Jesse Purnell

Jesse Rhoades Purnell

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 5½", Weight 140 lb.

• Debut October 1, 1904
• Final Game October 8, 1904
• Born May 11, 1881 in Glenside, PA USA
• Died July 4, 1966 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Jesse Purnell got into seven games at third base with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1904. Jesse was born in Glenside, PA, very near Philadelphia, PA and the minor league database shows he played independent ball with the Wilmington Peaches in nearby Wilmington, DE. The quote below refers to "Frankford", which might be Frankford High School in Philadelphia or it might be the Frankford neighborhood in the same city, and the quote also mentions "Princeton", which could mean he attended Princeton University. A Harvard Crimson issue from May, 1904 seems to refer to a Purnell playing shortstop in a game against Harvard University. [1] The Washington Times of June 19, 1904 also has an article and box score mentioning shortstop Purnell playing for Princeton against Yale University in front of 22,000 people. [2]

The minor league database also shows two players identified only as "Purnell" which might well be Jesse. The first was with an independent team in Pennsylvania in 1905 while the second was with the Wilmington Peaches in 1908.

"Purnell, from Frankford, former third baseman of Princeton, was given a trial on Saturday by the Phillies, and showed up fairly well." - Sporting Life, October 8, 1904 issue