From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Joseph Dykes (November 10, 1896 – June
15, 1976) was an American third and second baseman, manager
and coach
in Major League Baseball who played
for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White
Sox from 1918 to 1939. He batted over .300 five times and led the
American
League in assists once at second base and twice
at third base, ending his career sixth in AL history in games at
third base (1253), and seventh in putouts (1361), assists (2403), total chances
(3952) and double
plays (199). When he retired, he ranked eighth in AL history in
games played
(2282), and ninth in at bats
(8046). He holds the Athletics franchise record for career doubles
(365), and formerly held team marks for career games and at bats.
He went on to become the winningest manager in White Sox history
with 899 victories over 13 seasons, though his teams never finished
above third place; he later became the first
manager in history to win 1000 games without capturing a league
pennant.
Early
career
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dykes began his
major league career on May 6, 1918 as a second baseman for the
Athletics, and served in the wartime Army after the season ended. He
spent most of 1919 in the minor leagues after reporting out of
shape in spring
training, but quickly became one of manager Connie Mack's favorite players
with his defensive versatility and easygoing manner, and remained
with the club for the next 14 years, primarily at third base.[1]
With powerful wrists[1]
and reputedly the sport's best throwing arm, he took advantage of
Shibe Park's friendly
dimensions to finish among the league leaders in home runs in 1921 and 1922,
and batted .312, .323, and .324 in 1924, 1925, and 1927.[2]
He was named team MVP in 1924 and placed eighth in the league MVP
vote in 1927. In one 1927 game, he played every position except catcher and left fielder, even
appearing as a relief pitcher. In 1929, he batted .327
and was ninth in the American League in slugging average as the Athletics won their
first pennant in 15 years. He capped the
season by hitting .421 in the World Series against the Chicago Cubs; in Game
4, he had two hits and 3 runs batted in in a 10-run seventh inning
as Philadelphia overcame an 8-0 deficit, and they won the Series in
five games.
Late
career
In 1930 Dykes batted .301 as the Athletics repeated as
champions; in the 1930 World Series against the St. Louis
Cardinals, he batted only .222, but drove in the winning run in
Game 1 and had a 2-run home run in the final Game 6, a 7-1 victory.
In 1931, his batting average dropped to .273 as Philadelphia won
its third straight pennant; but they lost their rematch
with the Cardinals as he hit .227 in the 7-game Series.[2]
At the end of the 1932 season, after a disappointing year for the
team, Dykes was sold to the White Sox together with Al Simmons and Mule Haas in order to keep
the franchise afloat during the Depression; with the Sox, he was
selected to the first two All-Star Games in
1933 and 1934.
In 22 seasons, Dykes was a career .280 hitter with 2256 hits,
108 home runs, 1108 runs and 1071 RBI in 2282 games, along
with 453 doubles and 90 triples. His 115 times being hit by a pitch ranked
second in AL history behind Kid Elberfeld's 142, and his 850 strikeouts ranked fourth in
major league history. He was the last active major leaguer who had
played in the 1910s. His Athletics team records of 1702 games and
6023 at bats were broken in the 1970s by Bert Campaneris after the franchise
relocated to Oakland.
Managerial
career
Early in the 1934 season, he succeeded Lew Fonseca as White Sox manager; he was a
player-manager
from 1934 through 1939, and after retiring as a player continued as
manager until early 1946.[3]
As a manager, he proved more combative and argumentative than he
had been as a player, and was often fined and suspended; his 62
ejections were among the all-time top ten when he retired.[1]
After Ted Lyons replaced
him as the Chicago manager, Dykes managed two years in the minor
leagues with the Hollywood Stars. He returned to the
majors in 1949 as a coach with the Athletics; one year later, the
legendary Mack retired after 50 years managing his team, naming
Dykes to the formidable task as his successor for the 1951 season.
Mack, who also owned the club, maintained his position as president
of the club and Dykes remained as manager until the end of the 1953
pennant race.
Named the Baltimore Orioles' first manager in
1954 after that franchise relocated from St.
Louis, Dykes left in a team reorganization which ended with Paul Richards becoming both
field and general
manager in 1955. Dykes then ended his 35 years in the American
League when he became a coach with the National League's Cincinnati
Redlegs, leading them as interim manager for part of 1958. But
he came back to the AL as manager of the Detroit Tigers in 1959.[3]
At that point, Frank
Lane, then general manager of the Cleveland Indians and famous for his
numerous transactions, sent Joe Gordon to Detroit and brought Dykes to
Cleveland in a rare trade of managers. Dykes managed the Indians
from 1960-1961.[2]
In 21 seasons as a manager, Dykes compiled a 1406-1541 record;
he never won a pennant, and his highest finish was third place.[3]
He ended his 44-year major league career in 1964 after completing
three seasons of coaching for the Milwaukee Braves and the Athletics, who
had relocated to Kansas City by that time. Although he had a
different style of managing his teams, Dykes had authority, was
testy and combative; he liked to make use of his entire roster and
was regarded as a motivator of players.
In a 1952 news story Dykes was characterized as generally
well-liked by the players under him.[4]
"He's a pretty good guy"[4]
one Oriole said, "he doesn't say much but he knows how to put you
straight when he has to."[4]
"Everyone feels pretty good under him"[4]
another player said. "You know he expects you to play ball but he
doesn't come around and bother you about it.[4]
Dykes was known as a practical jokester and was especially fond of
exploding
cigars which he passed out like candy.[4]
At one time he got confused when handing one to a sportswriter he
knew, which exploded in his own face in front of the intended
victim; "got my hands crossed" Dykes explained.[4]
Dykes died in Philadelphia at age 79, and was buried at the St.
Denis (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Havertown, Pennsylvania.[5]
See also
References
External
links
| Cleveland Indians managers |
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| Cleveland Blues
(1901) |
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| Cleveland Bronchos
(1902–1904) |
|
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| Cleveland Naps
(1905–1914) |
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| Cleveland Indians
(1915–present) |
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