Introduction
Danny Green
EDWARD “DANNY” GREEN was born on November 6, 1876 in Burlington County, New Jersey. He played baseball in Camden with one of the better semipro teams there and in the minors with the Springfield, Massachusetts franchise in the Eastern League. An outfielder, he first played professionally in 1896 with the Carlisle Colts of the Cumberland Valley League. The next year he went to the Massachusetts to play with the Springfield Ponies of the Eastern League, where he hit .301 with 55 extra base hits and 45 stolen bases. He played 87 games for Springfield in 1896 and was hitting .323 when he was called up to play in the major league.
Danny Green made his major league debut with the National League’s Chicago Orphans (later renamed the Cubs) on August 17, 1898. One of the fastest players in the game, he hit well for average, with some power and was a good fielder with an excellent arm. He played four years for the Orphans before jumping to the American League’s Chicago White Stockings in 1902, where he played four more years. Danny Green continued to play professionally through at least 1910, and may have played some semi-pro ball after that.
Newspaper accounts state that he was severely injured when hit by a pitched ball, which led to paralysis and “softening of the brain,” that is to say, he was considered insane due to diminished capacity. At least one account also states that he had contracted tuberculosis. His symptoms as described are also consistent with those of advanced syphillis, and one account states he had paresis f the brain. By August of 1912 he was confined to a sanatorium near Chicago. In January of 1914, two friends from Camden, policemen Wright Cox and Albert Keaser, arranged for him to be sent back to New Jersey to be near his mother and sister. Danny Green was admitted to the Camden County Insane Asylum at Lakeland, where he passed away on November 9, 1914. He was survived by his son Edward Green, who was attending school in Chicago, a sister, and his mother.
Minors Batting Statistics
| Year | Age | Team | League | Lev | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | BA | SLG | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | 19 | Carlisle | CMVL | Ind | 31 | — | 19 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 47 |
| 1897 | 20 | Springfield | EL | A | 124 | 529 | 134 | 159 | 28 | 17 | 6 | 45 | .301 | .452 | 239 |
| 1898 | 21 | Springfield | EL | A | 87 | 356 | 66 | 115 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 27 | .323 | .489 | 174 |
| 1906 | 29 | Milwaukee | AA | A | 150 | 551 | — | 177 | 34 | 9 | 8 | — | .321 | .459 | 253 |
| 1907 | 30 | Milwaukee | AA | A | 150 | 562 | — | 143 | 30 | 4 | 3 | — | .254 | .338 | 190 |
| 1908 | 31 | 2 Teams | 2 Lgs | A | 129 | 441 | — | 106 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | .240 | .082 | 36 |
| 1908 | 31 | Sioux City | WL | A | 79 | 265 | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | .294 | — | — |
| 1908 | 31 | Milwaukee | AA | A | 50 | 176 | — | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | .159 | .205 | 36 |
| 1909 | 32 | Sioux City | WL | A | 61 | 190 | — | 43 | 5 | 0 | 2 | — | .226 | .284 | 54 |
| 1910 | 33 | Burlington | CENA | D | 44 | 159 | — | 39 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | .245 | .340 | 54 |
| 8 Seasons | 732 | 2660 | — | 762 | 125 | 41 | 27 | 72 | .283 | .360 | 946 | ||||
Source: Baseball Reference
Major League Batting Statistics
| Year | Age | Team | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | 21 | CHC | NL | 35 | 145 | 135 | 22 | 37 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 19 | 9 | 8 | .274 | .317 | .400 | .717 | 101 | 54 |
| 1899 | 22 | CHC | NL | 116 | 491 | 450 | 67 | 130 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 62 | 26 | 36 | .289 | .352 | .404 | .756 | 111 | 182 |
| 1900 | 23 | CHC | NL | 116 | 488 | 437 | 70 | 118 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 53 | 20 | 46 | .270 | .349 | .390 | .739 | 111 | 170 |
| 1901 | 24 | CHC | NL | 129 | 526 | 496 | 80 | 141 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 60 | 28 | 28 | .284 | .326 | .389 | .715 | 103 | 193 |
| 1902 | 25 | CHW | AL | 127 | 529 | 494 | 72 | 142 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 62 | 18 | 33 | .287 | .335 | .374 | .709 | 107 | 185 |
| 1903 | 26 | CHW | AL | 131 | 532 | 490 | 71 | 137 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 62 | 18 | 40 | .280 | .340 | .378 | .718 | 108 | 185 |
| 1904 | 27 | CHW | AL | 147 | 600 | 561 | 62 | 137 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 62 | 23 | 36 | .244 | .294 | .316 | .610 | 86 | 177 |
| 1905 | 28 | CHW | AL | 127 | 511 | 463 | 54 | 113 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 33 | 18 | 23 | .244 | .283 | .312 | .595 | 84 | 145 |
| 8 Seasons | 928 | 3822 | 3526 | 498 | 955 | 137 | 60 | 30 | 413 | 160 | 250 | .271 | .325 | .374 | .699 | — | 1291 | |||
Source: Baseball Reference
Photos
Danny Green
Danny Green
1900 Census
Taken in June of 1900, Danny Green, wife Anna and son Edward were living in the 600 block on Van Buren Street in Chicago, in the same building as teammate Virgil “Ned” Garvin.
1900 Census – Danny Green household, Van Buren Street, Chicago
The First Practice Game
Springfield Massachusetts Republican —
The First Practice Game.
“Shorty” Fuller, Killeen and “Dan” Green were the three “Ponies” who showed up at Hampden park for the first time yesterday. Manager “Tom” had enough men to pick two teams from, and the lads were put through their paces and showed up remarkably well. The cranks are taking a hopeful view of the prospects of the season, and are beginning already to bank on some of Burns’s finds. The players who have not yet reported are McDougal, “Bert” Inks, Lee, Adams and Woods.
They Couldn’t Find Dolan
Springfield Massachusetts Republican —
The “Bisons” Got Sweet Revenge on “Wallie” at Last—Some Lively Eastern League Games.
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — July 25, 1897 (2 of 5)
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — July 25, 1897 (3 of 5)
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — July 25, 1897 (4 of 5)
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — July 25, 1897 (5 of 5)
Sporting News and Gossip
Springfield Massachusetts Republican —
The Springfield Twirler Talks About Manager Burns and the Springfield Club Generally.
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — February 7, 1898 (2 of 3)
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — February 7, 1898 (3 of 3)
Passed Balls
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Passed Balls
PASSED BALLS
[Column featuring "Danny" Green as a player who sets the pace, from Tom Burns. Green is described as a West Jersey boy who played on teams along the eastern bank of the Delaware, such as Bordentown and Camden.]
Dan Green Presented Gold Watch
Cincinnati Post —
Dan Green, of Tom Burns’ Orphans, hails from Camden—across the Delaware—and he was presented with a gold watch during the Chicago-Philadelphia series. Camden was the home of the Merritts, a once famous Jersey organization.
Camden to Play Benefit Game
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Philadelphia Inquirer — October 17, 1906. Pictured: Kid Gleason – Morris Steelman – Eggie Lennox – Danny Green – Wid Conroy – Harry Gleason – George Clayton – Billy Fischman – Perry Verga – Isaac “Ike” Toy
Benefit Game for Ike Toy in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Benefit Game for Ike Toy in Camden
Benefit Game for Ike Toy in Camden
Weather permitting, another large crowd will overflow the Camden grounds tomorrow when the benefit game for Ike Toy will be played. The regular Camden team will line up against a picked team of all the "prides of Camden" who are now playing ball in the big leagues. Conroy, the Gleasons, Green, Lennox, Steelman, Verga, Fischman, Bob Black, and possibly Harry Davis and Rube Waddell.
Still Playing Ball in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Still Playing Ball in Camden
Still Playing Ball in Camden
Base ball will run longer in Camden this season than ever it did, for on Saturday the final game of the season will be played, when the regular Camden team meets a picked team of the major leagues composed of Conroy, the Gleasons, Greene, Fischman, Lennox, Black, Verga and others. The receipts of this game go toward a benefit fund for Ike Toy, once a popular idol to Camden ball fans. An exhibition of association football will also be played.
Danny Green Breaks Down
Portland Oregonian —
Danny Green Breaks Down.
CHICAGO, July 31.—Danny Green, an ex-outfielder of the Chicago National League Club, and later of the Chicago Americans, who has been in poor health for the last two years, is seriously ill here.
Danny Green Is Ill at Chicago
New Orleans Item —
Danny Green Is Ill at Chicago.
CHICAGO, Aug. 3.—Friends and admirers of Danny Green, for years an idol at the West and South Side ball parks, will be grieved to learn that he is confined in the Cook county infirmary at Oak Forest and that hope of his getting better has been given up. Tuberculosis is Danny’s complaint. He has been ill for two years, but it was not until a month ago that he gave up and yielded to his friends’ pleading that he go to a hospital.
Green first won a place in the hearts of Chicagoans by his work as an out-fielder on the West Side team when Bill Lange, Dahlen, Callahan and Griffith were members of the club. He was fast on his feet and a dangerous hitter. When the baseball was started Danny jumped from the West to the South Side and took a regular job in the White Sox outfield. Later he went to Milwaukee and when his league days were over played on semi-pro teams here.
Baseball Briefs
Springfield Massachusetts Republican —
Baseball Briefs.
New Haven at League park this afternoon.
Montreal has won six double-headers this season, and all on Saturdays.
Outfielder Carrigan of the Washington State league has been bought by the White Sox.
Pitcher Cole of Pittsburg has been indefinitely suspended for not taking the proper care of himself.
The White Sox have taken up a collection for Danny Green. They are talking of playing a benefit game for Green.
Danny Green
Omaha World Herald —
By Miles Greenleaf
Danny Green is dying of consumption at his home
Near the old West Side arena in Chicago, Illinois,
And the plaudits of the multitude will ring upon the dome
That hung above the outfield when Old Danny was a boy.
They used to call ’em Orphans and they used to call ’em Colts,
But the National Chicagos are the Cubs in present day;
And many an old timer of the bleacher tribe revolts
When you say that they are faster than when Danny used to play.
He covered, in the outfield, all the territory then,
That could any modern marvel that the baseball world has seen;
And we hope those ancient plaudits will be ringing to him when
They have to call the game upon “Chicago Danny” Green.
Ball Softened His Brain
Rockford Illinois Republic —
Rockford, Illinois Republic — January 19, 1914
Danny Green Now in Camden Sanatorium
Washington DC Evening Star —
Former Star Outfielder of Cubs and White Sox Is Mental Wreck.
PHILADELPHIA, January 19.—Edward Danny Green, who a decade ago ranked with the leading outfielders in the major leagues, is now an inmate of the Camden County Hospital, Blackwood, N. J., fifteen miles from Camden.
Washington DC Evening Star — January 19, 1914 (2 of 4)
Washington DC Evening Star — January 19, 1914 (3 of 4)
Washington DC Evening Star — January 19, 1914 (4 of 4)
Mentioned: Wright Cox – Al Keaser
Danny Green Insane
Springfield Massachusetts Republican —
Springfield Favorite Never Recovered From Being Hit With Ball.
Edward Danny Green, a great favorite as a member of the Springfield team of the old Eastern league days and later one of the leading outfielders in the major leagues, is now an inmate of the Camden county hospital, Blackwood, N. J.
Springfield Massachusetts Republican — January 21, 1914 (2 of 2)
Mentioned: Wid Conroy – Harry Gleason – Kid Gleason – Jim Callahan – Harry Davis – Dan Murphy – Eddie Plank – Chief Bender – Camden Mudhens
Danny Green Dead
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Danny Green Dead
Former Member of White Sox Dies After Long Illness
For many years famous as a member of the White Sox, Danny Green died at the Camden County Hospital at Blackwood Sunday after being ill for a long period. Several years ago he was struck on the head by a pitched ball while a member of the Minneapolis team. He was badly injured and later paralysis developed, which affected his mind. For a long period he was confined in a sanatorium at Forest Hills, near Chicago, when two Camden friends, Wright Cox and Albert Keaser, learned of his plight. They brought him East to Camden and had him cared for at the hospital.
During his early career Green played ball in Camden and became such an adept that he went with the Springfield Mass. team, his first professional engagement. Later he joined the Chicago Nationals, remaining four years. After a year spent with the minors he was signed by the Chicago Americans, where he remained five years, or until he went to Minneapolis.
Green was a close acquaintance of “Jimmy” Callahan, manager of the White Sox; Charles Comiskey and Ed Walsh, the famous pitcher. Callahan is said to possess Green’s insurance papers and an effort is being made to locate him to apprise him of Danny’s death.