Jimmy Austin
Encyclopedia
James Phillip "Jimmy" Austin (December 8, 1879 – March 6, 1965) was a professional baseball
player and coach.
, Wales
, the son of a shipbuilder. He was one of only three Major League
baseball players to be born in Wales (the others being pitcher
Ted Lewis and infielder
Peter Morris
). His father moved to the USA in 1885 to find work, and Austin followed in 1887. After leaving school in 1889, Austin became an apprentice machinist
with Westinghouse. After finishing his four-year apprenticeship, Westinghouse went on strike. Austin took up an offer of $40 a month, plus a job, to play independent ball in Warren, Ohio
. He returned to Westinghouse that fall, but in the spring of , he signed with the Central League's Dayton
, Ohio
club.
in the Western League
. He stole
97 bases for Omaha in , and at the end of the season was sold to the New York Highlanders
of the American League
. He made his major League
debut in at the relatively advanced age (for baseball) of 28. He played two seasons in New York
, but was traded to the St. Louis Browns
in by new Highlanders manager Hal Chase
, thus beginning a thirty-year career with the Browns as player and coach.
In , when the Browns' player-manager George Stovall
was suspended by the American League for spitting at an umpire
, Austin was made manager on a temporary basis, until he was replaced by the legendary Branch Rickey
. It was Rickey's first managerial job. Austin continued as Rickey's "Sunday Manager" - Rickey had promised his mother that he would not enter a ballpark on the Christian Sabbath, and therefore Austin managed the Browns on those days.
Austin played regularly for the Browns until , and served as a coach for another 20 years. Unfortunately, the Browns during this period were rarely ever in the First Division
, so his team won no pennants during his playing career. The Browns did however finish the 1922 season
in second place, one game behind the New York Yankees. Austin did also have the great fortune of either playing for or coaching baseball greats Branch Rickey
, George Sisler
and Rogers Hornsby
. In , at the age of 49, Austin became one of the oldest major leaguers in history when he was inserted into a blowout. He cleanly handled two chances at third base, and struck out
in his only at bat
.
classic book, The Glory of Their Times
, from which much of the information in this article came. Austin is also immortalized in the Charles M. Conlon
photo as the third baseman trying to avoid Ty Cobb
's spikes on a stolen base
. Of the play, Austin said, "That's Cobb sliding into third and the other guy is me."
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and coach.
Early years
Austin was born in SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the son of a shipbuilder. He was one of only three Major League
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...
baseball players to be born in Wales (the others being 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...
Ted Lewis and infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Peter Morris
Peter Morris (baseball)
Peter R. Morris was a Welsh Major League Baseball shortstop in for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association. He played one game for them, going 0-for-3. He also played for the Milwaukee team in the Northwestern League in and 1884. He was killed in a railroad accident in December, 1884...
). His father moved to the USA in 1885 to find work, and Austin followed in 1887. After leaving school in 1889, Austin became an apprentice machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
with Westinghouse. After finishing his four-year apprenticeship, Westinghouse went on strike. Austin took up an offer of $40 a month, plus a job, to play independent ball in Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
. He returned to Westinghouse that fall, but in the spring of , he signed with the Central League's Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
club.
Professional Baseball
Austin remained in Dayton until , when he was sold to OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
in the 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...
. He stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
97 bases for Omaha in , and at the end of the season was sold to the New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. He made his major League
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...
debut in at the relatively advanced age (for baseball) of 28. He played two seasons in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but was traded to the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in by new Highlanders manager Hal Chase
Hal Chase
Harold Homer Chase , nicknamed "Prince Hal", was a first baseman in Major League Baseball, widely viewed as the best fielder at his position...
, thus beginning a thirty-year career with the Browns as player and coach.
In , when the Browns' player-manager George Stovall
George Stovall
George Thomas Stovall, nicknamed "Firebrand" , was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Naps and the St. Louis Browns in the American League, and he also played two seasons with the Kansas City Packers of the short-lived Federal League...
was suspended by the American League for spitting at an umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
, Austin was made manager on a temporary basis, until he was replaced by the legendary Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
. It was Rickey's first managerial job. Austin continued as Rickey's "Sunday Manager" - Rickey had promised his mother that he would not enter a ballpark on the Christian Sabbath, and therefore Austin managed the Browns on those days.
First division (baseball)
First division is a term that has had various meanings, at various times, in the sport of baseball, but originally referred to the rankings within a league...
, so his team won no pennants during his playing career. The Browns did however finish the 1922 season
1922 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: New York Giants over New York Yankees -Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Negro National League final standings:-East final standings:...
in second place, one game behind the New York Yankees. Austin did also have the great fortune of either playing for or coaching baseball greats Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
, George Sisler
George Sisler
George Harold Sisler , nicknamed "Gentleman George" and "Gorgeous George," was an American professional baseball player for 15 seasons, primarily as first baseman with the St. Louis Browns...
and Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
. In , at the age of 49, Austin became one of the oldest major leaguers in history when he was inserted into a blowout. He cleanly handled two chances at third base, and struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in his only at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
.
The Glory of their Times
Austin was one of the ballplayers who told his story in Lawrence Ritter'sLawrence Ritter
Lawrence S. Ritter was an American writer whose specialties were economics and baseball.Ritter was a professor of economics and finance, and chairman of the Department of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of New York University. He also edited the academic periodical...
classic book, The Glory of Their Times
The Glory of Their Times
The Glory of Their Times: The Story Of The Early Days Of Baseball Told By The Men Who Played It is a book, edited by Lawrence Ritter, telling the stories of early 20th century baseball...
, from which much of the information in this article came. Austin is also immortalized in the Charles M. Conlon
Charles M. Conlon
Charles Martin Conlon was an American photographer. He worked for New York City newspapers in the early 1900s, as a proof-reader with a photographic hobby before editor John B...
photo as the third baseman trying to avoid Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's spikes on a stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
. Of the play, Austin said, "That's Cobb sliding into third and the other guy is me."
External links
- Jimmy Austin at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Jimmy Austin profile provided by sports-wired.com