Pat Duff
Encyclopedia
Patrick Henry Duff was an Irish American
professional baseball
player. Duff played one game in Major League Baseball
, and in one at bat
he didn't compile a hit
. Despite his limited playing time in the majors, Duff's minor league
career spanned eight nonconsecutive seasons.
on May 6, 1875, though 1890 United States Census records suggests he was born in 1876. His father, Patrick Duff, was born in Ireland
in 1830, and worked as a laborer
. Duff's mother was also from Ireland. Duff attended Manhattan College
from 1901–1904.
. With the Indians, Duff got no hits in 3 at-bats. Duff played with the Class-F New Haven Blues, and the Class-F Norwich Witches of the Connecticut State League in 1901 after a three year absence in professional baseball. He batted .260 with 82 hits, 14 doubles
, 6 triples
, 7 home runs, and 20 stolen bases that season. On the season, Duff was tied for sixth in the league in home runs along with Thomas Ivers, and Bob Unglaub
. The next season, Duff again played for the New Haven Blues, and the Norwich Witches, however, his stats for that season were not kept. Duff also played for the Class-A Syracuse Stars
of the Eastern League in 1901, but did not play. In 1904, Duff played for the All-Americans of the Cuban League
playing first base on a team that included multiple major leaguers.
After another three-year absence from pro-baseball, Duff played for the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers
, and the Class-AA Indianapolis Indians
of the American Association
in 1905. In 22 games that season, Duff batted .176 with 13 hits, and 3 doubles. In 1906, Duff played his only season in Major League Baseball with the Washington Senators
. In only 1 games, Duff did not get a hit in 1 at-bat. The next season, Duff played for the Class-B York White Roses/Reading Pretzels
, and the Class-B Johnstown Johnnies of the Tri-State League
. In 100 games that season, Duff batted .204 with 68 hits, and 11 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run. In 1908, Duff played for the Class-B New Bedford Whalers, and the Lowell Tigers of the New England League. He batted .243 with 99 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run in 117 games. Duff played the 1909 season with the Class-B Haverhill Hustlers, and the Class-B Brockton Tigers of the New England League. In 78 games, Duff batted .226 with 60 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run. Duff's final season in professional baseball came in 1910 when he was at the age of 35. In 13 games with the Class-D Norwich Bonbons/Meriden Doublins of the Connecticut Association, Duff batted .357 with 15 hits.
.
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. Duff played one game 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...
, and in one 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...
he didn't compile a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. Despite his limited playing time in the majors, Duff's minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career spanned eight nonconsecutive seasons.
Early life
Duff was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
on May 6, 1875, though 1890 United States Census records suggests he was born in 1876. His father, Patrick Duff, was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1830, and worked as a laborer
Laborer
A Laborer or labourer - see variation in english spelling - is one of the construction trades, traditionally considered unskilled manual labor, as opposed to skilled labor. In the division of labor, laborers have all blasting, hand tools, power tools, air tools, and small heavy equipment, and act...
. Duff's mother was also from Ireland. Duff attended Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
from 1901–1904.
Professional career
In 1897, Duff began his professional career with the Class-B Fall River Indians of the New England LeagueNew England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
. With the Indians, Duff got no hits in 3 at-bats. Duff played with the Class-F New Haven Blues, and the Class-F Norwich Witches of the Connecticut State League in 1901 after a three year absence in professional baseball. He batted .260 with 82 hits, 14 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 6 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 7 home runs, and 20 stolen bases that season. On the season, Duff was tied for sixth in the league in home runs along with Thomas Ivers, and Bob Unglaub
Bob Unglaub
Robert Alexander Unglaub was an American first baseman and utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Highlanders, Boston Americans, and Washington Senators....
. The next season, Duff again played for the New Haven Blues, and the Norwich Witches, however, his stats for that season were not kept. Duff also played for the Class-A Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars (minor league baseball)
The Syracuse Stars was the name of several Minor league baseball teams who played between 1891 and 1929. The Stars were based in Syracuse, New York and played in the New York State League , Eastern Association , Eastern League , International League , International Association , and New...
of the Eastern League in 1901, but did not play. In 1904, Duff played for the All-Americans of the Cuban League
Cuban League
The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961...
playing first base on a team that included multiple major leaguers.
After another three-year absence from pro-baseball, Duff played for the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, and the Class-AA Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in 1905. In 22 games that season, Duff batted .176 with 13 hits, and 3 doubles. In 1906, Duff played his only season in Major League Baseball with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In only 1 games, Duff did not get a hit in 1 at-bat. The next season, Duff played for the Class-B York White Roses/Reading Pretzels
York White Roses
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.-Early years:...
, and the Class-B Johnstown Johnnies of the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
. In 100 games that season, Duff batted .204 with 68 hits, and 11 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run. In 1908, Duff played for the Class-B New Bedford Whalers, and the Lowell Tigers of the New England League. He batted .243 with 99 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run in 117 games. Duff played the 1909 season with the Class-B Haverhill Hustlers, and the Class-B Brockton Tigers of the New England League. In 78 games, Duff batted .226 with 60 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run. Duff's final season in professional baseball came in 1910 when he was at the age of 35. In 13 games with the Class-D Norwich Bonbons/Meriden Doublins of the Connecticut Association, Duff batted .357 with 15 hits.
Later life
Duff died in Providence, Rhode Island on September 11, 1925 at the age of 50. He was buried St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode IslandCranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
.