Hippo Vaughn

The following is an excerpt from The Low Self-Esteem Club: Baseball's Most Unflattering Nicknames by C. Terry Walters

James Leslie Vaughn was a Texas-size pitcher worthy of the Lone Star state’s reputation for bigger-than-life everything. Standing on the raised mound, the 6’ 4” 215 pound lefty must have intimidated many of the small-framed players of the dead ball era. Later in his career he was reported to have ballooned to almost 300 pounds. But Vaughn was not named because of his weight or likeness to a hippopotamus, but for the ungainly way he carried his frame when he ran. [1]

One might think that a name like Hippo could fall into the cruel category. There is evidence that Vaughn more than acquiesced to his nickname. In a call to the Chicago police in October of 1921, his wife reported that Vaughn had been missing for several days and his three-year-old son, Little Hippo, was crying for his daddy. Vaughn was not only content be called Hippo, he passed on the nickname to his little boy. [2]

Vaughn debuted with the New York Highlanders (Yankees) in 1908 but could not stick with the team. After that false start, he was back with the Highlanders in 1910 and distinguished himself with a 13-11 record and sparkling 1.83 ERA.

After a few uneventful seasons in New York and Washington, he was purchased by the

Chicago Cubs in 1913. One year later his career took wings and Hippo was flying high. From 1915 through 1921 he averaged over twenty wins per seasons. In 1918, his league-leading twenty-two wins helped send the Cubs to the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. The Cubs, of course, lost to the Sox and a pitcher named Babe Ruth.

In 1917, pitching for the Cubs, Vaughn and Cincinnati’s Fred Toney tangled in a pitching duel for all time. After nine innings, both pitchers had not yielded a hit. In the top of the tenth, Vaughn retired the first batter before Larry Kopf singled. After an error and a stolen base. Jim Thorpe walked to the plate. Thorpe dropped a swing bunt down the third base line that Vaughn fielded. “I knew the minute it was hit that I couldn’t get Thorpe at first, “ reported Vaughn, “He was as fast as a race horse.” Vaughn threw to the plate but failed to get Kopf. [3] Toney retired the Cubs in the last of the tenth and preserved his no-hitter. The game was known as a double no hitter and was the defining moment of Vaughn’s life.

Vaughn, himself, proclaims the Toney matchup as the high point of his career. Even though 3,500 fans attended the game, Vaughn recalls over 10,00 people who claimed they were there that day. Vaughn refers to the game-winning batter as Indian Jim Thorpe, a comment that underscores the racial and ethnic stereo typing of that era. [4] Only Thorpe’s worldwide reputation spared him from becoming Chief Thorpe in the baseball world.

His major league career ended in 1921 amidst a flurry of mystery and drama. On July 9, he took the mound in the Polo Grounds with a dismal 3-10 record. In the fourth inning he surrendered a grand slam homer to Giants catcher Frank Snyder. Insult then joined injury as pitcher Phil Douglas followed with his first career homerun. Manager Johnny Evers then gave Vaughn the hook. Two days later, Vaughn was nowhere to be found and the Cubs announced that Vaughn would be suspended if and when he returned to the team. [5]

By early August, Vaughn was still AWOL and the Cubs reportedly suspended him for what the Chicago Tribune described as “failure to keep in fighting trim.” Furthermore, Vaughn had allegedly signed a contract to play for the Beloit Fairies, a non-affiliated team owned by the Fairbanks Morse Engine Company who manufactured everything from typewriters to locomotives. A Hippo becoming a member of the Fairies just does not present a pleasant visual image.

When Evers was suddenly fired as manager, his replacement Bill Killefer and Cubs president Bill Veeck Sr. agreed to reinstate Vaughn if Commissioner Landis agreed. Landis, however, decided to suspend Vaughn for the rest of the season for signing the contract with Beloit. Vaughn never returned to the Cubs or the major leagues again. Various reports list various reasons for his departure. He was fed up with Evers. He had a sore arm. His weight had finally affected his performance. Vaughn kept the reason or reasons to himself. His new career in semi-pro ball lasted another sixteen years and he finally hung up the cleats at age 49. [6]

Vaughn died in Chicago in 1966. At the time of his death, he still had bragging rights as the Cubs all-time leader in wins by a left-handed pitcher with 151 victories. Larry French was a distant second at 95. As of this writing, that distinction still belongs to the man called Hippo.

Notes:

1. Tales From the Cubs Dugout by Pete Cava p. 239

2. Hippo Vaughn by Jan Finkel – the Baseball Biography Project BioProjSABR.org

3. Tales From the Cubs Dugout by Pete Cava p. 239

4. Jim Thorpe, a comment that underscores the racial and ethnic stereo typing of that era. [My greatest day in baseball; forty-seven dramatic stories by forty-seven stars by John P. Carmichael and Jerome Holtzman

5. Hippo Vaughn by Jan Finkel – the Baseball Biography Project BioProjSABR.org

6. Ibid.

Phillie Player Booed for Home Run in Home Park

In my previous post I talked about my project of sending out baseballs to be signed. In some cases I also asked the player what they remember most about their times with the Phillies. The most poignant reply came from Earl Averill Jr. Before revealing his note to me, here is a short bio on the man.

Earl Averill Jr. had some very big shoes to fill when he broke into the big leagues in 1956. His father, Earl Sr., was a Hall of Fame outfielder from 1929 to 1941, mostly with the Cleveland Indians. To make things even tougher for Junior, he began his career with the Indians, where his daddy was a big star.

As a second string catcher he had a mediocre year but was demoted to the minors in 1957. He resurfaced with the Indians as a third baseman in 1958 and batted under .200 in limited action. If Cleveland once thought he was the second coming of Earl Averill Sr., they gave up the notion following that season. The Indians traded him to the Cubs in January of 1959.

His ability to play infield and outfield (in addition to catching), kept him in the big leagues with the Cubs, White Sox and Angels through 1962.

That brings us to 1963, when he was traded to Philadelphia. These are Averill's exact words.

As you know, I didn't play very much or effectively while a Phillie. However, late in the season the Cardinals were in town and I was asked to play 3rd base. I threw to first on a bunt play and the wide throw allowed the Cards to rally for a couple of runs. I was leading off the next inning and Bob Sadowski was pitching. I hit a home run off the first pitch, and typical of Phillie fans, they BOOED me all the way around the bases.

After his release from the Phillies in 1963, Averill played in the minor leagues for a few more years and retired.

In retrospect, I now wish I had also asked him what it was like to play in the shadow of his father. I have resolved to contact him again and do just that.

One more interesting comment about playing for the Phillies. Billy Cowan also spent one year in the Phillies organization, 1967. He sent this brief note:

"Sorry - Philly was not a happy time for me, but I did enjoy the people & scenery."

I must assume that the people he enjoyed were not the fans. As to the scenery, I'm not sure what natural beauty he savored. As one who lived in the Philadelphia area for twenty years, I know he wasn't talking about the area around Connie Mack Stadium.