Jumping Joe Dugan

[DOUGHBOYS]

Most Yankees are remembered forever.
It could be the winning franchise or long line of great ball players that have played for the team.
But, there is a little known Yankee that changed a rule that we still have today.
His name was Joe Dugan.

Dugan was an overly sensitive kid. A Momma's boy, if you will.
It did not stop him from being a darned good baseball player. While playing sandlots and school ball, he caught the eye of scouts for Connie Mack.
Mack was the Manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.
Mack talked to Dugan's parents about the possibilities of playing professional baseball.
The Dugan's thought a College education was more important.
Before Mack left the meeting though, he received the promise from Ma and Pa Dugan that if young Joe were to play professional baseball, that it would be for his Philadelphia Athletics.

Joe Dugan attended Holy Cross and played baseball, starring as a shortstop.
In a big game vs. the University of Pennsylvania, well attended by scouts, Dugan had four hits and played flawlessly in the field.
After the game, he was offered contracts to four different teams.
But, the Dugan's kept their promise to Connie Mack and Dugan went straight from Holy Cross to the Athletics, skipping minor league ball.
The practice of skipping the minor leagues was fairly common during this time (1917) as World War One took a toll on the Professional game.

Dugan started his career horribly, going well past 20 at bats before garnering his first hit. The Philadelphia fans did not take to him, thinking that he was in way over his head, or worse, talentless.
The boo's reigned.
And continued, getting worse and worse.
So much so that Dugan left the team and went home. He would then return and the same thing would happen again.
So, he would go home again.
And again.
It happened enough that the Philadelphia fateful started giving him nicknames like 'Run-Home Dugan' and 'Disappearing Dugan'.
During the off season of that year, a sportswriter dubbed him Jumping Joe Dugan, expounding that Dugan was an expert at jumping from Philadelphia to his home in Connecticut.
Dugan did not crack .200 in 1917 or 1918.
By this time, Connie Mack was more of a father to him, than Manager. He tolerated Dugan going home, even if unauthorized. It was the only way he could deal with the heckling.

In 1919, Dugan's play was better. He hit .271 and his fielding abilities were superb.
Still, the heckling continued. Dugan hated Philadelphia and pleaded for Mack to trade him.
Dugan still took unauthorized leaves to go home and rinse the boo's from his ears.
In 1920, Dugan had his break out year. He hit .322 and played more at third base. At third base, he found a home.
Nobody could play third base like Joe Dugan.
By now, it was great fun for Athletics fans to yell in unison, "I Wanna Go Home!!" each time Dugan struck out or made a mistake in the field.
And worse, third base was a lot closer to the stands than a middle infield spot.
By 1921, the Athletics had the best third baseman in baseball and their fans were still quick to boo him.
He led the league in fielding for third baseman and hit .295
It was then that Connie Mack finally realized that Dugan was not meant for Philadelphia and that Philadelphia fans would never accept Joe Dugan.
Dugan had come to despise Philadelphia. He questioned why his best efforts should be bestowed on a group of hooligans who did not appreciate his efforts.
Behind the scenes, the Yankees made many trade offers to Connie Mack. Including $50,000 in cash.
All rebuffed.

Dugan was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1922.
It wasn't advertised as such, but it was a three way deal.
Philadelphia got excellent players for Dugan.
The Red Sox got Dugan.
And the Yankees were using the Red Sox as a farm system then, they knew Dugan would soon be their's.
The Yankees had received Babe Ruth, Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock, Joe Bush, and Carl Mays in previous deals with the Red Sox.
The Red Sox owner, Harry Frazee was more enamored with Broadway than baseball and was in constant need of cash to finance various shows.
The Yankees had cash.

Four months into the 1922 season, the Yankees and St. Louis Browns were embroiled in a two team pennant race.
It was then that the Yankees traded for Joe Dugan.
The Browns were furious.
They thought that it was unfair for the Yankees to make such a large trade at this time of year.
This deal was made on July 23.
Ban Johnson, the American League President called it a "Regrettable transaction" and fought for a trading deadline.
Soon after, a rule would be made that there could be no trades after June 15.

Dugan became a large piece of the Yankees that dominated the 20's.
About the 'Murderer's Row' lineup of which he bacame a part, Dugan had this to say,
"It was always the same-
Combs walks, Koenig singles, Ruth hits one out of the park, Gehrig doubles, Lazzeri triples.
Then Dugan goes in the dirt, on his can."
Almost as if saying, 'In your face, Philly!!!' He led the league in at bats in 1923 and would never need leave for home again.
New York fans loved seeing the best third baseman in baseball on a daily basis.
Dugan had found his home away from home. Something Philadelphia never offered.
Athletics fans still let Dugan have it as a visiting player, but the chants were a lot easier for Dugan to accept.
Dugan now played his best, hoping for the Philly jeers, knowing the louder they boo'ed and chanted, the better the scoreboard looked.
And the best part for him was knowing that after a three game series, he would be 'Jumping' on the train that would take him out of Philadelphia.

[swampass]

really awesome stuff.... i love this thread.