"Dead-ball" era Characters wanted....tell us of your favorites ?

[tedzan]

My favorite is "Turkey Mike" Donlin. Donlin grew up in Erie (Pennsylvania is one of the leading areas in providing many BB players and stars throughout the years).
A lifetime .333 hitter, one wonders what his numbers would have been, if he devoted more time to playing the game, instead of dabbling in Vaudeville. He played
from 1899 - 1912, and his BA was over .300 in 11 of the 12 years. It fell to .287 in 1902 in which he was in only 34 games. Since he spent several months in jail.
The highlights of his career were in 1903 (BA = .351) and in 1905 (BA = .356....with 216 Hits).
Mike was a very colorful character and quite the show man on and off the field. He was considered "the idol of New York City", especially after he married Mabel
Hite (a popular Broadway actress) and started appearing with his wife in shows. After his wife died in 1912 his Major League career came to an end by 1914.

During WWI, Mike was in France teaching baseball to the US soldiers. When he returned, he moved to Hollywood and became friends with John Barrymore. Barry-
more was instrumental in getting Mike into the movies. You can catch Mike Donlin on late nite TCM movies....circa 1918 - 1930's.

In my book....if you can hit a baseball safely 1-out-of-3 times at bat over a 12 year Major League career....you belong in the Hall of Fame.












TED Z