Jack Quinn

From SoSH

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Quinn's Moments in the Sun 3 Trivia 4 Transactions 5 External Links

Overall Career

A native of Janesville, Pennsylvania, Jack "Big Jack" Quinn spent his early years working as a coal miner and blacksmith, while playing recreational ball for mining teams. He got his start as a professional in an unusual way: While watching a semi-pro game in Connellsville, the 14-year-old Quinn threw a foul ball back from the stands to the catcher, hitting his mitt right in the middle. The visiting manager was impressed by the throw, and he offered Quinn a contract. (he offered him $5 if he pitched and won the next game, $2.50 if he lost. Quinn, of course, took him up on the offer).Quinn went on to spend 23 seasons in the major leagues with eight different teams. He won 247 games and lost 218 games, also collecting 57 saves. Quinn debuted on April 15, 1909 and he played until he was 50 years old; his final game was on July 7, 1933.

Quinn's professional longevity enabled him to achieve several age-related milestones. He is the oldest ML player to win a game, to hit a home run, to lead his league in a major category (saves, in 1932), and to start games in the World Series (with the Philadelphia Athletics, in 1929) and on Opening Day (with the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1931). He was the oldest person to ever play for the Cincinnati Reds, and at the time of his retirement, the eight teams for which he had played also constituted a record, which has since been broken. He was also the last major leaguer who had played in the 1900s decade to formally retire (not counting Charley O'Leary, who in 1934 made a comeback stint).

The secret to Quinn's longevity was the fact that he was never known as a hard thrower. Because of this, his arm held up suprisngly well into his 40s .

During his career, Quinn played alongside 31 different members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and collected two World Series rings in three tries. He was also one of the last pitchers in baseball permitted to throw the spitball, grandfathered in along with sixteen others reliant on the pitch when it was banned in 1920.

Following his career, Quinn stayed close to the game, serving as the general manager of the Braves and Phillies.

Quinn died in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, at the age of 62.

Quinn's Moments in the Sun

• After 19 seasons of trying, Quinn finally won a World Series at the age of 46 with the Philadelphia Athletics

Trivia

• In 1920, MLB decided to outlaw the spitball (Quinn relied heavily upon the spitter). Fortunatelly for Big Jack, he was one of 17 pitchers voted to be allowed to continue throwing spitters under a grandfather rule.
• He was born John Quinn Picus. He later reversed his last and middle names.
• In 1929, At age 46, he became the oldest starting pitcher in the World Series history.
• In 1930, at age 47, Quinn became the oldest man to hit a home run
• In 1932, at age 49, he became the oldest man to win a major league game.

Transactions

• On December 21, 1921 he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox (now a legitimatelly bad team) along with three other players for Everett Scott, Joe Bush, and Sam Jones, all of whom played integral roles in the Yankees future world championships. The Yankees, who dealt Quinn, were just entering the Ruth/Gehrig era.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis