October 25
Senators Birthdays
John Joseph (Dirty Jack) Doyle B Oct. 25, 1869 D Dec. 31, 1958
Born in Killorglin, Ireland, Jack Doyle would play for 11 different teams, in 3 leagues, during a 17 year career. Another “Senators Short Timer”, Doyle would play in 1564 games, however only 78 of those games were with the American League Washington Senators.
Debuting as a 19 year old in late August of 1889 with the Columbus Colts (or Solons, depending on your reference) of the American Association, Doyle would play for 2 years in Columbus before jumping to the National League Cleveland Spiders.
Doyle would spend 1 and a half seasons in Cleveland, being released in June of 1892. Within a week, he was signed by the New York Giants.
Staying in New York through 1895, Doyle would be traded south, spending 1896 and 1897 with the National League Baltimore Orioles. Traded again, this time to the National League Washington Senators, Doyle played just 43 games in Washington before he was on the move again, this time back to the New York Giants who purchased his contract in July of 1898. This time around, Doyle would remain in New York through 1900.
1901 would find Doyle traded to the Chicago National League franchise, then known as the Orphans. After 1 season in the Windy City, Doyle was released and picked up once again by the New York Giants. After 49 games in New York, Doyle was released again, this time picked up by the fledgling American League Washington Senators, where he’d play in 78 games.
Purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas, Doyle would spend 1903 and the early part of 1904 in the Borough Of Churches, being sold to the Philadelphia Phillies in late June of ’04. Doyle would spend approximately 3 and a half months in Philadelphia being released by the Phillies in mid-August.
Doyle would have 1 last fling in the majors in July of 1905, when he’d play in 3 games for the New York Highlanders.
Doyle was one of those utility players who could fill in almost anywhere-primarily a 1st baseman, he’d play every infield position, including catcher, and play in 133 games as an outfielder. He was also a threat at the plate, hitting over .300 in 8 seasons and ending his career with a .299 BA, collecting 1,806 hits in 1,564 games including 315 doubles, 64 triples and 25 home runs.
