Jack Crooks
Image from Old Judge card set | Jack Crooks
Born: November 9, 1865
Died: February 2, 1918
Goto Baseball Reference for Jack Crooks | 3b-2b | Majors:
Yes |
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St. Louis
Position: 3b-2b
First game: April 28, 1888
Last game: June 20, 1888
# of games: 39 | Signed November 9, 1887 from St. Paul (Northwestern League). Sold to Omaha June 20, 1888. Player profile from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (March 11, 1888). SABR biography for Jack Crooks
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Omaha
Position: 2b-1b
First game: June 23, 1888
Last game: October 7, 1888
# of games: 83 | Purchased from St. Louis June 20, 1888 and remained with Omaha through the end of the season. Returned to Omaha for 1889. Player profile from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (March 11, 1888). SABR biography for Jack Crooks 
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Jack Crooks was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1865, and his first two professional seasons were with Minneapolis and the St. Paul, both in the Northwestern League, in 1886 and 1887, respectively. With St. Paul in 1887 he played second base and hit .388 with 206 hits and 11 home runs. St. Paul placed a team in the Western Association for the 1888 season, but Crooks signed with the Whites in November of 1887.
Crooks played in the Whites first six spring games before a leg sprain sidelined him for the rest of spring training. He returned to start at third base on opening day and subsequently played in every Whites game. He was sold to Omaha in the Western Association on June 20, the day of the final game for the Whites. His departure was the death blow to the club, for it left the team with only eight remaining players. The team was unable to field a full club, forfeited its next two games, and then folded. Crooks finished the season playing for Omaha. According to the official league stats, as published in the St. Paul Globe, Crooks finished the season batting .259 with 115 hits in 116 games between the two clubs.
Crooks returned to Omaha for the 1889 season. On June 8, 1889, he became the first player in organized baseball to hit four home runs in a single game (a 19-15 victory over St. Paul). In part because of this game, he was purchased from Omaha by Columbus of the American Association towards the end of the 1889 season. He played two full seasons for Columbus in 1890 and 1891, and in 1892 he returned to St. Louis to play for the Browns. In his first season with the Browns, he was named team captain and also managed the club for two stints. Under his direction, the club went 27-33; the 27 wins were just under half of the team's total of 56 for the season. He spent two seasons in St. Louis (1892 and 1893), and then bounced around the majors for a few more seasons before finishing his major league career with the Browns again in 1898. He settled in St. Louis selling cigars, but continued to play for the local club in Alton.
In 1900, he had a brief stint with Buffalo in the American League (in its final season as a minor league before reorganizing as a major league for the 1901 season) as a fill-in at second base. In 1901, he joined former Browns teammate and friend Percy Werden on the newly organized St. Paul franchise in the Western League. In June both players were traded to Des Moines after their relationship soured. Crooks refused to play with Werden in Des Moines, and wound up signing with Minneapolis a few days later. Minneapolis made him team captain and installed him at first base; he lasted less than one week before he was released.
Crooks only hit .241 for his career, but he was skilled at fouling balls off and drawing walks, totaling 612 in eight seasons. In 1892 for St. Louis, he walked 136 time in 128 games. Only 10 players in baseball history have drawn more walks than games played in a season. (In total, this has been done 18 times, with three of those seasons being Cardinals - Crooks in 1892, Jack Clark in 1987 and Mark McGwire in 1998.) As a result of all his walks, his career on-base percentage was .386. He also stole 220 bases in his career.
While playing in St.Louis, Crooks took a job selling tobacco during the off-season. When he left baseball after the 1898 season, he stayed in St. Louis and continued to sell tobacco. Over the years, he gained weight (to more than 300 lbs), and by 1915 his health was poor enough that former teammates and friends organized a benefit game for him. He died of elephantiasis in February, 1918 after spending the last 2+ years in an insane asylum. His obituary in the Post-Dispatch acknowledged his time with the Whites, but then incorrectly stated that he played for the Browns in 1889 and 1890. He married an Alton, Illinois girl in October, 1892, per the Omaha Daily Bee, identified as Blanche (Dimmett) Crooks in an announcement of his death.
Batting stats for St. Louis
| Date | Pos | AB | R | BH | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | PO | A | E | BB | HPB | K |
| 4-28-1888 | 3b | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | 1 |
| 5-1-1888 | 3b | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | 1 |
| 5-2-1888 | 3b | 5 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 5-3-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 5-6-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 5-7-1888 | 3b | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 5-8-1888 | 3b | 5 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 5-9-1888 | 3b | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | |
| 5-10-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 5-12-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | |
| 5-13-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 5-15-1888 | 3b | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | 1 |
| 5-18-1888 | 2b | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 5-19-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | |
| 5-20-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 5-22-1888 | 3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 5-23-1888 | 3b | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 5-25-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 |
| 5-26-1888 | ss | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 5-27-1888 | 3b | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 5-27-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 5-29-1888 | 3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 5-30-1888 | 3b | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 5-30-1888 | 3b | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | | 1 |
| 5-31-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 6-1-1888 | 3b | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | | | |
| 6-2-1888 | 3b | 4 | 0 | 2 | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 6-5-1888 | 3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | |
| 6-6-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 6-8-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 6-9-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 6-10-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 6-12-1888 | 2b | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 6-13-1888 | 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 1 |
| 6-15-1888 | 3b | 5 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | |
| 6-16-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | 1 |
| 6-17-1888 | 3b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 6-19-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | |
| 6-20-1888 | 3b | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | |
| 39 Games | 147 | 28 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 59 | 80 | 32 | 26 | 2 | 7 |
Batting stats for Omaha
| Date | Pos | AB | R | BH | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | PO | A | E | BB | HPB | K |
| 6-23-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | | |
| 6-24-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | 1 |
| 6-30-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 7-1-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | |
| 7-2-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 7-4-1888 | 2b | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 7-4-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 2 | | 2 | | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 7-6-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | 1 | | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | |
| 7-7-1888 | 2b | 5 | 3 | 4 | | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 7-9-1888 | 2b | 5 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 7-10-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 7-12-1888 | 2b | 3 | 3 | 1 | | 1 | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 7-13-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 2 | | | | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 7-14-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 7-15-1888 | 2b | 5 | 2 | 4 | | 2 | | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 7-18-1888 | lf | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7-19-1888 | rf | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 7-20-1888 | rf | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 7-21-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 7-22-1888 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 7-23-1888 | 2b | 5 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 7-24-1888 | 2b | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | | | |
| 7-25-1888 | 2b | 5 | 2 | 3 | | | | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | | | |
| 7-28-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | |
| 7-29-1888 | 2b | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 7-30-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | |
| 7-31-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | | | |
| 8-1-1888 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 2 | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 8-2-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | | | |
| 8-3-1888 | 2b | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | | |
| 8-4-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | |
| 8-5-1888 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 2 | | | | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | | |
| 8-6-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | | | |
| 8-7-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | |
| 8-8-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 8-9-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 8-12-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 8-14-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 8-15-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 8-16-1888 | 2b | 5 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | 3 |
| 8-17-1888 | 2b | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 8-18-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | | | 1 |
| 8-19-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 0 | | | | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 8-21-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | 1 |
| 8-22-1888 | 2b | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 8-23-1888 | 2b | 5 | 0 | 1 | | | | | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 8-24-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | 1 |
| 8-25-1888 | 2b | 5 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | |
| 8-26-1888 | 2b | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | | |
| 8-27-1888 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | | | |
| 8-28-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 8-30-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 9-1-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | |
| 9-2-1888 | 2b | 3 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 9-5-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 9-6-1888 | 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | |
| 9-7-1888 | 2b | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 9-8-1888 | 2b | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | | |
| 9-9-1888 | 2b | 5 | 1 | 3 | | | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | |
| 9-10-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | | |
| 9-11-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | |
| 9-12-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 9-13-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | |
| 9-16-1888 | 2b | 3 | 0 | 2 | | | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 9-16-1888 | 2b | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | | |
| 9-17-1888 | 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | |
| 9-18-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 2 | | | | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 9-19-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 9-20-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 9-20-1888 | 1b | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | | 1 | |
| 9-22-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 9-23-1888 | 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 9-23-1888 | 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | |
| 9-25-1888 | 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 1 |
| 9-28-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 9-29-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 17 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 9-30-1888 | 1b | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | | | |
| 10-2-1888 | 1b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 10-3-1888 | 1b | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | | | 2 | 15 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 10-4-1888 | 1b | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 10-6-1888 | 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 10-7-1888 | 1b | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | 2 | 10 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 10-7-1888 | 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 83 Games | 316 | 46 | 79 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 41 | 354 | 195 | 44 | 29 | 1 | 8 |
