Dave Fultz

Dave Fultz
Outfielder
Born: May 29, 1875
Staunton, Virginia
Died: October 29, 1959 (aged 84)
DeLand, Florida
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 1, 1898 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1905 for the New York Highlanders
Career statistics
Batting average .271
Stolen bases 189
Runs batted in 223
Teams
Dave Fultz
Career information
Position(s): Fullback
College: Brown
Organizations
As coach:
1898–1899
1902
1903
1904
1910–1911		 Missouri
Lafayette
Brown
NYU
Columbia
As player:
1899
1900–1901		 Duquesne Country & A. C.
Homestead Library & A. C.
Career highlights and awards

David Lewis Fultz (May 29, 1875 – October 29, 1959) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He played Major League Baseball as a center fielder in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies (1898–1899) and Baltimore Orioles (1899), and for the Philadelphia Athletics (1901–1902) and New York Highlanders (1903–1905) of the American League. He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season career, Fultz posted a .271 batting average with 223 RBI and three home runs in 644 games played. Fultz played college football and college baseball at Brown University, from which he graduated in 1898. He served as the head football coach at the University of Missouri (1898–1899), Lafayette College (1902), Brown (1903), and New York University (1904), compiling a career college football coaching record of 26–19–2. Fultz was also the head baseball coach at the United States Naval Academy in 1907 and at Columbia University from 1910 to 1911.

Early life and career

A native of Staunton, Virginia, Fultz graduated in 1898 with a law degree from Brown University, where he excelled in football and baseball and was named captain of both teams. Signed by the Phillies the same year, he played for them in part of two seasons and went to Baltimore in the 1899 midseason and played under John McGraw. With McGraw, Fultz developed as a solid bases stealer, and in hit and run and bunting situations.

Later career in baseball

Fultz in 1903

When the American League was created, Fultz joined the Philadelphia Athletics of Connie Mack in 1901, appearing at shortstop and second base, and later moved to center field. Fultz led his team with 36 stolen bases and hit .292 with 95 runs scored. His most productive season came in 1902, when he stole 44 bases, hit a career-high .302, and led the American League with 109 runs. On September 4, he stole second base, third and home, in the second inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers.

From 1903 to 1905, Fultz played for the New York Highlanders when Clark Griffith managed the team. During the offseason and in his spare time he attended New York Law School, passing the New York bar exam. Fultz averaged 30 stolen bases for season with a high 42 in 1905. That season, he suffered a late September collision with teammate Kid Elberfeld, breaking his nose and jaw, and retired at 31 age.

Football playing career

Fultz also played professional football in 1900 and 1901 with the Homestead Library & Athletic Club, as a fullback. In 1901 he was named the team's captain.[1] Prior to playing for Homestead, Fultz played football for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club in 1899.[2]

Coaching career

Fultz served as the head football coach at the University of Missouri (1898–1899), Lafayette College (1902), Brown University (1903), and New York University (1904), compiling a career college football record of 26–19–2.[3] He also coached baseball at the United States Naval Academy, Columbia University and NYU.

Missouri

Fultz got his first coaching job in 1898 as the eighth head football coach at the University of Missouri. Missouri finished with a 1–4–1 record under Fultz. He returned to coach the Tigers for one game in 1900, a victory, before handing over the reins to his former Brown teammate, Fred W. Murphy. Ernest Cleveland "E.C." White coached Missouri to a 9–2 record in 1899.

Lafayette

In 1902, Fultz returned to coaching at Lafayette College and posted an record of 8–3. In six of the victories, the opponents were held scoreless.[4]

NYU

In 1904 Fultz became the seventh head football coach at the New York University (NYU).[5] His coaching record at NYU was 3–6.

Later life

In 1906, Fultz became a practicing attorney. In 1912, he created a furor in baseball by unionizing major league players in an organization called the Players Fraternity. Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson were among its officers. The group threatened to strike in 1917, but the walkout was averted after Fultz obtained some concessions for the players. The union was disintegrated during World War I.

After service as a WWI lieutenant aviator, Fultz became president of the International League. He retired in 1947 as a lawyer with offices at Broadway in New York City, and came to Lake Helen, Florida, where he bought the estate of Henry A. DeLand. Fultz died in DeLand, Florida, at the age of 84.

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Missouri Tigers (Independent) (1898)
1898 Missouri 1–4–1
1899 Missouri 9–2
Missouri: 10–6–1
Lafayette Leopards (Independent) (1902)
1902 Lafayette 8–3
Lafayette: 8–3
Brown Bears (Independent) (1903)
1903 Brown 5–4–1
Brown: 5–4–1
NYU Violets (Independent) (1904)
1904 NYU 3–6
NYU: 3–6
Total: 26–19–2

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sporting Notes". The Worcester Spy. 1901-08-03.
  2. ↑ "The Worst Season Ever" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. pp. 1–2.
  3. ↑ 2009 Football Media Guide (PDF), Brown University, 2009.
  4. ↑ 1902 Lafayette University football records
  5. ↑ The Ultimate Guide to College Football, James Quirk, 2004

External links