terrific run producer driving 100-plus runs in 3 consecutive
years (1894-6) and scored 159 runs in 1895. His throwing arm gave out by 1898 and Hughie moved to first base when
he moved to Brooklyn. Knowing that his playing days were on the decline, Hugh decided that he might need to fall
back on a career outside of baseball. After the 1899 season, he was accepted to Cornell University Law School and
ultimately graduated with his degree. During that time, Hugh managed the Cornell baseball team and decided that
managing 'fit' him extemely well. He returned to the game and managed Baltimore in 1906. The following year he
was hired by Detroit to become their manager. Hugh was forced to handle his team with diplomacy as his star player,
Ty Cobb, was one of the most difficult players to manage. Apparently, thing worked out pretty
nicely as Hughie managed Detroit to three consecutive pennants (1907-1909). Hughie was feted as one of the game's
greatest managers. The team did not reach those heights again in the years that followed and Jennings retired after
the 1920 season. |
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