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Addie Joss Benefit Game
The Addie Joss Benefit Game was an exhibition baseball game played between the Cleveland Naps of the American League and an all-star team composed of players from the league's other teams at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 24, 1911. The game was planned as a benefit for the family of Addie Joss, a pitcher for the Naps who died in April. The all-stars defeated the Naps, 5–3, and the game raised $12,914 for the Joss family ($446,225 in current dollar terms).
Following Joss's death, Cleveland's management announced their plans to put on a benefit for his widow and two young children. Star players from other teams volunteered to form an all-star team to play against the Naps. Paid attendance was 15,272, and many players and team owners contributed money to the Joss family as well. The benefit game preceded the creation of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, first contested in 1933, which raises money for the players' pension fund.
Addie Joss, the ace starting pitcher for the Cleveland Naps of the American League, experienced fainting spells while training for the 1911 season. He died of tubercular meningitis on April 14, at his home in Toledo, Ohio, leaving behind his wife, Lillian, and two young children, Ruth and Norman.
Joss's funeral took place on April 17 in Toledo, when the Naps were scheduled to play the Detroit Tigers. Ernest Barnard, the team's vice president, hoped to send a delegation of about five players to represent the Naps at the funeral, but in a team meeting held by team captain George Stovall, the players voted that they all wanted to attend the funeral, and declared their intention to strike if the game that day was not postponed. Though American League president Ban Johnson initially did not agree, he cancelled the game. Several Tigers players attended the funeral as well.
Charles Sommers, the owner of the Naps, began to plan an "Addie Joss Day" to benefit his family. Naps management announced a benefit game would be held for Joss's family at League Park in Cleveland on July 24, which was a mutual off day for all teams in the American League. It was hoped that each team would contribute some players to play against the Naps. All proceeds were to go to Joss's widow. As no other day on the calendar would suffice, the game would not be rescheduled if rain necessitated its cancellation.
Barnard and the sports editors of the Cleveland News and Cleveland Plain Dealer formed a committee charged with organizing the event, including selecting players for the all-star team. Jimmy McAleer, the manager of the Washington Senators, volunteered to manage the all-star team. Star players, including Walter Johnson and Ty Cobb, quickly volunteered to participate. Barnard requested that McAleer bring Germany Schaefer, the baseball comedian, to serve as a utility infielder and provide entertainment to the fans. Each team sent at least one player, with the exception of the Chicago White Sox. Though Ed Walsh of the White Sox had agreed to participate, Chicago's travel schedule ultimately prohibited any member of the team from participating.
The all-star team had Johnson, Smoky Joe Wood, and Russ Ford as the pitchers, an outfield of Cobb, Sam Crawford, Tris Speaker, and Clyde Milan, and infielders Schaefer, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Hal Chase, and Bobby Wallace. Gabby Street and Paddy Livingston were the catchers. In total, nine players from the game were later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Cy Young and Nap Lajoie for Cleveland, Johnson, Cobb, Collins, Speaker, Crawford, Baker, and Wallace for the all-stars. Shoeless Joe Jackson, another Hall of Fame-caliber player, played for Cleveland.
Barnard and the committee also sought donations. Cobb made what was initially an anonymous donation of $100 ($3,455 in current dollar terms), but Barnard convinced him to publicize the donation to help secure more. Sommers also donated $100, as did the owners of the White Sox, Tigers, and Boston Red Sox. The Athletics donated $200 ($6,911 in current dollar terms), and Athletics' manager Connie Mack donated another $25 ($864 in current dollar terms). The owner of St. Louis sent a check for $50. The Dayton minor league baseball team contributed $10 ($346 in current dollar terms). Young spent $25 on box seats, even though he was playing in the game. All players and park employees participated in the event for no compensation.
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Addie Joss Benefit Game
The Addie Joss Benefit Game was an exhibition baseball game played between the Cleveland Naps of the American League and an all-star team composed of players from the league's other teams at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 24, 1911. The game was planned as a benefit for the family of Addie Joss, a pitcher for the Naps who died in April. The all-stars defeated the Naps, 5–3, and the game raised $12,914 for the Joss family ($446,225 in current dollar terms).
Following Joss's death, Cleveland's management announced their plans to put on a benefit for his widow and two young children. Star players from other teams volunteered to form an all-star team to play against the Naps. Paid attendance was 15,272, and many players and team owners contributed money to the Joss family as well. The benefit game preceded the creation of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, first contested in 1933, which raises money for the players' pension fund.
Addie Joss, the ace starting pitcher for the Cleveland Naps of the American League, experienced fainting spells while training for the 1911 season. He died of tubercular meningitis on April 14, at his home in Toledo, Ohio, leaving behind his wife, Lillian, and two young children, Ruth and Norman.
Joss's funeral took place on April 17 in Toledo, when the Naps were scheduled to play the Detroit Tigers. Ernest Barnard, the team's vice president, hoped to send a delegation of about five players to represent the Naps at the funeral, but in a team meeting held by team captain George Stovall, the players voted that they all wanted to attend the funeral, and declared their intention to strike if the game that day was not postponed. Though American League president Ban Johnson initially did not agree, he cancelled the game. Several Tigers players attended the funeral as well.
Charles Sommers, the owner of the Naps, began to plan an "Addie Joss Day" to benefit his family. Naps management announced a benefit game would be held for Joss's family at League Park in Cleveland on July 24, which was a mutual off day for all teams in the American League. It was hoped that each team would contribute some players to play against the Naps. All proceeds were to go to Joss's widow. As no other day on the calendar would suffice, the game would not be rescheduled if rain necessitated its cancellation.
Barnard and the sports editors of the Cleveland News and Cleveland Plain Dealer formed a committee charged with organizing the event, including selecting players for the all-star team. Jimmy McAleer, the manager of the Washington Senators, volunteered to manage the all-star team. Star players, including Walter Johnson and Ty Cobb, quickly volunteered to participate. Barnard requested that McAleer bring Germany Schaefer, the baseball comedian, to serve as a utility infielder and provide entertainment to the fans. Each team sent at least one player, with the exception of the Chicago White Sox. Though Ed Walsh of the White Sox had agreed to participate, Chicago's travel schedule ultimately prohibited any member of the team from participating.
The all-star team had Johnson, Smoky Joe Wood, and Russ Ford as the pitchers, an outfield of Cobb, Sam Crawford, Tris Speaker, and Clyde Milan, and infielders Schaefer, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Hal Chase, and Bobby Wallace. Gabby Street and Paddy Livingston were the catchers. In total, nine players from the game were later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Cy Young and Nap Lajoie for Cleveland, Johnson, Cobb, Collins, Speaker, Crawford, Baker, and Wallace for the all-stars. Shoeless Joe Jackson, another Hall of Fame-caliber player, played for Cleveland.
Barnard and the committee also sought donations. Cobb made what was initially an anonymous donation of $100 ($3,455 in current dollar terms), but Barnard convinced him to publicize the donation to help secure more. Sommers also donated $100, as did the owners of the White Sox, Tigers, and Boston Red Sox. The Athletics donated $200 ($6,911 in current dollar terms), and Athletics' manager Connie Mack donated another $25 ($864 in current dollar terms). The owner of St. Louis sent a check for $50. The Dayton minor league baseball team contributed $10 ($346 in current dollar terms). Young spent $25 on box seats, even though he was playing in the game. All players and park employees participated in the event for no compensation.