Ed 'Eggie' Lennox

JAMES EDGAR LENNOX was born in Camden NJ on November 3, 1885. He was one of ten brothers, and there also was a sister, Margaret. Known as Ed and also by his nickname, “Eggie,” he was one of the best sandlot baseball players in Camden at the turn of the century. After less than two seasons in the minor leagues, he was called up by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1906 for a cup of coffee. He spent the next two years in the minor leagues before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in advance of the 1909 season. Playing 126 games that season, Ed Lennox led all National League third basemen in fielding. No slouch at the bat, his .262 batting average was 22 points over the league average, and quite good for the Dodgers, who as a team hit only .229 collectively. His 1910 season was virtually a carbon copy of 1909. Ed Lennox spent 1911 and most of 1912 with Louisville of the American Association. He was picked up by the Chicago Cubs in August of that year, and appeared in 27 games with the Cubs. He played for Montreal of the International League during the 1913 season.

In 1914 a third major league, the Federal League, appeared on the scene. Ed Lennox was signed by the Pittsburgh club to a two year, $12,000 contract. He had his finest major league season that year, hitting .312 and finishing among the top five in the league in home runs, runs batted in, slugging, walks, on base percentage, and extra base hits. In 1915 he appears to have been hampered by injuries, and his play was limited for the most part to pinch-hitting. This would be his last appearance in the major leagues.

Ed Lennox would play for the most part in the low minors until 1925. Returning to Camden, he played two years of semi-pro ball with the Camden club. Beginning in 1928, he worked as an umpire for several seasons in the Virginia and Piedmont leagues. In his later years Ed Lennox worked as a scout for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Athletics.

Ed Lennox fell ill in the summer of 1939. After an operation in August, he suffered a relapse, passing away at Cooper Hospital in Camden on October 26, 1939.

Three of Ed Lennox’s brothers were also known locally as good ballplayers. Brothers Robert and Samuel both played minor league ball. Samuel Lennox also played professional basketball as a member of the Eastern Basketball League champion 1919–1920 Camden Crusaders. Brother John H. Lennox served as the chief of Camden’s fire department from 1932 to 1947.

If Hurlers Eggie Recommended to Yankees Make the Grade, Camden Star is More Than Likely to Obtain Job as Scout With World’s Champions

By Tom Ryan

“Wouldn’t it be a big boost for Eggie Lennox if Roy Sherrid and Johnny “Lefty” Doyle both show enough stuff to become regular members of the New York Yankees’ pitching staff this year?”

That’s the remark which was voiced by a rabid baseball fan today when it was reported that the Yanks are combing the country for a brace of southpaw flingers, but, in a pinch, will split their needs and take one left-hander and another tuner who heaves the right way. The Yanks are sadly in need of another southpaw. Herb Pennock is the only unorthodox flinger remaining on the Yanks’ payroll, “Dutch” Reuther and Joe Giard having passed on to other fields.

However, what interested the local “bug” is the fact that Lennox recommended both Sherrid and Doyle as pitching prospects to the Yankees’ management and that both flingers are almost certain to accompany the club on its spring training trip.

Both Hurlers Well Known Here

Although Sherrid and Doyle are not local pitching products, South Jersey fans are as highly interested in their welfare as if they belonged in this section. Sherrid’s home is in Norristown, while Doyle is a resident of Philadelphia, but owing to the fact that Sherrid hurled for Lou Schaub’s Camden Club and Ocean City, and that Doyle pitched for both Clementon and Gibbsboro in the County League, they have every fan in this area pulling for them to make the grade.

“If Sherrid and Doyle should both be retained by the Yankees, Lennox’s ability in selecting prospective big league pitchers should entitle him to grab off a scouting job with the Yankees, for that’s what they appear to be in need of for the next few years more than any other players,” continued the fan. “At that, the Yankees’ management must think well of Lennox’s judgment when they tendered both youngsters a contract on his recommendation.

“And it wouldn’t be surprising if both Sherrid and Doyle exhibit enough ‘stuff’ on the training trip to stick, as I have seen them in action and believe they have the ability to land a job in the ‘big show,’” said the fan in bringing his oration to a close.

Sherrid’s Start Like Fairy Tale

The “booster’s” views are shared by hundreds of other South Jersey fans who have seen both curvers display their pitching prowess, and who are expecting great things from Sherrid and Doyle in the near future. Sherrid’s start in first class independent baseball reads like a tale from the Arabian nights.

In mid-season of 1921, Schaub’s pitching corps was badly in need of bolstering and the Camden pilot was willing to go the limit to obtain an effective flinger, but could not land one who could turn in victories with any consistency until Sherrid bobbed up on the horizon.

Here’s how it all happened.

Walter “Reds” Harris, now resident of Norristown, but who is well known to older baseball fans here, having played with Camden A. C., X.X.V., and several other semi-pro clubs in Camden, had been touting Sherrid to Schaub, and though the latter thought Sherrid was a “bloomer” like several dozen other flingers who had been boosted to him earlier in the season, he was in such a bad way for pitchers that he told Harris to bring Sherrid to Catasauqua and that he’d look him over at least.

Works Two Days Hard Running

Harris, who had plugged Sherrid’s wares to Schaub for several weeks, was tickled to death with the proposal and towed his find up to Catasauqua the day Camden was due to tackle the “Catties.” Schaub liked Sherrid’s looks and wanted him to work that day, but was skeptical about starting him as the kid admitted he had worked nine innings the night before at Norristown.

Nevertheless, he insisted he could go the route again that day and he proved it. The home forces only got three blows and as a result of Sherrid’s airtight flinging, Camden won 3 to 1. After that exhibition, Sherrid, who was then pitching under the name of Richards, owing to the fact that he still was attending college, became a regular member of the Camden hurling staff. He won six straight for the locals before joining Ocean City, where he continued his great work, winning 12 out of the 14 games in which he participated.

However, before leaving Camden, Sherrid signed an agreement to play with the Yankees. Lennox, sensing a great curver in Sherrid, wrote Eddie Holly, who was then an ivory hunter for the Yankees, just what a great prospect Sherrid appeared to be and after looking him over once, Holly immediately offered him a contract upon which Sherrid placed his signature without the slightest hesitation.

Is Student at Albright College

The burly hurler returned to school that fall and rejoined Camden last spring. He only worked two or three games here before he was sent to York, of the New York–Penn League, by the Yankees. He was well up among the leading hurlers at the close of the race in that circuit and his showing evidently made an impression on Miller Huggins for Sherrid’s name appears on the list of the players who are expected to accompany the club on its spring training trip.

Sherrid still is attending Albright College, but is expected to graduate shortly. However, even though he does not obtain his sheepskin by the time the Yanks start south he more than likely will foreswear his degree and accompany the club when he gets the call to report.

From Clementon to Yanks in Two Leaps

Doyle, while not as tall or as heavy as Sherrid, is one of the sweetest little left-handers ever to toe a slab. He first broke into the limelight in this section when he accepted an offer to hurl for Clementon, of the Camden County League, in the spring of 1926. Johnny was a success from the start and it wasn’t long before every club in the circuit was “leery” of facing his southpaw slants.

But, he didn’t linger long with the “Clams.” Offered better inducements by several other clubs in the league, he broached the matter to Roy Nichols, who was managing Clementon, and as the latter team had no chance to win the crown and could not afford to increase Doyle’s salary.

“Nick” did more than the average manager would do by turning him loose to sign with any club he desired. Johnny hooked up with Gibbsboro and his brilliant hurling kept them in the title hunt until the final days of the race.

He rejoined the “paintmakers” at the start of last year’s campaign, but also signed up with Lansdale of the Montgomery County League, where Lennox, who was a member of the Pottstown Club, of the same circuit, became so impressed with his work that he also recommended him to the Yankees.

Lennox Likes Both Boys’ Chances

Paul Kritchell is the Yankee scout who signed Doyle upon Lennox’s say so, and if anyone should ask Eggie just what he thinks of both boys’ chances of sticking in the “main show” he’ll get the answer, “if they don’t make the grade it won’t be because they haven’t got the stuff, for both of them have enough to make it tough for nearly any club in baseball today.”

That’s what Eggie thinks of Sherrid and Doyle, and if they should vindicate his judgment, he will gain recognition as being one of the best pickers of hurling material in the country.

“Every fan who is acquainted with Sherrid and Doyle is pulling for them to cop a regular berth with the world’s champions, for they are clean-cut youngsters both on and off the field.”

Major League batting statistics (Baseball Reference):

1914 Federal League leaderboard finishes: OBP (.414, 4th) — SLG (.493, 4th) — OPS (.907, 3rd) — Home Runs (11, 5th) — RBI (84, 8th) — Base on Balls (71, 4th) — Adjusted OPS+ (158, 3rd) — Extra-Base Hits (46, 9th) — Power/Speed Number (13.9, 6th)

Former Famous Ball Player Dies in Relapse After Operation

The funeral of “Eggie” Lennox, famous major league baseball player of more than 30 years ago, who died yesterday in Cooper Hospital will be held at 1:00 PM Monday at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and Son, 408 Cooper Street.

Services will be conducted by Rev. Walter Hunt, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Six brothers will be pallbearers.

James Edgar Lennox was the full name of the old time ball player. He was a brother of Fire Chief John H. Lennox. He was 55 and lived at 517 Newton Avenue. He was one of nine brothers.

Mr. Lennox was operated on early in August. He was confined to Cooper Hospital for several weeks. He suffered a relapse at his home August 27 and was returned to the hospital.

An aggressive youth, Mr. Lennox stood out among sandlot players in Camden during the early 1900s and first entered organized baseball in 1905. At the age of 20 he was playing with and against some of the most famous stars in the history of the national pastime. During his career, over a span of more than 25 years of active play, Mr. Lennox was a member of three major league clubs and 10 minor league teams. He held the title as best third baseman in the National League in 1909 and in later years served as an umpire in two minor circuits and as scout for several big league clubs.

Teamed With Rube Waddell

Starting his rise to fame with Bob Black’s old Camden team in 1904, Mr. Lennox played alongside Rube Waddell, Connie Mack’s spectacular southpaw; Fred “Cy” Perkins who succeeded Manager Black as first baseman for the Camden team; Billy Gray, “Butch” Rementer and Howard Berry. The latter was the father of J. Howard Berry, one-time University of Pennsylvania football star. Among other well known players who disported on the Camden diamond were Perry Verga and Billy Fishman, Seck Hewitt, Frank “Reds” Easler, Rollie Zollers, Ed Pollack, and Fred Koelle, who was assistant manager of the team. The Camden club of that era played at Twelfth and Federal Streets, west of the spot where the Sears Roebuck store is now located.

“Eggie” first entered organized baseball in 1905 with the Meriden Club of the Connecticut League. He played with Lancaster in the old Tri-State League in 1906 and later that year was given a tryout with the Athletics.

Joining the A’s at Chicago, Mr. Lennox replaced the famous “Rube” Oldring, who until then had played third base for the Mackmen. Oldring was shifted to the outfield and became one of the greatest fly-chasers in the history of the major leagues.

Topped Big League Fielders

Manager Mack decided Mr. Lennox needed further experience and let him go to Rochester, then in the Eastern League, for the 1907 and 1908 seasons. The Brooklyn National League Club purchased Mr. Lennox’s contract in 1909. He enjoyed one of the greatest years of his baseball career that season and was one of the foremost players of the Brooklyn club in 1910.

Mr. Lennox led the National League third basemen in fielding during the 1909 campaign with an average of .959. He registered 167 putouts, 210 assists and was charged with only 16 errors in 121 games. During those years, baseball players were considerably more pugnacious than modern rules permit. As a result there were more frequent clashes than are seen on the playing field nowadays. In the midst of many of these disputes was “Eggie” Lennox and like his teammates and rivals, he often drew suspensions for battling. Oldtime umpires lacked the undisputable authority they now hold and they quite often were the targets of both players and spectators.

Mr. Lennox was released by the Brooklyn club in 1911 to the Louisville team in the American Association. The Chicago Cubs purchased his contract from Louisville in August, 1911. He was released to Louisville again in 1912 and later that season transferred to the Kansas City club. In February, 1913, he was released to the Montreal Club of the International League, where he played one season.

Signed for $12,000

“Eggie” went to the outlawed Federal League in 1914 when he received a two-year contract calling for payment of $12,000 from the Pittsburgh Club. This was one of the highest salaries paid an infielder in that period.

When the Federal League disbanded in 1916, Mr. Lennox went to the Atlanta team in the Southern Association. His next play was with the Elmira Club of the New York State circuit in 1917. He next appeared with the Springfield MA team in 1919. The following year he went to the Lebanon Club of the Steel League.

Regarded as the outstanding feature of his long career was a game “Eggie” played May 6, 1914, while with the Pittsburgh team. He hit two home runs, a double, a triple and a single in five times at bat. Throughout his playing days “Eggie” was rated as a consistent hitter.

Following his withdrawal from organized baseball, Mr. Lennox played with the Camden Club in 1926–27. He also served as umpire in the Virginia and Piedmont circuits and acted as arbiter in many games in South Jersey. During recent years he also acted as a scout for the New York Yankees, the Giants and Athletics.

Three brothers, Samuel, Hugh F., and Robert W. Lennox were outstanding baseball and basketball players in Camden. Samuel and Robert played several years in minor leagues. Three other brothers and a sister surviving are Edward K., William, James, and Miss Margaret Lennox, who reside at the Newton Avenue address.