William Edward Donovan (October 13, 1876 – December 9, 1923), nicknamed "Wild Bill" and "Smiling Bill", was an American right-handed
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the 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 ...
and
manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
.
Donovan played
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
for the
Washington Senators (1898),
Brooklyn Superbas
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Californ ...
(1899–1902), and
Detroit Tigers (1903–1912). In 1901, he led the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...
with 25 wins. He later helped Detroit win three consecutive
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
pennants from 1907 to 1909. In 1907, he compiled a 25–4 record with a 2.12
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA). In 18 major league seasons, Donovan appeared in 378 games as a pitcher and compiled a 186–139 win–loss record with 289
complete games
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
and a 2.69 ERA in innings pitched.
[
Donovan was also a better than average hitting pitcher, posting a .193 ]batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
(251-for-1,302) scoring 142 runs with 7 home runs, 94 RBI and drawing 77 bases on balls.
After retiring as a player, Donovan served as a manager and coach. He was the player-manager of the Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National Leag ...
in 1913 and 1914, leading the club to the International League pennant in 1914 with help from rookie pitcher Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...
. He next served as player-manager of the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
from 1915 to 1917. He served as a pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers in 1918 and managed the Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players.
By 1885, Jersey City had joined the Eastern Lea ...
in 1919 and 1920. He managed the Philadelphia Phillies for the first half of the 1921 season and then concluded his career as manager of the Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
Eastern League team in 1922 and 1923. He died in a train crash in December 1923 while traveling to baseball's winter meetings.
Early life
Donovan was born in 1876 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The family moved to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
when Donovan was a baby. Donovan began playing baseball in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and became a member of the Park Sparrows baseball team.[
]
Professional baseball player
Washington Senators (1898)
Donovan made his major league debut at age 21 with the Washington Senators on April 22, 1898. That year, he appeared in 20 games as an outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to c ...
, 17 as a pitcher, and one game each as a shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...
and second baseman. As a pitcher, he compiled a 1–6 record with a 4.30 earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA). He did not fare well at the plate either, compiling a .165 batting average in 103 at bats.[
]
"Wild Bill"
By 1898, Donovan had earned the nickname "Wild Bill" for his lack of control. On June 3, one of his pitches hit Dummy Hoy
William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy (May 23, 1862 – December 15, 1961) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for several teams from 1888 to 1902, most notably the Cincinnati Reds and two Washington, D.C. franc ...
in the ribs causing several hemorrhages. In his first six games, he reportedly "came within an ace of killing a man in each game".[ After a relief appearance in early July, a sports writer expressed surprise that "'Wild Bill' Donovan went to the slab and finished the game without killing a soul."]
Later in his career, Donovan's control improved. Former umpire Billy Evans
William George Evans (February 10, 1884 – January 23, 1956), nicknamed "The Boy Umpire", was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1906 to 1927. He became, at age 22, the youngest umpire in majo ...
later wrote that the nickname was somewhat ironic because "control was Donovan's greatest asset" in the last ten years of his pitching career.[ Yet, the dangerous image conjured up by the nickname worked in Donovan's favor, as noted by Evans: "Realizing the value of psychology, onovanmade use of the fear that the name 'Wild Bill' carried to every American League batsman. Few hitters hugged the plate with Donovan pitching, and at opportune moment Bill would cut loose with a wild pitch that would heighten the fear."]
Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1902)
Donovan began the 1899 season in the minor leagues with the Richmond Champions of the Atlantic League. He compiled a 17–4 record in 22 games for Richmond.
On July 27, 1899, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Californ ...
for $500. He appeared in only five games for Brooklyn in 1899, compiling a 1–2 record.[
In 1900, he spent most of the season with the Hartford Indians of the Eastern League. He appeared in 40 games and compiled a 25–14 record with a 3.81 ERA in 347 innings pitched.][
With a strong showing in Hartford, Donovan returned to Brooklyn and had one of the best seasons of his career. During the 1901 season, he appeared in 45 games, 38 as a starter, threw 36 complete games, and compiled a 25–15 record with a 2.77 ERA in 351 innings pitched. He led the National Leagues with 25 wins and 45 pitching appearances and ranked second with 226 strikeouts. He also led the league with 152 walks.][
In 1902, Donovan returned to Brooklyn and appeared in 35 games, 33 as a starter, threw 30 complete games, and compiled a 17–15 record with a 2.78 ERA.][
]
Detroit Tigers (1903–12)
Prior to the 1903 season, Donovan jumped to the Detroit Tigers of the American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
. The move prompted litigation over Donovan's right to sign with the Tigers, with a resolution being reached allowing Donovan to join the Tigers. Donovan started 34 games for the Tigers in 1903 and led the American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
with 34 complete games. He also ranked among the league's leaders with 187 strikeouts (second), a 7.0 wins above replacement
Wins Above Replacement or Wins Above Replacement Player, commonly abbreviated to WAR or WARP, is a non-standardized sabermetric baseball statistic developed to sum up "a player's total contributions to his team". A player's WAR value is claimed to ...
rating for pitchers (third), and a 2.29 ERA (ninth).[
Donovan continued as a workhouse for the Tigers, appearing in 34 games in 1904 and 1905 and 25 games in 1906 while compiling ERAs of 2.46, 2.60 and 3.15.][ On May 7, 1906, Donovan accomplished a rare feat when he stole second base, third, and on the front end of a double steal, took home in the fifth inning of an 8–3 victory over Cleveland. He also hit a triple in the same game.
In 1907, Donovan emerged as one of the best pitchers in the game while leading Detroit to the American League pennant. He appeared in 32 games and compiled a 25–4 record with a 2.19 ERA. His ]winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
of .862 led the American League.[ On September 30, 1907, with the Tigers and Athletics competing for the American League pennant, the two contenders met before a record crowd in Philadelphia. Donovan, who had defeated the Athletics three days earlier, was called on to clinch the pennant for the Tigers. Donovan pitched all 17 innings in the clinching game, holding Philadelphia scoreless for the final 10 innings until the game was called as a tie due to darkness.
Donovan started Game 1 of the ]1907 World Series
The 1907 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1907 season. The fourth edition of the World Series, it featured the defending National League champion Chicago Cubs and the American League champion Detroit Tig ...
, and the Tigers led in the ninth inning with two outs and Chicago's Harry Steinfeldt
Harry M. Steinfeldt (September 29, 1875 – August 17, 1914) was an American professional baseball player. A third baseman, Steinfeldt played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Rustlers. He batted and thr ...
on third base; Chicago pinch hitter Del Howard
George Elmer "Del" Howard (December 24, 1877 – December 24, 1956) was a Major League Baseball player from 1905 to 1909. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Beaneaters/Doves, and Chicago Cubs. Howard appeared in 536 games and re ...
swung on a third strike that should have ended the game, but Detroit's catcher Boss Schmidt
Charles "Boss" Schmidt (September 12, 1880 – November 14, 1932) was an American baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB)
A native of Arkansas, Schmidt played professional baseball from 1901 to 1926, including six ...
"missed the ball, which got by him to the crowd," allowing Steinfeldt to score the tying run. After Schmidt's error, Donovan held the Cubs scoreless for another four innings, but the game ended in a tie after 13 innings.
In 1908, Donovan appeared in 29 games and compiled an 18–7 record with a 2.08 ERA.[ And in 1909, he appeared in 24 games and compiled an 8–7 record with a 2.31 ERA.][ The Tigers won three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 to 1909. In three ]World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
, Donovan appeared in six games, all as a starter, pitched five complete games, and compiled a 1–4 record with a 2.88 ERA.[
Donovan continued to pitch well in 1910, compiling a 17-7 record with a 2.44 ERA. However, in 1911, Donovan appeared in only 20 games (his fewest since 1900), and his ERA increased to 3.31 (his highest since 1900). In 1912, he started only one game (allowing one run in five innings on May 30) and made two relief appearances, compiling a 1-0 record and allowing one earned run in 10 innings pitched.][
]
Managerial and coaching career
Providence (1912–14)
In August 1912, Donovan was assigned to become the manager for the Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National Leag ...
, which was under common ownership with the Tigers. In 1913, the Grays finished with a 69–80 record. In 1914, Donovan turned the club around, leading the Grays to a 95–59 record and the International League pennant.[ Donovan also appeared in 20 games for the Grays from 1912 to 1914, compiling a 5–4 record.][
Donovan managed rookie pitcher ]Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...
for the final month of the 1914 season. Ruth won 10 of the 11 games in which he pitched for Donovan's Providence team.
New York Yankees (1915–17)
In December 1914, at baseball's winter meetings in Chicago, Donovan was hired by the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
' new owners, Jacob Ruppert
Jacob Ruppert Jr. (August 5, 1867 – January 13, 1939) was an American brewer, businessman, National Guard colonel and politician who served for four terms representing New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1899 to 1907. H ...
and Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston
Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston (July 17, 1867 – March 29, 1938) was an American civil engineer and businessman. He co-owned the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball with Jacob Ruppert from 1915 to 1923, turning them from one of the worst ...
, as the club's new manager. Donovan took over a Yankees team that lacked stars and finished with a 70–84 record in 1914. The Yankees compiled a 69–83 record in their first year under Donovan, but improved to 80–74 in 1916 – the club's first winning record since 1910. In 1917, the Yankees lost multiple players to injury and regressed to 70–84.[ After the 1917 season, the Yankees hired Miller Huggins to replace Donovan as manager. Owner Ruppert later said of Donovan: "He was a wonderful fellow and great leader. . . . I still think that barring injuries and hard luck Bill Donovan would have brought the Yankees their first pennant. The hardest thing I ever had to do was release him."
During his 1915 and 1916 seasons, Donovan also appeared in 10 games as a pitcher for the Yankees, compiling a 0–3 record with a 4.67 ERA in innings pitched.][
]
Detroit Tigers (1918)
In February 1918, Donovan returned to the Tigers as a pitching coach and scout. At the time of his hiring, the ''Detroit Free Press'' wrote: "Donovan will be welcomed in Detroit. A more popular player never represented Detroit than the "Smiler" and his friends here are legion." The 1918 Detroit Tigers finished 20 games out of first place. On the last day of the 1918 season, Donovan, at age 41, went to the mound for a final game as the club's starting pitcher. Facing off against Eddie Cicotte
Edward Victor Cicotte (; June 19, 1884 – May 5, 1969), nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible f ...
of the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
, Donovan pitched five innings, gave up only one run, and won his 185th major league game.
Jersey City (1919–20)
Donovan was hired as the manager of the Jersey City Skeeters
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players.
By 1885, Jersey City had joined the Eastern Lea ...
of the International League. He was the manager of the Jersey City team in both 1919 and 1920.[
]
Philadelphia Phillies (1921)
In December 1920, Donovan was hired as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies had finished in last place in the National League in 1920, and team owner William Baker stated he was turning over full control of the team for rebuilding by Donovan. On August 9, 1921, Donovan was dismissed as the Phillies' manager. The dismissal was reportedly based on Baker's suspicion that Donovan had some knowledge of the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
' attempt to throw the 1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1919 season. The 16th edition of the World Series, it matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. ...
. Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis (; November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a United States federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death. He is remembered for his ...
later vindicated Donovan of any wrongdoing and ordered Baker to send Donovan a letter of apology.[Legends of the Game](_blank)
at www.deadball.com
Hartford (1922–23)
In December 1921, Donovan was hired as the manager of the New Haven Eastern League baseball club. Donovan's former Detroit teammate Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. He was born in rural Narrows, Georgia. Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the ...
was a co-owner of the New Haven club. Donovan led New Haven to the Eastern League pennant in 1922 and returned as manager for a second season in 1923.
Managerial record
Family and death
Donovan married Nellie Stephen in 1905. They were divorced in 1915.[
In December 1923, Donovan was killed in a ]train wreck
A train wreck, train collision, train accident or train crash is a type of disaster involving one or more trains. Train wrecks often occur as a result of miscommunication, as when a moving train meets another train on the same track; or an acci ...
while traveling on the 20th Century Limited
The ''20th Century Limited'' was an express passenger train on the New York Central Railroad (NYC) from 1902 to 1967. The train traveled between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and LaSalle Street Station in Chicago, Illinois, along ...
to attend baseball's winter meetings in Chicago. The train wrecked in Forsyth, New York, killing a total of nine persons. Donovan was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It borders the city of Philadelphia. The population was 11,443 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Yeadon is located in eastern Delaware County at (39.932862, -75.251540). It is bordered on the sou ...
.
See also
* List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
* List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
* List of Major League Baseball player-managers
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Founded in 1869, it is composed of 30 teams. Each team in the league has a manager, who is responsible for team strategy and leadership on and off ...
* List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is a situation in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is awarded first base, provi ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan, Bill
1876 births
1923 deaths
19th-century baseball players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball player-managers
Minor league baseball managers
Brooklyn Superbas players
Detroit Tigers coaches
Detroit Tigers players
New York Yankees managers
New York Yankees players
Washington Senators (1891–1899) players
Philadelphia Phillies managers
National League wins champions
Hartford Indians players
Jersey City Skeeters players
New Haven Indians players
New Haven Profs players
Providence Grays (minor league) players
Richmond Bluebirds players
Waterbury Indians players
Wooden Nutmegs players
Sportspeople from Lawrence, Massachusetts
Baseball players from Massachusetts
Accidental deaths in New York (state)
Railway accident deaths in the United States