Jackie Price

John Thomas Reid Price (November 13, 1912 – October 2, 1967) was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played in seven games for the Cleveland Indians during the 1946 Cleveland Indians season.[1] He was known for delighting fans with his skills - such as batting whilst hanging upside-down or throwing three balls to three different men in one movement[2] - and was dubbed "the Clown Prince of Baseball" for antics which included releasing a pair of five-foot Boa constrictors on board a train.[3][4][5] Price briefly teamed up with Max Patkin, another baseball clown; together they were described by Boston Red Sox manager Lou Boudreau as the "funniest show I ever saw".[6]

After suffering depression for a number of years, Price hanged himself at his home on October 2, 1967.[7] In the 40's and early 50's, Price tour the minor leagues putting quite a show. It included standing on the mound a catching thrown baseballs in the unzipped fly of his uniform. The finale of the show included a compressed air baseball gun that shot baseballs long distances. He convinced local Cadillac dealers to loan him a convertible. He would drive in the outfield and catch balls shot from the gun as they were about to hit the windshield. A bat boy would usually ride along. Of course, no seat belts were worn.

References

  1. ↑ Schneider, Russ (2005). The Cleveland Indians Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 205. ISBN 1582618402.
  2. ↑ Daniel Okrent & Steve Wulf (1989). Baseball Anecdotes. Oxford University Press. p. 219. ISBN 0195043960.
  3. ↑ Ballgame, Teddy. "Remembering Baseball’s Clowns". The Baseball Zealot website. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Welsh, Charles (11 August 1959). "Jackie Price Finding Fewer Places To Show". Park City Daily News: 10.
  5. ↑ Barthel, Thomas (2007). Baseball Barnstorming and Exhibition Games, 1901-1962: A History of Off-Season Major League Play. McFarland. p. 148. ISBN 0786428112.
  6. ↑ Polling, Jerry (2002). A Summer Up North: Henry Aaron and the Legend of Eau Claire Baseball. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 45. ISBN 0299181839.
  7. ↑ Marston, Clay. "Johnny Price (I)". IMDb. IMDB.com, Inc. Retrieved 8 March 2013.

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