Jake Beckley
From SABR Encyclopedia
| Jake Beckley | |
| Jacob Peter Beckley | |
| "Eagle Eye" | |
 | |
| Bat/Throw: | L/L |
|---|---|
| Height: | 5' 10" |
| Weight: | 200 |
| Born: | 1867-8-4 at Hannibal, MO (US) |
| Died: | 1918-6-25 at Kansas City, MO (US) |
| Interred: | Riverside Cemetery in Hannibal, MO (US) |
| More info | |
| Statistics: | Retrosheet |
|---|---|
| SABR Searches: | Pictures of Jake Beckley | width:90% height:65% scrolling:auto | Pictures}} · Bibliography |
Beckley made the Hall of Fame in 1971. Perhaps he should have been selected earlier as his longevity record for a first baseman is something to behold,2368 games with 23,696 putouts. Another major league record are his 25,000 chances accepted at first base. However he had a notorious scatter-gun arm and runners always took the extra base on him. He also had a unique hidden-ball trick: he would hide the ball under one corner of the base.
Jake played with Pittsburgh, New York Giants, Cincinnati and St.Louis Cardinals between 1888 and 1907. He was player/Manager of Kansas City (American Association) from 1908-1909. Became manager of Bartesville, Okla of the Western Association in 1910. Umpired in the Federal league in 1913.
Sources
- "National League News in Short Metre", pg 20. Sporting Life, 1913-07-26. url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1913/VOL_61_NO_21/SL6121020.PDF}}
- Who's Who in Professional Baseball. New Rochelle,NY: Arlington House, 1973.
- The Ballplayers. New York: Arbor House William Morrow, 1990.
