Jerry Denny

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Jeremiah Dennis Denny
born Jeremiah Dennis Eldridge

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 180 lb.
• School Saint Mary's College of California
• Debut May 2, 1881
• Final Game July 10, 1894
• Born March 16, 1859 in New York, NY USA
• Died August 16, 1927 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"The King of Third Basemen in the National League" - title of an article about Jerry Denny in Sporting Life, October 11, 1890

Jerry Denny, who was the last position player who did not wear a fielding glove, played 13 seasons in the majors and many years in the minors.

Although born in the East, Denny moved to the West Coast while young and grew up there. He began playing in the minors with San Francisco while a teenager in the 1870s, and was still playing in 1902 at age 43.

Jerry was a bit unusual in that his whole major league career was in the National League, even though several other major leagues operated at the time, and many players played in several during their career. He played in the 1884 equivalent of the World Series, and several times during his major league years was among the leaders in home runs.

David Nemec's book The Great Encyclopedia of 19th Century Major League Baseball says that during his time with the St. Louis Maroons, Denny became intoxicated and attempted to climb into his bed in the sleeping car of the train the team was traveling on. When he saw someone in the bed, he thought it was teammate John Kirby playing a joke and slapped him hard on his butt, only it turned out to be a teenage girl, whose father attempted to attack Denny but was restrained by some other players.

He played all nine positions during his time in the majors, although he was mostly a third baseman (1,109 games) and shortstop (86 games). A good-fielding third baseman, it was said he could throw to first base with either hand as needed.

He also managed in the minors in 1900 and 1901. After baseball he ran hotels in Connecticut.

Notable Achievements

• 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1889)

Related Sites

• Jerry Denny at the SABR Bio Project

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