Dan Jessee

Daniel Edward Jessee

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.
• School Pacific University
• Debut August 14, 1929
• Final Game August 14, 1929
• Born February 22, 1901 in Olive Hill, KY USA
• Died April 30, 1970 in Venice, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Dan Jessee appeared in only one game in the big leagues, but went on to a very long career as baseball and football coach at Trinity College. In football, he coached from 1932 to 1966, with four years off for military service in World War II. His record was 150-76-7. In baseball, he was 239-170-5 from 1935 to 1961 and 1963 to 1967. He also coached squash for 12 years.

He played football, baseball, and basketball at Pacific University in Oregon, one of only two players to come to the major leagues from there. He played for the Seattle Indians of the PCL in 1926 (hitting .293 in limited time), then in 1927 he was with the Salt Lake City Bees, batting .363 with 10 homers (tied for 4th in the Utah-Idaho League). In 1928, he went to the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association but saw limited action. In '29, he batted .313/~.396/.363 with the Decatur Commodores and got his one game in the major leagues. The next year, he hit .250 for Decatur and the Bloomington Bloomers. An injury eventually forced him to give up professional baseball.

He received a master's degree from Columbia University around 1932. At the summit of his football coaching career in 1966, he was named president of the American Coaches Association.

On his retirement, Trinity College named its football field "Dan Jessee Field".

An educated man, he wrote a book once called "Baseball" and authored numerous articles.

He is a member of the Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame of America.

Sources: Jessee Family Newsletter, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database, 1930 Spalding Guide