Babe Towne
Encyclopedia
Jay King "Babe" Towne was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
.
Towne began his professional baseball career in 1902. From 1903-1906, he played for Des Moines of the Class A Western League
. In July 1906, Towne was batting .357 when he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox
. He played in 14 games and also pinch-hit once in the 1906 World Series
, which the White Sox won.
Towne went back down to the minor leagues the following year. From 1909-1912, he played for the Western League's Sioux City Packers
, managing the team in 1910 and 1911. He batted .333 in 73 games for the 1910 team, which he also managed to 108 wins and the pennant.
He ended his playing and managing career in 1916 in the Central Association
.
Towne was born in Coon Rapids, Iowa
and died in Des Moines, Iowa
.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Towne began his professional baseball career in 1902. From 1903-1906, he played for Des Moines of the Class A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
. In July 1906, Towne was batting .357 when he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He played in 14 games and also pinch-hit once in the 1906 World Series
1906 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, IllinoisCubs hurler Mordecai Brown was sent to continue the dominance against Nick Altrock. Both pitchers pitched a perfect game through three innings. The Cubs had a runner at second, but couldn't score in the fourth...
, which the White Sox won.
Towne went back down to the minor leagues the following year. From 1909-1912, he played for the Western League's Sioux City Packers
Sioux City Packers
Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the Sioux City Packers played in the Western League from 1905 to 1907, from 1910 to 1913, and from 1920 to 1923. They had previously been known as the Sioux City Soos. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1924 and became the Lincoln Links.-Year-by-year record:...
, managing the team in 1910 and 1911. He batted .333 in 73 games for the 1910 team, which he also managed to 108 wins and the pennant.
He ended his playing and managing career in 1916 in the Central Association
Central Association
The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and ran continuously through 1917.-1908:The teams from Burlington, Iowa, Jacksonville, Illinois, Keokuk, Iowa, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Waterloo, Iowa joined after having...
.
Towne was born in Coon Rapids, Iowa
Coon Rapids, Iowa
Coon Rapids is a city in Carroll and Guthrie counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,305 at the 2010 census unchanged from the 2000 census. The small portion of Coon Rapids that lies in Guthrie County is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical...
and died in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.