Tim Donahue

Note: This page links to Tim Donahue, the 19th Century Major League player. For Tim Donahue who played in the minors from 1990 to 1992, click here.

Timothy Cornelius Donahue
(Bridget)

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

• Debut July 28, 1891
• Final Game May 17, 1902
• Born June 8, 1870 in Raynham, MA USA
• Died June 12, 1902 in Taunton, MA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Catcher Tim Donahue played most of his big-league career for the Chicago Colts from 1895-1900. The team never finished higher than fourth during that time.

Donahue made his major league debut with the Boston Reds in 1891, a team which won the pennant. A teammate was Dan Brouthers. With Chicago, his teammates included Cap Anson, Frank Chance, and Clark Griffith.

He came back to play a few games with the Washington Senators in 1902 for manager Tom Loftus. Loftus had previously managed him in Chicago. According to the SABR biography of Donahue, he had been a player-manager in minor league ball in 1901 for Colorado Springs, and over the winter had picked up a disease. He was in no condition to play baseball in 1902, and after his few games left in great pain to go home, dying a few weeks later.

He umpired a couple of games in the National League in 1895 and 1896.

He was the first American League player to die.

Related Sites

• Tim Donahue at the SABR Bio Project