Jack Boyle

:"For the major league infielder, see Jack Boyle".----
Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#263473
bgcolor2=#A50024
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Jack Boyle

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position=Catcher/First base
birthdate=March 22, 1866
deathdate=death date and age|1913|1|7|1866|3|22
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=October 8
debutyear=by|1886
debutteam=Cincinnati Red Stockings
finaldate=August 16
finalyear=by|1898
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Batting Average
stat1value=.253
stat2label=Home Runs
stat2value=23
stat3label=Runs Batted In
stat3value=569
teams=
*Cincinnati Red Stockings (1886)
*St. Louis Browns (1887-1889, 1891)
*Chicago Pirates (1890)
*New York Giants (1892)
*Philadelphia Phillies (1893-1898)
highlights=

John Anthony Boyle (March 22 1866 - January 7 1913), nicknamed "Honest Jack", was an American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball. His younger brother, Eddie Boyle, played in by|1896.cite web|title=Eddie Boyle|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/boyleed01.shtml|accessdate=2006-11-24]

Early years

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio,cite web| title = Jack Boyle Stats | work = Baseball-Almanac.com | url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=boyleja01 | accessdate = 2006-11-24 ] Boyle began his professional baseball career in 1886, playing in one game for the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association. A pitcher by the name of Bob Mitchell is credited with his discovery.Fact|date=February 2007

Career

On November 12, 1886, he was traded (along with $350) to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for Hugh Nicol.cite web| title = Jack Boyle | work = Retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pboylj102.htm | accessdate = 2006-11-24 ]

Jack caught only a couple of games until July 3.Fact|date=February 2007 Then an injury to the regular catcher, Al Bushong, gave him his opportunity.Fact|date=February 2007 He caught 87 straight gamescite web| title = The Obit for Jack Boyle | work = TheDeadBallEra.com | url=http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Boyle.Jack01.Obit.html | accessdate = 2006-11-24 ] for the Browns using the old finger glove which preceded the protective mitt of the modern era.Fact|date=February 2007

Boyle accompanied Charles Comiskey to the Chicago Pirates of the Players League team in 1890, but returned with him to St. Louis the following year. In 1892 Jack signed with the New York Giants for a sum of $5,500.Fact|date=February 2007 This was the largest salary ever paid to a major leaguer at this time.Fact|date=February 2007

After one season with New York, he was traded (with Jack Sharrott and cash) on March 11, 1893, to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Roger Connor. There followed five years as a star catcher for the Philadelphia club. On July 9, 1898, he was sold by Philadelphia to the Giants for $1000. However, he did not play a single game for them and was returned to Philadelphia on August 15, 1898.

Over the years Jack Boyle caught a number of famous pitchers including Silver King, Jack Stivetts, Bob Caruthers, and Dave Foutz.Fact|date=February 2007

Final years

He opened a saloon in the Ohio River city on Seventh StreetFact|date=February 2007 which grew into a successful business for him.Fact|date=February 2007

Boyle was 46 years of age when he died of Bright's DiseaseFact|date=February 2007 at his home on Academy Avenue, Price HillFact|date=February 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was interred at the St. Joseph New Cemetery in Cincinnati.

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=b/boyleja01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Jack_Boyle_1889 BaseballLibrary.com]