Doc Prothro

Doc Prothro
Third baseman
Born: July 16, 1893(1893-07-16) Memphis, Tennessee
Died: October 14, 1971(1971-10-14) (aged 78) Memphis, Tennessee
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 26, 1920 for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 1926 for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics
Batting average	.318
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	81
Teams
Washington Senators (1920; 1923–1924) Boston Red Sox (1925) Cincinnati Reds (1926)

James Thompson "Doc" Prothro (July 16, 1893 — October 14, 1971) was an infielder and manager in American Major League Baseball. Prothro was so nicknamed because he was a practicing dentist before signing his first professional baseball contract at age 26.^[1] His son, Tommy Prothro, became a successful coach in U.S. college football (at Oregon State University and UCLA) and, during the 1970s, led the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.^[1]

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Doc Prothro was a right-handed hitting third baseman and shortstop for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds (1920; 1923–26), batting .318 in only 180 games.^[2] He was discovered by baseball promoter, Joe Engel, who managed the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium.^[1] In 1928, he became a manager in the Southern Association, then one of the higher-level minor leagues, leading the Memphis Chicks and Little Rock Travelers to four SA pennants through 1938.

In 1939, Prothro replaced Jimmie Wilson as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, perhaps the worst team in baseball at the time. In his three full seasons (1939-40-41) at the helm of the Phils, the club remained locked in the National League "cellar" — losers of 106, 103 and 111 games in successive seasons and winners of only 138 overall. (Prothro's career record: 138-320, .301.) Sacked after the '41 season (and replaced by Hans Lobert), Prothro returned to the Southern Association, where he piloted the Chicks from 1942-47. After he retired as Memphis' manager, he remained active as a co-owner of the club.

Prothro died in Memphis in 1971 at the age of 78.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Nowlin, Bill, Doc Prothro, Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project". http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=11487&bid=3311. 
2. ^ Career statistics from Baseball Reference

Preceded by Jimmie Wilson

Philadelphia Phillies manager 1939–1941

Succeeded by Hans Lobert

Persondata
Name	Prothro, Doc
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 16, 1893
Place of birth	Memphis, Tennessee
Date of death	October 14, 1971
Place of death	Memphis, Tennessee