Jump to content

Shano Collins

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BrownHairedGirl (talk | contribs) at 02:30, 27 September 2022 (Add banner {{Cleanup bare URLs}}. After at least 7 passes by @Citation bot since 20220903, this article still has 1 untagged bare URL ref). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Shano Collins
Rightfielder / First baseman / Manager
Born: (1885-12-04)December 4, 1885
Charlestown, Boston
Died: September 10, 1955(1955-09-10) (aged 69)
Newton, Massachusetts
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 21, 1910, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 15, 1925, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.264
Home runs22
Runs batted in708
Managerial record73–134
Winning %.353
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

John Francis "Shano" Collins (December 4, 1885 – September 10, 1955) was an American right fielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Early life

Collins was born on December 4, 1885 in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts.[1][2] His nickname Shano (pronounced and sometimes spelled "Shauno") came about as a clubhouse corruption of Sean, the Gaelic equivalent of John.[3]

Baseball career

Minor leagues

Collins first gained notice as a pitcher in semipro leagues, however an arm injury would force him off the mound. He played shortstop Haverhill of the Class B New England League in 1907. He missed the following season due to injury and returned to professional baseball in 1909 as a second baseman with the Springfield Ponies of the Connecticut State League. In 88 games, Collins batted .322 with 8 home runs.[2] On August 14, 1909 his contract was purchased by the Chicago White Sox.[1]

Major league career

Collins made his major league debut on April 21, 1910. That season he played first base behind Chick Gandil, but he was quickly moved to right field, where he developed a reputation for having one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball. In 1911, Gandil's contract was sold and Collins became the starting first baseman. He batted .262 and hit a career-high four home runs, good for eighth in the league.[3] In 1912, Collins played 153 games, batting .290 with 2 home runs and 86 RBI.[1] Following the season he married Elizabeth C. Doyle of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.[4] In 1914, Collins placed third in the American League with 34 doubles. The following season he finished fourth in RBIs with 85.[3] Collins won a World Series with the Sox in 1917, delivering the game-winning hit in the pennant-clinching game. He batted .286 (6 for 21) in the 1917 World Series, going 3-for-4 in Game 1. In 1918, he set a record with three bases-loaded triples in one season, which stood alone for 31 years until Elmer Valo tied the mark in 1949.[5] Collins still holds the MLB career record of eight triples with the bases loaded.[6] During the notorious 1919 World Series, tainted by the Black Sox Scandal, Collins went 4-for-16 at the plate for the White Sox. He was not among those implicated in the scandal. In the indictments of the key figures in the Black Sox scandal, Collins is named as the wronged party. The indictment claims that by throwing the World Series the alleged conspirators defrauded him of $1,784.[7]

In 1921, Collins and Nemo Leibold were traded to the Red Sox for Harry Hooper.[3] On June 2, 1925, Collins was released by the Red Sox at his own request so he could become manager of the Pittsfield Hillies of the Eastern League.[8]

Managing

Collins managed the Des Moines Demons in 1926 and 1927 before returning to Pittsfield in 1928. In 1930, Collins became manager of Nashua Millionaires. However, the league folded in June, which led to Collins' return to Des Moines. After taking over the club, the Demons improved last place to third place by the end of the season.[3]

Following the 1930 season, Red Sox owner Bob Quinn attempted to hire manager Joe McCarthy away from the New York Yankees. After he was unable to get McCarthy, Quinn hired Collins. Collins was not signed to a contract, but Quinn promised he would keep the job "as long...he hustles and runs the club to my satisfaction".[9] The Red Sox improved to 62–90 in their first season under Collins. However, in 1932 Boston started the season 11–44 and Collins was replaced by Marty McManus.[10] Following his departure from the Red Sox, Collins scouted for the Detroit Tigers. In 1942, Collins briefly returned to baseball as manager of the Hillies.[3]

Managerial record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
BOS 1931 152 62 90 .408 6th in AL – – – –
BOS 1932 55 11 44 .200 fired – – – –
Total 207 73 134 .353 0 0 –

Career statistics

In 1799 games over 16 seasons, Collins compiled a .264 batting average (1687-for-6390), with 747 runs, 310 doubles, 133 triples, 22 home runs, 708 RBI, 223 stolen bases, 331 bases on balls, .306 on-base percentage and .364 slugging percentage. In 10 World Series games, he hit .270 (10-37) with four runs scored. He recorded an overall .973 fielding percentage.[1]

Later life

After his managing career ended, Collins opened a restaurant Collins Bar & Grill in Newton.[11] Collins and his wife, Elizabeth, had three daughters and two sons.[12] One of their sons, Robert, was killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima.[13] Collins' grandson, Bob Gallagher, played first base for the Red Sox, Astros and Mets from 1972 to 1975.[3]

Collins died on September 10, 1955 at his home in Newton, Massachusetts. He was 69 years old.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Shano Collins". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b Spink, Alfred Henry (1910). The National Game. National Game Publishing Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sturgill, Andy. "Shano Collins". Society for American Baseball Research. SABR. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  4. ^ "White Sox Player Weds". The Boston Daily Globe. October 31, 1912.
  5. ^ "Charlton's Baseball Chronology". www.baseballlibrary.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Career Triples Records". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/blacksox/indictpartic.html
  8. ^ O'Leary, James (June 3, 1925). ""Shauno" Collins Is A Manager". The Boston Daily Globe.
  9. ^ "John Collins Named To Manage Red Sox". The New York Times. December 2, 1930.
  10. ^ O'Neill, Phil (October 30, 2005). "Shano's Sox were both White and Red". Telegram & Gazette.
  11. ^ Spector, Gail (2015). Legendary Locals of Newton. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467101462. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  12. ^ a b "John F. Collins Dies". The New York Times. September 11, 1955.
  13. ^ "Shano Collins' Son Dead". The New York Times. April 6, 1945.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shano_Collins&oldid=1112593536"