Mike Jacobs (jacobmi01)

Elmore Michael Jacobs
born Elmore Michael Jacob

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut July 16, 1902
• Final Game July 22, 1902
• Born April 17, 1876 in Louisville, KY USA
• Died March 26, 1949 in Louisville, KY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Mike Jacobs played five games for the Chicago Orphans in 1902. Named Elmore Jacob at birth, at one point he was confused with another citizen of Louisville, KY, one Morris Elmore Jacobs, who was a year younger, and it was the wrong Elmore's birth details that were assigned to his name. However, his death details were the correct ones. SABR researchers Sean Holtz and Bill Carle managed to identify him properly in 2016.

Jacobs played under his real name, Elmo Jacob, before reaching the majors, and was referred to as "Mike" in quotation marks when he was with the Orphans, indicating it was a nickname. He died by suicide, apparently via carbon monoxide from a stove, two months after his wife, Catherine had passed away.

Mike also played at least ten seasons in the minors. He is not to be confused with another Mike Jacobs who played in the majors over a hundred years later.

Further Reading

• "Mike Jacobs Properly Identified", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, March/April 2016, p. 1.