Jump to content

Ross Youngs: Difference between revisions

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,461,591 edits
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American baseball player (1897-1927)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Good article}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
Line 6: Line 8:
|caption=Youngs with the Giants in 1920
|caption=Youngs with the Giants in 1920
|birth_date={{Birth date|1897|4|10}}
|birth_date={{Birth date|1897|4|10}}
|birth_place=[[Shiner, Texas]]
|birth_place=[[Shiner, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1927|10|22|1897|4|10}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1927|10|22|1897|4|10}}
|death_place=[[San Antonio, Texas]]
|death_place=[[San Antonio, Texas]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
Line 20: Line 22:
|finalteam=New York Giants
|finalteam=New York Giants
|statleague = MLB
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
Line 32: Line 34:
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1972|1972]]
|hofdate = [[1972 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1972]]
|hofmethod=[[Veterans Committee]]
|hofmethod = Veterans Committee
}}
}}
⚫
'''Ross Middlebrook "Pep" Youngs''' (April 10, 1897 – October 22, 1927) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. Nicknamed "Pep", he played ten seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] for the [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] from 1917 through 1926, playing [[right fielder|right field]] almost exclusively. Youngs was a part of the Giants teams that won four consecutive [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennants]] and the [[1921 World Series|1921]] and [[1922 World Series]].


⚫
'''Ross Middlebrook''' "'''Pep'''" '''Youngs''' (April 10, 1897 – October 22, 1927) was an American [[professional baseball]] player. Nicknamed "Pep", he played ten seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] for the [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] from 1917 through 1926, playing [[right fielder|right field]] almost exclusively. Youngs was a part of the Giants teams that won four consecutive [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennants]] and the [[1921 World Series|1921]] and [[1922 World Series]].
⚫
From [[Shiner, Texas]], Youngs excelled at baseball and [[American football]] at the [[West Texas Military Institute]]. After beginning his professional career in [[minor league baseball]], the Giants signed him in 1916. Youngs had a lifetime .322 [[batting average]] with the Giants and batted over .300 nine times in his career, including eight consecutive seasons. His career was cut short by illness, however, as he died at the age of 30 of [[Bright's disease]].


⚫
From [[Shiner, Texas]], Youngs excelled at baseball and [[American football]] at the [[West Texas Military Institute]]. After beginning his professional career in [[minor league baseball]], Youngs was signed by the Giants in 1916. Youngs had a lifetime .322 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with the Giants and batted over .300 nine times in his career, including eight consecutive seasons. His career was cut short by illness, however, as he died at the age of 30 of [[Bright's disease]].
⚫
Youngs was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1972 by the [[Veterans Committee]]. His election was not without controversy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cooperstownexpert.com/2017/01/frankie-frischs-vets-committee-selections-defined-damaged-hall/ |title=Frankie Frisch’s Vets Committee selections defined and damaged the Hall |website=cooperstownexpert.com |date=January 4, 2017 |accessdate=October 26, 2017}}</ref> however, as the Veterans Committee consisted of his former teammates, and charges of cronyism were leveled against the committee.<ref name=hitandrun/><ref name=cronyism/>

⚫
Youngs was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1972 by the [[Veterans Committee]]. His election was not without controversy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cooperstownexpert.com/2017/01/frankie-frischs-vets-committee-selections-defined-damaged-hall/ |title=Frankie Frisch's Vets Committee selections defined and damaged the Hall |website=cooperstownexpert.com |date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref> however, as the Veterans Committee consisted of his former teammates, and charges of cronyism were leveled against the committee.<ref name=hitandrun/><ref name=cronyism/>


==Early life and minor leagues==
==Early life and minor leagues==
Line 47: Line 50:


==New York Giants==
==New York Giants==
Youngs reported to [[spring training]] in [[Marlin, Texas]] with the Giants in 1917. They initially assigned him to the [[Rochester Hustlers]], a team in the [[International League]] with which the Giants had a working relationship. Giants manager [[John McGraw]] told [[Mickey Doolan]], the manager of the Hustlers, "I'm giving you one of the greatest players I've ever seen. Play him in the outfield. If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible."<ref name=seattle/> In 140 games with Rochester, Youngs hit .356, earning himself a late-season promotion to the big league club.<ref name=seattle/> McGraw gave Youngs the nickname "Pep" due to his hustle<ref name=pep>{{cite news|url=http://haysfreepress.com/2011/08/03/before-lou-gehrig-there-was-a-texan-called-%E2%80%98pep%E2%80%99/ |title=Before Lou Gehrig, there was a Texan called ‘Pep’ |date=August 3, 2011 |first=Bartee |last=Haile |newspaper=Hays Free Press |accessdate=July 3, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123122206/http://haysfreepress.com/2011/08/03/before-lou-gehrig-there-was-a-texan-called-%E2%80%98pep%E2%80%99/ |archivedate=January 23, 2013 |df= }}</ref> and soon began to groom Youngs to become his successor as Giants' manager.<ref name=seattle/>
Youngs reported to [[spring training]] in [[Marlin, Texas]] with the Giants in 1917. They initially assigned him to the [[Rochester Hustlers]], a team in the [[International League]] with which the Giants had a working relationship. Giants manager [[John McGraw]] told [[Mickey Doolan]], the manager of the Hustlers, "I'm giving you one of the greatest players I've ever seen. Play him in the outfield. If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible."<ref name=seattle/> In 140 games with Rochester, Youngs hit .356, earning himself a late-season promotion to the big league club.<ref name=seattle/> McGraw gave Youngs the nickname "Pep" due to his hustle<ref name=pep>{{cite news|url=http://haysfreepress.com/2011/08/03/before-lou-gehrig-there-was-a-texan-called-%E2%80%98pep%E2%80%99/ |title=Before Lou Gehrig, there was a Texan called 'Pep' |date=August 3, 2011 |first=Bartee |last=Haile |newspaper=Hays Free Press |access-date=July 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123122206/http://haysfreepress.com/2011/08/03/before-lou-gehrig-there-was-a-texan-called-%E2%80%98pep%E2%80%99/ |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref> and soon began to groom Youngs to become his successor as Giants' manager.<ref name=seattle/>


Youngs made his major league debut on September 25 and played in seven of the last nine games of the season for the eventual [[National League]] (NL) [[pennant (sports)|pennant]]-winners: six in [[center fielder|center field]] and one in right. In those seven games he went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles and three triples.<ref name=seattle/> In 1918, regular Giants right fielder [[Dave Robertson]] left the team to manage a local military ballclub,<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Peter C.|title=Early Professional Baseball in Hampton Roads: A History, 1884–1928|year=2010|publisher=McFarland|page=185}}</ref> and Youngs was given the full-time job out of spring training. Batting exclusively left-handed, Youngs responded by batting .302 in 121 games, finishing sixth in the league.<ref name=seattle/><ref name=nl1918>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1918-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1918 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> It would be the first of seven straight seasons in which he hit .300 as a regular, and the second of eight overall counting his brief stint in 1917. He also finished sixth in the NL with a .368 [[on-base percentage]] (OBP).<ref name=nl1918/> The next season Robertson was traded to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for [[pitcher]] [[Phil Douglas]], leaving Youngs to become a fixture in right field for the Giants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B15F83D5C147A93C7AB178CD85F4D8185F9|title=Giants Get Phil Douglas; Chicago Cubs Give Up Pitcher for Outfielder Dave Robertson|date=July 25, 1919|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Youngs finished third in the NL in 1919 with a .311 batting average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1919-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1919 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> His .351 batting average in 1920 was second in the NL to [[Rogers Hornsby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1920-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1920 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref>
Youngs made his major league debut on September 25 and played in seven of the last nine games of the season for the eventual [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[pennant (sports)|pennant]]-winners: six in [[center fielder|center field]] and one in right. In those seven games he went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles and three triples.<ref name=seattle/> In 1918, regular Giants right fielder [[Dave Robertson (baseball)|Dave Robertson]] left the team to manage a local military ballclub,<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart|first=Peter C.|title=Early Professional Baseball in Hampton Roads: A History, 1884–1928|year=2010|publisher=McFarland|page=185}}</ref> and Youngs was given the full-time job out of spring training. Batting exclusively left-handed, Youngs responded by batting .302 in 121 games, finishing sixth in the league.<ref name=seattle/><ref name=nl1918>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1918-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1918 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> It would be the first of seven straight seasons in which he hit .300 as a regular, and the second of eight overall counting his brief stint in 1917. He also finished sixth in the NL with a .368 [[on-base percentage]] (OBP).<ref name=nl1918/> The next season Robertson was traded to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for [[pitcher]] [[Phil Douglas (baseball)|Phil Douglas]], leaving Youngs to become a fixture in right field for the Giants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B15F83D5C147A93C7AB178CD85F4D8185F9|title=Giants Get Phil Douglas; Chicago Cubs Give Up Pitcher for Outfielder Dave Robertson|date=July 25, 1919|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Youngs finished third in the NL in 1919 with a .311 batting average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1919-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1919 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> His .351 batting average in 1920 was second in the NL to [[Rogers Hornsby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1920-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1920 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref>


[[File:Rossyoungs-sept24-1922.jpg|thumb|Catching a ball in 1922]]
[[File:Rossyoungs-sept24-1922.jpg|thumb|Catching a ball in 1922]]
Youngs batted .327 in 1921, good for ninth in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1921-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1921 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> In Game 3 of the [[1921 World Series]] Youngs became the first player to record two [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in the same [[inning]] of a World Series game. The Giants defeated the [[New York Yankees]]<ref name=seattle/> as Youngs batted .280 in the series.<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1923_WS.shtml |title=1923 World Series&nbsp;— New York Yankees over New York Giants (4-2) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Youngs [[hit for the cycle]] on April 29, 1922.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19980524&id=lNpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oh4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5055,4414954|title=Indians in first, but still in search of a leader|page=3C|newspaper=[[Star-News]]|date=May 24, 1998|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> He finished the regular season ninth in the NL in OBP (.398) and tied for ninth in [[stolen base]]s (17),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1922-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1921 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=July 6, 2012}}</ref> proceeding to hit .375 in the [[1922 World Series]] as the Giants again defeated the Yankees.<ref name=seattle/> Youngs led the NL in [[run (baseball)|runs scored]] in 1923, with 121, and his .348 batting average was the eighth best in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1923-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1923 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Youngs batted .356 in the [[1923 World Series]], which the Giants lost to the Yankees.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>
Youngs batted .327 in 1921, good for ninth in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1921-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1921 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> In Game 3 of the [[1921 World Series]] Youngs became the first player to record two [[hit (baseball)|hits]] in the same [[inning]] of a World Series game. The Giants defeated the [[New York Yankees]]<ref name=seattle/> as Youngs batted .280 in the series.<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1923_WS.shtml |title=1923 World Series&nbsp;— New York Yankees over New York Giants (4-2) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Youngs [[hit for the cycle]] on April 29, 1922.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19980524&id=lNpOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oh4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5055,4414954|title=Indians in first, but still in search of a leader|page=3C|newspaper=[[Star-News]]|date=May 24, 1998|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> He finished the regular season ninth in the NL in OBP (.398) and tied for ninth in [[stolen base]]s (17),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1922-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1921 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> proceeding to hit .375 in the [[1922 World Series]] as the Giants again defeated the Yankees.<ref name=seattle/> Youngs led the NL in [[run (baseball)|runs scored]] in 1923, with 121, and his .348 batting average was the eighth best in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1923-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1923 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Youngs batted .356 in the [[1923 World Series]], which the Giants lost to the Yankees.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>


Youngs batted .356 during the 1924 season, finishing third in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1924-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1924 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> In the final series of this season, the Giants were playing the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] at the [[Polo Grounds]] and battling for the pennant with the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]. [[Jimmy O'Connell (baseball)|Jimmy O'Connell]], an [[outfielder]] for the Giants, offered Phillies shortstop [[Heinie Sand]] $500 to [[Match fixing|intentionally lose the games]] (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|500|1924}}}} in current dollar terms). Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager [[Art Fletcher]]. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Giants [[coach (baseball)|coach]] [[Cozy Dolan (1910s outfielder)|Crazy Dolan]] by Commissioner [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis]]. O'Connell implicated teammates Youngs, [[George Kelly (baseball)|George Kelly]], and [[Frankie Frisch]] as co-conspirators;<ref>{{cite book |title=Occasional Glory: The History of the Philadelphia Phillies |last=Jordan |first=David M.|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2002 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn= |oclc= |page=64 |pages= |url= |accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> Landis, however, cleared the trio of any wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1061EFB3C551B7A93C7A91789D85F418285F9|title=O'Connell Scored in Baseball Report; Possible Indictment Depends on Conference Between Brothers and Judge Landis. Frisch Fully Exonerated: Assistant District Attorney Finds Nothing to Connect Him or Kelly and Young With the Case|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 5, 1925|accessdate=November 3, 2011}} {{Subscription required|date=November 2011}}</ref>
Youngs batted .356 during the 1924 season, finishing third in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1924-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1924 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> In the final series of this season, the Giants were playing the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] at the [[Polo Grounds]] and battling for the pennant with the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]. [[Jimmy O'Connell (baseball)|Jimmy O'Connell]], an [[outfielder]] for the Giants, offered Phillies shortstop [[Heinie Sand]] $500 to [[Match fixing|intentionally lose the games]] (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|500|1924}}}} in current dollar terms). Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager [[Art Fletcher]]. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Giants [[coach (baseball)|coach]] [[Cozy Dolan (1910s outfielder)|Crazy Dolan]] by Commissioner [[Kenesaw Mountain Landis]]. O'Connell implicated teammates Youngs, [[George Kelly (baseball)|George Kelly]], and [[Frankie Frisch]] as co-conspirators;<ref>{{cite book |title=Occasional Glory: The History of the Philadelphia Phillies |last=Jordan |first=David M.|year=2002 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |page=64 }}</ref> Landis, however, cleared the trio of any wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/02/05/archives/oconnell-scored-in-baseball-report-possible-indictment-depends-on.html|title=O'Connell Scored in Baseball Report; Possible Indictment Depends on Conference Between Brothers and Judge Landis. Frisch Fully Exonerated: Assistant District Attorney Finds Nothing to Connect Him or Kelly and Young With the Case|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 5, 1925|access-date=November 3, 2011}} {{Subscription required|date=November 2011}}</ref>


Youngs slumped to a .185 batting average during the [[1924 World Series]], which the Giants lost to the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1924_WS.shtml |title=1924 World Series&nbsp;— Washington Senators over New York Giants (4-3) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|date= |accessdate=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Continuing to struggle in 1925, Youngs batted .264, his only season with a batting average below .300,<ref name=seattle/> but improved to .306 in 95 games during the 1926 season.<ref name=seattle/> Toward the end of his career, Youngs taught [[Mel Ott]], his eventual successor, how to play right field in the [[Polo Grounds]].<ref name=seattle/>
Youngs slumped to a .185 batting average during the [[1924 World Series]], which the Giants lost to the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1924_WS.shtml |title=1924 World Series&nbsp;— Washington Senators over New York Giants (4-3) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Continuing to struggle in 1925, Youngs batted .264, his only season with a batting average below .300,<ref name=seattle/> but improved to .306 in 95 games during the 1926 season.<ref name=seattle/> Toward the end of his career, Youngs taught [[Mel Ott]], his eventual successor, how to play right field in the [[Polo Grounds]].<ref name=seattle/>


==Illness and death==
==Illness and death==
Youngs's career was abruptly cut short in 1926, when he was diagnosed with the [[kidney]] disorder that, at the time, was called [[Bright's disease]]. He had been exposed to [[streptococcal infection]] in 1924.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE9A9C44913B3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Youngs played two seasons with fatal illness: Bright's Disease cut down young star in his prime|first=David |last=King |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=March 9, 2001 |accessdate=June 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=June 2012}}</ref> Too ill to play after August 10, 1926, Youngs returned home on McGraw's insistence<ref name=seattle/><ref name=pep/> and received a [[blood transfusion]] in March 1927.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BUVSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3789,1451316&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Blood Transfusion May Save Young|agency=[[United Press International]]|page=1|newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|date=March 4, 1927|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref>
Youngs's career was abruptly cut short in 1926, when he was diagnosed with the [[kidney]] disorder that, at the time, was called [[Bright's disease]]. He had been exposed to [[streptococcal infection]] in 1924.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE9A9C44913B3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Youngs played two seasons with fatal illness: Bright's Disease cut down young star in his prime|first=David |last=King |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=March 9, 2001 |access-date=June 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=June 2012}}</ref> Too ill to play after August 10, 1926, Youngs returned home on McGraw's insistence<ref name=seattle/><ref name=pep/> and received a [[blood transfusion]] in March 1927.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BUVSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3789,1451316&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Blood Transfusion May Save Young|agency=[[United Press International]]|page=1|newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|date=March 4, 1927|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref>


Youngs died of Bright's disease on October 22, 1927, at the age of 30. He went from weighing {{convert|170|lbs}} during his playing career to {{convert|100|lbs}} by the time of his death.<ref name=seattle>{{cite news|last=Blair |first=Sam |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920503&slug=1489782 |title=Forgotten Tragedy: Saga Of Ross `Pep' Youngs – 1920S Baseball Star's Career Often Overlooked |newspaper=[[Seattle Times]] |agency=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=May 3, 1992 |accessdate=June 18, 2012}}</ref> In Youngs' obituary in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Giants manager [[John McGraw]] called Youngs "the greatest outfielder I ever saw on a ball field."<ref name=pep/> The Giants honored Youngs with a bronze plaque on the right field wall of the Polo Grounds;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=up8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_pkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6133,1658359&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Tablet To Ross Youngs|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=12|newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=January 9, 1928|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> although the Giants intended to pay for it, fans expressed their desire to contribute and, even though contributions were limited to $1 per person, donations paid for the plaque entirely.<ref name=seattle/>
Youngs died of Bright's disease on October 22, 1927, at the age of 30. He went from weighing {{convert|170|lbs}} during his playing career to {{convert|100|lbs}} by the time of his death.<ref name=seattle>{{cite news|last=Blair |first=Sam |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920503/1489782/forgotten-tragedy-saga-of-ross-pep-youngs |title=Forgotten Tragedy: Saga Of Ross 'Pep' Youngs – 1920S Baseball Star's Career Often Overlooked |newspaper=[[Seattle Times]] |agency=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=May 3, 1992 |access-date=June 18, 2012}}</ref> In Youngs' obituary in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Giants manager [[John McGraw]] called Youngs "the greatest outfielder I ever saw on a ball field."<ref name=pep/> The Giants honored Youngs with a bronze plaque on the right field wall of the Polo Grounds;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=up8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_pkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6133,1658359&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Tablet To Ross Youngs|agency=[[Associated Press]]|page=12|newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]]|date=January 9, 1928|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> although the Giants intended to pay for it, fans expressed their desire to contribute and, even though contributions were limited to $1 per person, donations paid for the plaque entirely.<ref name=seattle/>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Over his ten-year career, Youngs posted 812 runs, 42 home runs, 592 [[runs batted in]] (RBI), 153 [[stolen base]]s, a .322 career batting average, and .399 career [[on-base percentage]]. He batted .300 or higher in every season until 1925, and higher than .350 twice. Youngs scored 100 or more [[run (baseball)|runs]] three times and posted a career high 102 RBI in 1921 and 10 [[home run]]s in 1924. During his tenure with the team, the Giants went to the [[World Series]] four consecutive years (1921–1924) and won twice (1921, 1922). Youngs was a favorite of McGraw, who kept only two pictures in his office: one of [[Christy Mathewson]] and one of Youngs.<ref name=seattle/> [[Rosy Ryan]], a teammate with the Giants, and [[Burleigh Grimes]], who played against Youngs as a member of the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], considered Youngs the best player they ever saw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=--8ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1562,1155275&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=On the First Bounce: The Greatest Player|first=Sam|last=Levy|page=7|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=March 19, 1944|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref>
Over his ten-year career, Youngs posted 812 runs, 42 home runs, 592 [[runs batted in]] (RBI), 153 [[stolen base]]s, .322 career batting average, .399 [[on-base percentage]] and .441 [[slugging percentage]]. He batted .300 or higher in every season until 1925, and higher than .350 twice. Youngs scored 100 or more [[run (baseball)|runs]] three times and posted a career-high 102 RBI in 1921 and 10 [[home run]]s in 1924. During his tenure with the team, the Giants went to the [[World Series]] four consecutive years (1921–1924) and won twice (1921, 1922).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngro01.shtml|title=Ross Youngs career statistics from baseball-reference|website=baseball-reference.com|access-date=October 1, 2022}}</ref> Youngs was a favorite of McGraw, who kept only two pictures in his office: one of [[Christy Mathewson]] and one of Youngs.<ref name=seattle/> [[Rosy Ryan]], a teammate with the Giants, and [[Burleigh Grimes]], who played against Youngs as a member of the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], considered Youngs the best player they ever saw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=--8ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BCMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1562,1155275&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=On the First Bounce: The Greatest Player|first=Sam|last=Levy|page=7|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=March 19, 1944|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref>


Youngs was included in the inaugural balloting for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1936|1936]], but received less than 5% of the vote from the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA). Youngs remained on the ballot every year through 1956, receiving his highest vote total in 1947 with 22%.<ref name=hardball>{{cite web|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/this-annotated-week-in-baseball-history-april-8-14-1996/ |title=This Annotated Week in Baseball History: April 8-14, 1897 |publisher=[[The Hardball Times]] |work=thehardballtimes.com |date=April 13, 2007|accessdate=June 18, 2012}}</ref> [[Ford C. Frick]], [[Commissioner of Baseball]], and former teammate [[Bill Terry]] both championed Youngs' candidacy.<ref name=seattle/>
Youngs was included in the inaugural balloting for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1936 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1936]], but received less than 5% of the vote from the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] (BBWAA). Youngs remained on the ballot every year through 1956, receiving his highest vote total in 1947 with 22%.<ref name=hardball>{{cite web|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/this-annotated-week-in-baseball-history-april-8-14-1996/ |title=This Annotated Week in Baseball History: April 8-14, 1897 |publisher=[[The Hardball Times]] |work=thehardballtimes.com |date=April 13, 2007|access-date=June 18, 2012}}</ref> [[Ford C. Frick]], [[Commissioner of Baseball]], and former teammate [[Bill Terry]] both championed Youngs' candidacy.<ref name=seattle/>


Former Giants teammates Terry and [[Frankie Frisch]] joined the [[Veterans Committee]] in 1967 and aided the elections of several of their former teammates, including Youngs in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dn9bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DVENAAAAIBAJ&pg=7062,2145050&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Oldtimers' Committee Puts Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Harridge In Hall of Fame|first=Ken|last=Rappoport|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[Gettysburg Times]]|page=10|date=January 31, 1972|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> In addition to Youngs, Terry and Frisch shepherded the selections of Giants teammates [[Jesse Haines]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1970|1970]], [[Dave Bancroft]] and [[Chick Hafey]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1971|1971]], [[George Kelly (baseball)|George Kelly]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1973|1973]], [[Jim Bottomley]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1974|1974]], and [[Freddie Lindstrom]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1976|1976]].<ref name=hardball/><ref name=hitandrun>{{cite news|url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11592|title=Prospectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' Committee|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|work=[[Baseball Prospectus]]|publisher=Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, LLC|date=July 28, 2010|accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> Youngs died at the earliest age of any current Hall of Famer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0D1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jeUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1002,50952&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Sports Lists: Youngest Baseball Hall of Famers at Death|newspaper=[[Record-Journal]]|page=13|date=July 1, 2002|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Youngs is the only member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame from San Antonio and was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE7F826DED7AD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=The Class of '98: S.A. Hall features McCombs, Youngs|first=David |last=King|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=October 1, 1997 |accessdate=June 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=June 2012}}</ref> Shiner, the town in which Youngs was born, hosted a baseball tournament in his honor at Clipper Field from 2001 through 2003.<ref name=shiner>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mTNSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6167,1138640&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Shiner playing host to baseball tournament|page=2B|newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|date=July 6, 2002|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6RVZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iUYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5696,3708920&dq=shiner+tournament+clipper+field&hl=en|title=Shiner sets Fourth of July celebration|first=Barry|last=Halvorson|newspaper=The Victoria Advocate|page=5A|date=April 15, 2003|accessdate=July 9, 2012}}</ref>
Former Giants teammates Terry and [[Frankie Frisch]] joined the [[Veterans Committee]] in 1967 and aided the elections of several of their former teammates, including Youngs in 1972.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dn9bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DVENAAAAIBAJ&pg=7062,2145050&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Oldtimers' Committee Puts Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Harridge In Hall of Fame|first=Ken|last=Rappoport|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[Gettysburg Times]]|page=10|date=January 31, 1972|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> In addition to Youngs, Terry and Frisch shepherded the selections of Giants teammates [[Jesse Haines]] in [[1970 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1970]], [[Dave Bancroft]] and [[Chick Hafey]] in [[1971 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1971]], [[George Kelly (baseball)|George Kelly]] in [[1973 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1973]], [[Jim Bottomley]] in [[1974 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1974]], and [[Freddie Lindstrom]] in [[1976 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1976]].<ref name=hardball/><ref name=hitandrun>{{cite news|url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11592|title=Prospectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' Committee|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|work=[[Baseball Prospectus]]|publisher=Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, LLC|date=July 28, 2010|access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> Youngs died at the earliest age of any current Hall of Famer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0D1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jeUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1002,50952&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Sports Lists: Youngest Baseball Hall of Famers at Death|newspaper=[[Record-Journal]]|page=13|date=July 1, 2002|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Youngs is the only member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame from San Antonio and was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE7F826DED7AD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=The Class of '98: S.A. Hall features McCombs, Youngs|first=David |last=King|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=October 1, 1997 |access-date=June 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=June 2012}}</ref> Shiner, the town in which Youngs was born, hosted a baseball tournament in his honor at Clipper Field from 2001 through 2003.<ref name=shiner>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mTNSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JTYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6167,1138640&dq=ross-youngs&hl=en|title=Shiner playing host to baseball tournament|page=2B|newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|date=July 6, 2002|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6RVZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iUYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5696,3708920&dq=shiner+tournament+clipper+field&hl=en|title=Shiner sets Fourth of July celebration|first=Barry|last=Halvorson|newspaper=The Victoria Advocate|page=5A|date=April 15, 2003|access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref>


Youngs' selection, along with some of the other selections made by Terry and Frisch, has been considered one of the weakest in some circles.<ref name=hitandrun/> According to the BBWAA, the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members,<ref name=brouhaha>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2OQLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WVgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6792,627078&dq=george-kelly+veterans+committee&hl=en|title=Baseball Brouhaha Brewing|page=1C|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date=January 19, 1977|accessdate=November 3, 2011}}</ref> and charges of cronyism were later leveled against the committee.<ref name=hitandrun/><ref name=cronyism>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123734/http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html|dead-url=yes|archive-date=February 2, 2014|title=Hall voter finds new parameters unhittable|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union Tribune]]|first=Tim|last=Sullivan|page=D.1|date=December 21, 2002|accessdate=June 29, 2012}}</ref> This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dotnews.com/columns/2010/good-news-baseball-hall-looking-electoral-revamp|title=The good news: Baseball Hall looking at electoral revamp|first=Clark|last=Booth|newspaper=Dorchester Reporter|date=August 12, 2010|accessdate=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Baseball statistician [[Bill James]] recognized this and wrote that Youngs does not belong in the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Bill|year=1995|title=Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?}}</ref> In 1981, however, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included Youngs in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time''. They explained what they called "the [[Smoky Joe Wood]] Syndrome", where a player of truly exceptional talent but a career curtailed by injury or illness should still&nbsp;— in spite of not owning career statistics that would quantitatively rank him with the all-time greats&nbsp;— be included on their list of the 100 greatest players.<ref>{{cite book|title=The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time|first1=Lawrence S. |last1=Ritter|first2=Donald|last2=Honig|publisher=Crown Publishers|year=1986|isbn=0517561816}}</ref>
Youngs' selection, along with some of the other selections made by Terry and Frisch, has been considered one of the weakest in some circles.<ref name=hitandrun/> According to the BBWAA, the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members,<ref name=brouhaha>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2OQLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WVgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6792,627078&dq=george-kelly+veterans+committee&hl=en|title=Baseball Brouhaha Brewing|page=1C|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date=January 19, 1977|access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> and charges of cronyism were later leveled against the committee.<ref name=hitandrun/><ref name=cronyism>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123734/http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2014|title=Hall voter finds new parameters unhittable|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union Tribune]]|first=Tim|last=Sullivan|page=D.1|date=December 21, 2002|access-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dotnews.com/columns/2010/good-news-baseball-hall-looking-electoral-revamp|title=The good news: Baseball Hall looking at electoral revamp|first=Clark|last=Booth|newspaper=Dorchester Reporter|date=August 12, 2010|access-date=December 21, 2011}}</ref> Baseball statistician [[Bill James]] recognized this and wrote that Youngs does not belong in the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Bill|year=1995|title=Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?}}</ref> In 1981, however, [[Lawrence Ritter]] and [[Donald Honig]] included Youngs in their book ''The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time''. They explained what they called "the [[Smoky Joe Wood]] Syndrome", where a player of truly exceptional talent but a career curtailed by injury or illness should still – in spite of not owning career statistics that would quantitatively rank him with the all-time greats – be included on their list of the 100 greatest players.<ref>{{cite book|title=The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time|first1=Lawrence S. |last1=Ritter|first2=Donald|last2=Honig|publisher=Crown Publishers|year=1986|isbn=0517561816}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Line 85: Line 88:


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons cat}}
{{commons category}}
{{bbhof|youngs-ross}}
*{{bbhof|youngs-ross}}
{{Baseballstats |br=y/youngro01 |fangraphs=1014390|cube=20038|brm=youngs001roy}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Y/Pyounr101.htm Retrosheet]
*{{baseballstats |br=y/youngro01 |fangraphs=1014390|brm=youngs001roy}}, or [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Y/Pyounr101.htm Retrosheet]
*[http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_XYZ/Youngs.Ross.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
*[http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_XYZ/Youngs.Ross.Obit.html Ross Youngs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618092114/http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_XYZ/Youngs.Ross.Obit.html |date=June 18, 2012 }} at The Deadball Era
:
*{{findagrave}}


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Dave Robertson]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = April 29, 1922 | after = [[Jimmy Johnston]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Dave Robertson (baseball)|Dave Robertson]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = April 29, 1922 | after = [[Jimmy Johnston]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


Line 103: Line 106:
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{San Francisco Giants HOF}}
{{San Francisco Giants HOF}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Youngs, Ross}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Youngs, Ross}}
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:New York Giants (NL) players]]
[[Category:New York Giants (baseball) players]]
[[Category:Austin Senators players]]
[[Category:Austin Senators players]]
[[Category:Bartlett (minor league baseball) players]]
[[Category:Bartlett (minor league baseball) players]]
Line 113: Line 118:
[[Category:Sherman Lions players]]
[[Category:Sherman Lions players]]
[[Category:Rochester Hustlers players]]
[[Category:Rochester Hustlers players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Texas]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Lavaca County, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Shiner, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Shiner, Texas]]
[[Category:Deaths from nephritis]]
[[Category:Deaths from nephritis]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:TMI Episcopal alumni]]

Latest revision as of 03:59, 13 November 2024

Ross Youngs
Youngs with the Giants in 1920
Right fielder
Born: (1897-04-10)April 10, 1897
Shiner, Texas, U.S.
Died: October 22, 1927(1927-10-22) (aged 30)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 25, 1917, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
August 10, 1926, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.322
Home runs42
Runs batted in592
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1972
Election methodVeterans Committee

Ross Middlebrook "Pep" Youngs (April 10, 1897 – October 22, 1927) was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Pep", he played ten seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants from 1917 through 1926, playing right field almost exclusively. Youngs was a part of the Giants teams that won four consecutive National League pennants and the 1921 and 1922 World Series.

From Shiner, Texas, Youngs excelled at baseball and American football at the West Texas Military Institute. After beginning his professional career in minor league baseball, Youngs was signed by the Giants in 1916. Youngs had a lifetime .322 batting average with the Giants and batted over .300 nine times in his career, including eight consecutive seasons. His career was cut short by illness, however, as he died at the age of 30 of Bright's disease.

Youngs was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972 by the Veterans Committee. His election was not without controversy,[1] however, as the Veterans Committee consisted of his former teammates, and charges of cronyism were leveled against the committee.[2][3]

Early life and minor leagues

[edit]

Youngs was born in Shiner, Texas, the second of three children, all sons.[4] His father was a railroad worker,[5] but suffered disability and moved his family to San Antonio where he worked as a rancher. Youngs' mother ran a small hotel in San Antonio and Youngs had a paper route.[4]

Youngs was educated at West Texas Military Institute.[4] He received offers for scholarships to play college football but passed on these, as he preferred baseball.[4] He made his professional baseball debut for the Austin Senators of the Texas League in 1914. Appearing in 17 games, he hit just .145 for the class-B Senators and, in 1915, found himself down in the Class-D leagues, playing for Brenham of the Middle Texas League and the Waxahachie Athletics of the Central Texas League; both leagues disbanded during the season.[4] In 1916, playing in the infield for the Sherman Lions of the Class-D Western Association, he hit .362 as a switch-hitter, drawing the attention of the New York Giants, who purchased his contract in August for $2,000 ($56,000 in current dollar terms).[4]

New York Giants

[edit]

Youngs reported to spring training in Marlin, Texas with the Giants in 1917. They initially assigned him to the Rochester Hustlers, a team in the International League with which the Giants had a working relationship. Giants manager John McGraw told Mickey Doolan, the manager of the Hustlers, "I'm giving you one of the greatest players I've ever seen. Play him in the outfield. If anything happens to him, I'm holding you responsible."[4] In 140 games with Rochester, Youngs hit .356, earning himself a late-season promotion to the big league club.[4] McGraw gave Youngs the nickname "Pep" due to his hustle[6] and soon began to groom Youngs to become his successor as Giants' manager.[4]

Youngs made his major league debut on September 25 and played in seven of the last nine games of the season for the eventual National League (NL) pennant-winners: six in center field and one in right. In those seven games he went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles and three triples.[4] In 1918, regular Giants right fielder Dave Robertson left the team to manage a local military ballclub,[7] and Youngs was given the full-time job out of spring training. Batting exclusively left-handed, Youngs responded by batting .302 in 121 games, finishing sixth in the league.[4][8] It would be the first of seven straight seasons in which he hit .300 as a regular, and the second of eight overall counting his brief stint in 1917. He also finished sixth in the NL with a .368 on-base percentage (OBP).[8] The next season Robertson was traded to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Phil Douglas, leaving Youngs to become a fixture in right field for the Giants.[9] Youngs finished third in the NL in 1919 with a .311 batting average.[10] His .351 batting average in 1920 was second in the NL to Rogers Hornsby.[11]

Catching a ball in 1922

Youngs batted .327 in 1921, good for ninth in the NL.[12] In Game 3 of the 1921 World Series Youngs became the first player to record two hits in the same inning of a World Series game. The Giants defeated the New York Yankees[4] as Youngs batted .280 in the series.[13] Youngs hit for the cycle on April 29, 1922.[14] He finished the regular season ninth in the NL in OBP (.398) and tied for ninth in stolen bases (17),[15] proceeding to hit .375 in the 1922 World Series as the Giants again defeated the Yankees.[4] Youngs led the NL in runs scored in 1923, with 121, and his .348 batting average was the eighth best in the league.[16] Youngs batted .356 in the 1923 World Series, which the Giants lost to the Yankees.[13]

Youngs batted .356 during the 1924 season, finishing third in the NL.[17] In the final series of this season, the Giants were playing the Philadelphia Phillies at the Polo Grounds and battling for the pennant with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jimmy O'Connell, an outfielder for the Giants, offered Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand $500 to intentionally lose the games ($8,889 in current dollar terms). Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager Art Fletcher. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Giants coach Crazy Dolan by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. O'Connell implicated teammates Youngs, George Kelly, and Frankie Frisch as co-conspirators;[18] Landis, however, cleared the trio of any wrongdoing.[19]

Youngs slumped to a .185 batting average during the 1924 World Series, which the Giants lost to the Washington Senators.[20] Continuing to struggle in 1925, Youngs batted .264, his only season with a batting average below .300,[4] but improved to .306 in 95 games during the 1926 season.[4] Toward the end of his career, Youngs taught Mel Ott, his eventual successor, how to play right field in the Polo Grounds.[4]

Illness and death

[edit]

Youngs's career was abruptly cut short in 1926, when he was diagnosed with the kidney disorder that, at the time, was called Bright's disease. He had been exposed to streptococcal infection in 1924.[21] Too ill to play after August 10, 1926, Youngs returned home on McGraw's insistence[4][6] and received a blood transfusion in March 1927.[22]

Youngs died of Bright's disease on October 22, 1927, at the age of 30. He went from weighing 170 pounds (77 kg) during his playing career to 100 pounds (45 kg) by the time of his death.[4] In Youngs' obituary in The New York Times, Giants manager John McGraw called Youngs "the greatest outfielder I ever saw on a ball field."[6] The Giants honored Youngs with a bronze plaque on the right field wall of the Polo Grounds;[23] although the Giants intended to pay for it, fans expressed their desire to contribute and, even though contributions were limited to $1 per person, donations paid for the plaque entirely.[4]

Legacy

[edit]

Over his ten-year career, Youngs posted 812 runs, 42 home runs, 592 runs batted in (RBI), 153 stolen bases, .322 career batting average, .399 on-base percentage and .441 slugging percentage. He batted .300 or higher in every season until 1925, and higher than .350 twice. Youngs scored 100 or more runs three times and posted a career-high 102 RBI in 1921 and 10 home runs in 1924. During his tenure with the team, the Giants went to the World Series four consecutive years (1921–1924) and won twice (1921, 1922).[24] Youngs was a favorite of McGraw, who kept only two pictures in his office: one of Christy Mathewson and one of Youngs.[4] Rosy Ryan, a teammate with the Giants, and Burleigh Grimes, who played against Youngs as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, considered Youngs the best player they ever saw.[25]

Youngs was included in the inaugural balloting for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, but received less than 5% of the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Youngs remained on the ballot every year through 1956, receiving his highest vote total in 1947 with 22%.[26] Ford C. Frick, Commissioner of Baseball, and former teammate Bill Terry both championed Youngs' candidacy.[4]

Former Giants teammates Terry and Frankie Frisch joined the Veterans Committee in 1967 and aided the elections of several of their former teammates, including Youngs in 1972.[27] In addition to Youngs, Terry and Frisch shepherded the selections of Giants teammates Jesse Haines in 1970, Dave Bancroft and Chick Hafey in 1971, George Kelly in 1973, Jim Bottomley in 1974, and Freddie Lindstrom in 1976.[26][2] Youngs died at the earliest age of any current Hall of Famer.[28] Youngs is the only member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame from San Antonio and was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.[29] Shiner, the town in which Youngs was born, hosted a baseball tournament in his honor at Clipper Field from 2001 through 2003.[5][30]

Youngs' selection, along with some of the other selections made by Terry and Frisch, has been considered one of the weakest in some circles.[2] According to the BBWAA, the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members,[31] and charges of cronyism were later leveled against the committee.[2][3] This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years.[32] Baseball statistician Bill James recognized this and wrote that Youngs does not belong in the Hall of Fame.[33] In 1981, however, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included Youngs in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. They explained what they called "the Smoky Joe Wood Syndrome", where a player of truly exceptional talent but a career curtailed by injury or illness should still – in spite of not owning career statistics that would quantitatively rank him with the all-time greats – be included on their list of the 100 greatest players.[34]

Personal life

[edit]

Youngs married Dorothy Pienecke, a woman from Brooklyn who he met while vacationing in the Berkshires, in October 1924. Their daughter Caroline was born in December 1925.[4] Dorothy feuded with Youngs' mother, however, and the couple separated before the birth of Caroline, whom he never met.[4] Youngs was considered friendly and generous, loaned money constantly, and was reportedly owed $16,000 at the time of his death ($280,644 in current dollar terms).[4] Youngs enjoyed playing golf and was considered the best golfer in the major leagues.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Frankie Frisch's Vets Committee selections defined and damaged the Hall". cooperstownexpert.com. January 4, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Jaffe, Jay (July 28, 2010). "Prospectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' Committee". Baseball Prospectus. Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Sullivan, Tim (December 21, 2002). "Hall voter finds new parameters unhittable". The San Diego Union Tribune. p. D.1. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Blair, Sam (May 3, 1992). "Forgotten Tragedy: Saga Of Ross 'Pep' Youngs – 1920S Baseball Star's Career Often Overlooked". Seattle Times. Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Shiner playing host to baseball tournament". The Victoria Advocate. July 6, 2002. p. 2B. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Haile, Bartee (August 3, 2011). "Before Lou Gehrig, there was a Texan called 'Pep'". Hays Free Press. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Stewart, Peter C. (2010). Early Professional Baseball in Hampton Roads: A History, 1884–1928. McFarland. p. 185.
  8. ^ a b "1918 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  9. ^ "Giants Get Phil Douglas; Chicago Cubs Give Up Pitcher for Outfielder Dave Robertson". The New York Times. July 25, 1919. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  10. ^ "1919 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  11. ^ "1920 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  12. ^ "1921 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "1923 World Series — New York Yankees over New York Giants (4-2)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  14. ^ "Indians in first, but still in search of a leader". Star-News. May 24, 1998. p. 3C. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  15. ^ "1921 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  16. ^ "1923 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  17. ^ "1924 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  18. ^ Jordan, David M. (2002). Occasional Glory: The History of the Philadelphia Phillies. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 64.
  19. ^ "O'Connell Scored in Baseball Report; Possible Indictment Depends on Conference Between Brothers and Judge Landis. Frisch Fully Exonerated: Assistant District Attorney Finds Nothing to Connect Him or Kelly and Young With the Case". The New York Times. February 5, 1925. Retrieved November 3, 2011. (subscription required)
  20. ^ "1924 World Series — Washington Senators over New York Giants (4-3)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  21. ^ King, David (March 9, 2001). "Youngs played two seasons with fatal illness: Bright's Disease cut down young star in his prime". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 18, 2012. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Blood Transfusion May Save Young". The Victoria Advocate. United Press International. March 4, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  23. ^ "Tablet To Ross Youngs". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. January 9, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  24. ^ "Ross Youngs career statistics from baseball-reference". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  25. ^ Levy, Sam (March 19, 1944). "On the First Bounce: The Greatest Player". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 7. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  26. ^ a b "This Annotated Week in Baseball History: April 8-14, 1897". thehardballtimes.com. The Hardball Times. April 13, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  27. ^ Rappoport, Ken (January 31, 1972). "Oldtimers' Committee Puts Lefty Gomez, Ross Youngs, Harridge In Hall of Fame". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  28. ^ "Sports Lists: Youngest Baseball Hall of Famers at Death". Record-Journal. July 1, 2002. p. 13. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  29. ^ King, David (October 1, 1997). "The Class of '98: S.A. Hall features McCombs, Youngs". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 18, 2012. (subscription required)
  30. ^ Halvorson, Barry (April 15, 2003). "Shiner sets Fourth of July celebration". The Victoria Advocate. p. 5A. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  31. ^ "Baseball Brouhaha Brewing". The Evening Independent. January 19, 1977. p. 1C. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  32. ^ Booth, Clark (August 12, 2010). "The good news: Baseball Hall looking at electoral revamp". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  33. ^ James, Bill (1995). Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?.
  34. ^ Ritter, Lawrence S.; Honig, Donald (1986). The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. Crown Publishers. ISBN 0517561816.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ross Youngs.
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
April 29, 1922 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ross_Youngs&oldid=1257082841"