Jimmy Collins
| Jimmy Collins | |
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| Third Baseman / Manager | |
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Born: January 16, 1870 Buffalo, New York |
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Died: March 6, 1943 (aged 73) Buffalo, New York |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1895 for the Louisville Colonels | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 29, 1908 for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .285 |
| Hits | 1999 |
| Runs batted in | 983 |
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As Player
As Manager |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame
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| Induction | 1945 |
| Election Method | Veteran's Committee |
James Joseph Collins (January 16, 1870 – March 6, 1943) was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century who was widely regarded as being the best third baseman prior to Brooks Robinson. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
Career
Collins joined the major leagues in 1895 as a member of the Louisville Colonels, but would finish the season with the Boston Beaneaters. He asserted himself as a skilled player in 1897 when he held a .346 batting average and knocked in 132 runs. He followed with an equally impressive 1898 season, in which he hit .328, drove in 111 runs and belted a league-high 15 home runs.
However it was Collins' defense that made him a star. He was best known for his ability to field a bunt -- prior to his debut, it was the shortstop who fielded bunts down the third base line - and is regarded as a pioneer of the modern defensive play of a third baseman.
Collins joined the Boston Red Sox in 1901 as a player and a manager. He led the team to the World Series title in 1903 and the American League pennant in 1904.
Collins was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1907 and retired there after the 1908 season. He finished his career with 65 home runs, 1055 runs, 983 RBI and a .294 batting average.
Honors
When Collins was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1945 he was the first to be chosen primarily as a third baseman. In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.
In a 1976 Esquire magazine article, sportswriter Harry Stein published an "All Time All-Star Argument Starter," consisting of five ethnic baseball teams. Because of space limitations the Irish team, including Collins as third baseman, was omitted.
Jimmy Collins was born and died in Buffalo, New York.
See also
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball player–managers
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Jimmy Collins managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Jimmy Collins at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Collins Third Base Stylist; Couldn't Hit Ball Past Him, by Harry Grayson, June 2, 1943
| Preceded by Hugh Duffy |
National League Home Run Champion 1898 |
Succeeded by Buck Freeman |
| Preceded by First Manager |
Boston Americans manager 1901–1906 |
Succeeded by Chick Stahl |
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