Jean Dubuc
Encyclopedia
Jean Joseph Octave "Chauncey" Dubuc (September 15, 1888 – August 28, 1958) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played with the Cincinnati Reds
, Detroit Tigers
, Boston Red Sox
, and New York Giants
during his nine year career. Dubuc had an overall record of 85–76 with a 3.04 ERA
.
, Dubuc began his baseball career at St. Michael's College
in Vermont. Dubuc, who attended Saint Michael's as a high school student and threw a no-hitter for the Purple Knights' college team against the University of Vermont in 1906, was elected to the St. Michael's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
After one year at St. Michael's, Dubuc transferred to the University of Notre Dame
, where he was 14–2 in the 1907 and 1908 seasons. During the early summer of 1908, Dubuc was caught playing a semi-pro game under an assumed name and was declared ineligible to continue his baseball career at Notre Dame. He quickly signed with the Cincinnati Reds and debuted in the Major Leagues on June 25, 1908.
owner, Frank Navin. Dubuc signed with the Tigers and was part of the Tigers' starting rotation for five consecutive years from 1912-1916. In five seasons with Detroit, Dubuc was 72–60 with 90 complete games.
His best season was 1912, when his 17–10 record put him among the AL leaders in winning percentage (.630), complete games (23), games started (33), and shutouts (2).
In 1917 and 1918, Dubuc played for Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League
. His 22–16 record with Salt Lake in 1917 got the attention of the Boston Red Sox
. After the PCL season finished in 1918, Dubuc joined the Boston Red Sox on July 25, 1918. He pitched only two games for the Red Sox and had only a single pinch-hitting at-bat for the Sox in Game 2 of the 1918 World Series
.
Dubuc played for the New York Giants
in 1919, playing in 36 games—33 as a relief pitcher. Dubuc was 6-4 for the Giants with a career low ERA of 2.66. Despite the strong performance, Dubuc was released by John McGraw of the Giants after the 1919 season. McGraw later stated publicly that he released Dubuc because he "constantly associated" with Sleepy Bill Burns
, a gambler who played with Dubuc on the 1912 Tigers and was a central figure in the Black Sox Scandal
.
testified that he had seen a telegram addressed to Dubuc, believed to be from Dubuc's former teammate Sleepy Bill Burns
advising Dubuc: "Bet on the Cincinnati team today."
After being linked to the scandal, Dubuc went to Canada. Though reported in some articles to have been banned from baseball for his "guilty knowledge" , more reliable sources indicate that he was not banned. Indeed, he continued to play minor league baseball for Syracuse in 1922 and 1923.
, of the Detroit Tigers. As a scout he signed catcher Birdie Tebbetts
, but his greatest scouting accomplishment was signing Hall of Famer first baseman Hank Greenberg
. Greenberg, a New Yorker, was also recrutited by the Yankees, but Dubuc was able to persuade Greenberg he could start sooner in Detroit, as Lou Gehrig was firmly entrenched with the Yankees.
in 1958.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
during his nine year career. Dubuc had an overall record of 85–76 with a 3.04 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Early life and amateur career
Born in St. Johnsbury, VermontSt. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
, Dubuc began his baseball career at St. Michael's College
St. Michael's College
St. Michael's College may refer to:* Saint Michael's College, a private liberal arts college located in Colchester, Vermont, USA* St Michael's College, Adelaide, Australia, a private Roman Catholic primary and secondary school founded by the Lasallian Brothers* St...
in Vermont. Dubuc, who attended Saint Michael's as a high school student and threw a no-hitter for the Purple Knights' college team against the University of Vermont in 1906, was elected to the St. Michael's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
After one year at St. Michael's, Dubuc transferred to the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he was 14–2 in the 1907 and 1908 seasons. During the early summer of 1908, Dubuc was caught playing a semi-pro game under an assumed name and was declared ineligible to continue his baseball career at Notre Dame. He quickly signed with the Cincinnati Reds and debuted in the Major Leagues on June 25, 1908.
Major League Baseball career
After compiling a 7–13 record in two seasons with the Reds, Dubuc was sent to the minor leagues. During the 1910 and 1911 seasons, Dubuc played with minor league teams in Buffalo and Montreal. He compiled a 21–11 record with Montreal in 1911, which caught the attention of Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
owner, Frank Navin. Dubuc signed with the Tigers and was part of the Tigers' starting rotation for five consecutive years from 1912-1916. In five seasons with Detroit, Dubuc was 72–60 with 90 complete games.
His best season was 1912, when his 17–10 record put him among the AL leaders in winning percentage (.630), complete games (23), games started (33), and shutouts (2).
In 1917 and 1918, Dubuc played for Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. His 22–16 record with Salt Lake in 1917 got the attention of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. After the PCL season finished in 1918, Dubuc joined the Boston Red Sox on July 25, 1918. He pitched only two games for the Red Sox and had only a single pinch-hitting at-bat for the Sox in Game 2 of the 1918 World Series
1918 World Series
The 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two. The Series victory for the Red Sox was their fifth in five tries, going back to . The Red Sox scored only nine runs in the entire Series; the fewest runs by the winning team in World Series history...
.
Dubuc played for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1919, playing in 36 games—33 as a relief pitcher. Dubuc was 6-4 for the Giants with a career low ERA of 2.66. Despite the strong performance, Dubuc was released by John McGraw of the Giants after the 1919 season. McGraw later stated publicly that he released Dubuc because he "constantly associated" with Sleepy Bill Burns
Sleepy Bill Burns
William Thomas "Bill" Burns , nicknamed "Sleepy Bill," was an American baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball for five different teams from 1908 to 1912...
, a gambler who played with Dubuc on the 1912 Tigers and was a central figure in the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
.
Chicago Black Sox Scandal
After playing with Toledo in 1920, Dubuc was implicated in the Black Sox scandal during grand jury testimony in September 1920. Pitcher Rube BentonRube Benton
John Cleave "Rube" Benton was a pitcher, born in Clinton, North Carolina, for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants ....
testified that he had seen a telegram addressed to Dubuc, believed to be from Dubuc's former teammate Sleepy Bill Burns
Sleepy Bill Burns
William Thomas "Bill" Burns , nicknamed "Sleepy Bill," was an American baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball for five different teams from 1908 to 1912...
advising Dubuc: "Bet on the Cincinnati team today."
After being linked to the scandal, Dubuc went to Canada. Though reported in some articles to have been banned from baseball for his "guilty knowledge" , more reliable sources indicate that he was not banned. Indeed, he continued to play minor league baseball for Syracuse in 1922 and 1923.
Coaching and scouting career
After his playing career was over, Dubuc coached the Brown University baseball and hockey teams. He also scouted the East Coast for his former boss, Frank NavinFrank Navin
Francis Joseph Navin was the principal owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball for 27 years, from 1909 to 1935. He also served as vice president and acting president of the American League....
, of the Detroit Tigers. As a scout he signed catcher Birdie Tebbetts
Birdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
, but his greatest scouting accomplishment was signing Hall of Famer first baseman Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
. Greenberg, a New Yorker, was also recrutited by the Yankees, but Dubuc was able to persuade Greenberg he could start sooner in Detroit, as Lou Gehrig was firmly entrenched with the Yankees.
Later life
After Dubuc left baseball, he worked for 20 years as a printer's ink salesman before his death in Fort Myers, FloridaFort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
in 1958.