Eddie Collins

Eddie Collins Second BasemanBorn: May 2, 1887
Millerton, New YorkDied: March 25, 1951(aged 63)
Boston, MassachusettsBatted: Left Threw: Right MLB debut September 17, 1906
for the Philadelphia AthleticsFinal game August 2, 1930
for the Philadelphia AthleticsCareer statistics Batting average .333 Hits 3,315 Stolen Bases 744 Teams

As Player

Philadelphia Athletics (1906-1914, 1927-1930)
Chicago White Sox (1915-1926)

As Manager

Chicago White Sox (1924-1926)

Career highlights and awards

1914 AL MVP
10th on the all-time hit list with 3,315
7th all time for career stolen base list with 744

Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Elected 1939Vote 77.74% (fourth ballot)

Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. (May 2, 1887 – March 25, 1951), nicknamed "Cocky", was a Major League Baseball player from 1906 to 1930. Under the win shares statistical rating system created by baseball historian and analyst Bill James, Collins was the best second baseman of all time. He is also ninth on the all-time hit list.

1 Biography
2 Regular season stats
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 External links

Biography

A native of Millerton, New York, Collins was known for his steady bat and speed. After graduating from Columbia University, he broke into the Majors in 1906 with the Philadelphia Athletics and worked his way to full time play by 1909. That season, he had a .347 batting average and 67 steals. The following year, Collins stole a career-high 81 bases and won his first of four World Series championships.

Collins moved to the Chicago White Sox in 1915, where he continued to post top-ten batting and stolen base numbers. He played on the notorious "Black Sox" team that threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, but was not in on the fix and played honestly. He was the playing manager of the White Sox from August 1924 through the 1926 season, posting a record of 174-160 (.521). He then returned to the Athletics in 1927 and retired after the 1930 season. In 1931-32, he served as a Philadelphia coach and, from 1933 through 1947, as the general manager for the Boston Red Sox. With the BoSox Collins helped rebuild the team, and was instrumental in the signings of Bobby Doerr and Ted Williams.

Collins finished his career with 3,315 hits, 744 steals, 1,300 RBI and a .333 batting average. He won the MVP Award in 1914. Collins is considered one of the greatest bunters and leadoff men in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

In an article in 1976 in Esquire magazine, 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 second baseman, was omitted.

In 1999, he ranked number 24 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Regular season stats

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH HBP2826 9949 1821 3315 438 187 47 1300 744 173 1499 286 .333 .424 .429 4268 512 77

Trivia

A set of baseball fields and a recreation park is named after and dedicated to Eddie Collins in Millerton, New York.
Collins often parked a quid of bubble gum on the button of his cap, and chewed it for good luck. One day a mischievous teammate sprinkled pepper on the gum when Collins wasn't looking; a furious Eddie swore he'd maul the prankster if he ever identified him.