| Hugh Duffy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder /Manager | |
| Born:(1866-11-26)November 26, 1866 Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
| Died: October 19, 1954(1954-10-19) (aged 87) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 23, 1888, for the Chicago White Stockings | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 13, 1906, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .326 |
| Hits | 2,293 |
| Home runs | 106 |
| Runs batted in | 1,302 |
| Stolen bases | 574 |
| Managerial record | 535–671 |
| Winning % | .444 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1945 |
| Election method | Old-Timers Committee |
Hugh Duffy (November 26, 1866 – October 19, 1954) was an Americanoutfielder andmanager inMajor League Baseball. He was a player or player-manager for theChicago White Stockings,Chicago Pirates,Boston Reds,Boston Beaneaters,Milwaukee Brewers andPhiladelphia Phillies between 1888 and 1906. He had his best years with the Beaneaters, including the 1894 season, when he set the National League single-season record forbatting average (.440), a record that has stood for over a century.
He also managed theChicago White Sox andBoston Red Sox and spent several seasons coaching in collegiate baseball and in the minor leagues. Later in life, he spent many years as a scout for the Red Sox. In1945, Duffy was elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame. He worked for Boston until 1953. He died of heart problems the next year.
Duffy was born inCranston, Rhode Island to Irish immigrant Michael Duffy and wife Margaret Duffy.[1] A right-handed batter and thrower, Duffy was listed as 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall and 168 pounds (76 kg). He was a textile mill worker who had taken up baseball as a semipro for weekend diversion.[2] He played a couple years of minor league ball in theNew England League before jumping to the majors, starting up in the league's initial season of 1886, and playing on clubs in Hartford, Springfield and Salem, as well as the Lowell, Massachusetts team in 1887.[3]
Duffy entered theNational League withCap Anson'sChicago White Stockings in1888 after receiving an offer of $2,000 from the club. Anson initially was unimpressed with the 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), 150 pound Duffy, telling him, "We already have a batboy."[4] He shortly thereafter earned the reputation of an outstanding outfielder and powerful hitter. Duffy ended up replacingBilly Sunday as the team's regular right fielder. He switched leagues, joining theAmerican Association'sBoston Reds in1891; he then returned to the NL with theBoston Beaneaters in1892, where he enjoyed his best seasons.
From 1891 through1900, Duffy knocked in 100 runs or more eight times. In1894 Duffy had one of the greatest seasons in baseball history, leading the league with 18home runs, with 145RBI and a .440batting average (seeMajor League Baseball Triple Crown). Duffy's .440 average is the MLB single-season batting average record.[5] At one point during the season, Duffy had a 26-game hitting streak. During his time with Boston, Duffy andTommy McCarthy forged a reputation as the celebrated “Heavenly Twins” outfield of the early 1890s. Both Heavenly Twins were named to the Hall of Fame.[6]
He was player-manager for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. During the 1902 and 1903 seasons, Duffy was player-manager for theWestern League'sMilwaukee Creams franchise.[7]
Duffy was a player-manager for the Phillies from 1904 to 1906. He finished his career in1906 with 106 home runs which was, at the time, one of the highest career totals.
Duffy spent three years (1907–1909) as manager of theProvidence Grays. He made $2,000 in his last season as the Providence manager andThe Evening News in Providence wrote that Duffy was paid hundreds of dollars less than any other manager in theEastern League. During Duffy's three seasons, Providence finished in third place, second place and third place, respectively.[8]
Duffy agreed to manage theChicago White Sox in 1910.[8] He stayed with the team in 1911. He moved to theMilwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1912, but he was fired after a season in which the team struggled.[9] He turned down an offer to manage the 1913St. Paul Saints, saying that he was hoping to work in the east.[10] He wound up inPortland,Maine, where he founded and managed a minor league club that became known as thePortland Duffs in his honor.[11] He coached theHarvardvarsity and freshman baseball squads from 1917 through 1919.[12] He also managed the 1920Toronto Maple Leafs of theInternational League to a .701 winning percentage—the best in the team's 83-year history, but only good enough for second place in the league.
In 1921, Duffy was hired as full-time manager of the Red Sox, guiding them for two seasons. Duffy then became a scout for the Red Sox in1924. From 1928 to 1930, Duffy was the head baseball coach atBoston College.
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| MIL | 1901 | 137 | 48 | 89 | .419 | 8th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| MIL total | 137 | 48 | 89 | .419 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| PHI | 1904 | 152 | 52 | 100 | .342 | 8th in NL | – | – | – | – |
| PHI | 1905 | 152 | 83 | 69 | .546 | 4th in NL | – | – | – | – |
| PHI | 1906 | 153 | 71 | 82 | .464 | 4th in NL | – | – | – | – |
| PHI total | 457 | 206 | 251 | .451 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| CWS | 1910 | 153 | 68 | 85 | .444 | 6th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| CWS | 1911 | 151 | 77 | 74 | .510 | 5th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| CWS total | 304 | 145 | 159 | .477 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| BOS | 1921 | 154 | 75 | 79 | .487 | 5th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| BOS | 1922 | 154 | 61 | 93 | .396 | 8th in AL | – | – | – | – |
| BOS total | 308 | 136 | 172 | .442 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Total | 1206 | 535 | 671 | .444 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
Duffy was elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
Duffy remained on the Red Sox' scouting staff nearly to the end of his life, retiring in1953. He died in Boston on October 19, 1954.[6] He had been suffering from heart problems.[13] Duffy's wife Nora died the previous year; they did not have children.[14]
In 2019, Duffy was inducted into theIvan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, along withTerry Pendleton.[15]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by N/A | Boston Red Soxfirst-base coach 1939 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |