A Biography of Patrick “Patsy” Henery Dougherty
1876 - - 1940
Info Found: Andover News , Wellsville Daily Reporter and Olean Times Herald Newspapers; Websites: baseballhistorian.com; baseball-reference.com; findagrave.com; wikipedia.org; Compiled by William A. Greene, Andover.
On October 27th of 1876 a son was born to Anthony and Helen Kane Dougherty in the town of Andover, New York. Not much is known about him as a child. At some point in time the family moved to Bolivar where we find them in 1900. Patrick is living at home and working as an book keeper. This is all about to change.
I don’t know exactly when Patrick started playing baseball, but he had made a name for himself in the local baseball circles as a pitcher. We find him in the summer of 1901 playing in the Minor Leagues for the Bridgeport Orators (Connecticut State) baseball team as an outfielder. Bridgeport ended the season with 61 wins and 43 losses’ to place 2nd in their division. On August 27th, of the same year “Patsy” was sent to the Cincinnati Reds. He wasn’t there very long because we next find him in September of 1901 with the Boston Americans (Red Sox’s). When they found out that “Patsy” could play the game, things happened very quickly.
“Patsy” made his professional debut on April 19th, 1902 with Boston. Boston finished the season with 77 wins and 60 losses’ but this was their second season in the American League. “Patsy” ended the season playing in 108 games and was at bat 438 times and had scored 77 runs and had 150 hits with 12 doubles, 6 triples and 34 runs batted in, had 20 stolen bases, the most for the Boston team and was Boston’s leading hitter and one of the leagues leading hitters with a batting average of .342. The left-handed slugger had made a name for himself in the big league as a first year player.
In 1903 “Patsy” and Boston were right back into game. They won their division with 91 wins and 47 losses. “Patsy” played in 139 games, was at bat 590 times and led the American League with 107 runs and 195 hits. He had 19 doubles, 12 triples, 4 home runs, with 59 runs batted in. He had Boston’s stolen base record for that season with 35 and had Boston’s best batting average with .331.
On May 20th, 1903 the Andover News ran this article: P.H. Dougherty of Bolivar Coming to the Front
Patrick H. Dougherty of Bolivar is fast gaining a reputation as a clever ball player. He now leads off the batting for the Boston American League team and is immensely popular.
In baseball when a player hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game, not necessarily in that order, it is called a cycle. This has only happened 276 times in baseball history since 1882. On July 29th, 1903 “Patsy” Dougherty did this while playing for Boston.
With Boston winning their American League division in 1903 they were to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the very first World Series. Boston won the series winning 5 games to 3. But it was “Patsy” Dougherty that stole the show by single handedly winning game two of the series. He hit two homers, one in the first inning and the other in the sixth, thus becoming the first player to hit two home runs in a single game of a World Series. This record stood until 1915 when Harry Hooper of the Red Sox’s repeated it against the Philadelphia Phillies. “Patsy” finished the series with a .235 average. He was at bat 34 times and had 8 hits, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 3 runs and 5 runs batted in. On his Boston team were Hall of Famers Cy Young and Jimmy Collins.
Despite his stellar play, the Sox traded him on June 17th 1904 to the New York Highlanders (Yankees) after 49 games. He again led the American League in runs scored with 113. From then on his hitting declined, and never reached the highs of his first two seasons.
March 9th, 1906 Andover News
P.H. Dougherty of Bolivar, the left fielder of the New York American League baseball team, has gone to Birmingham Alabama, where the team will do its spring practicing.
On June 6th, 1906 the Chicago White Sox purchased “Patsy” from the New York Highlanders (Yankee’s). “Patsy” helped Chicago go to the World Series that year. He was the first player to appear in two Series for two different teams. He played in all 6 games, which saw the White Sox defeat the cross-town rival Cubs 4 games to 2.
In 1908 “Patsy” had the most stolen bases in the American League with the Chicago White Sox. He had 47 during the year.
“Patsy” finished his baseball career with Chicago and played his last game on September 22nd, 1911.
His career totals were 1,233 games played, 1,294 hits, 678 runs, 17 home runs, 261 stolen bases and a good .284 career batting average.
“Patsy” Dougherty returned to Allegany County in the fall of 1911, but he remained involved in professional baseball as an organizer and officer of the local Interstate League. He also served as assistant treasurer at the State Bank of Bolivar.
On May 8th, 1916 in Olean at an exhibition game between the St. Louis Browns of the American League and the Olean White Sox, Fielder Jones part owner and manager of the Browns officiated pre game ceremonies to honor “Patsy” Dougherty.
P. H. DOUGHERTY DIES IN BOLIVAR
Former Big League Ball Player Succumbs to Heart Attack After Long Illness
Bolivar: April 30th, 1940
P.H. Dougherty passed away this morning at his home in Bolivar at 2 o’clock, after a heart attack, following a long illness. Mr. Dougherty was well known in Bolivar working for many years in the State Bank of Bolivar, and had lived in the community for 57 years.
During his life he had played baseball for three major league clubs as an outfielder, including the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He was born on October 27th, 1876 a son of Anthony and Helen Kane Daugherty.
In Feb. 1904 he was united in marriage to Florence Mott, who survives him, with two daughters and three sons. The daughters are; Helen and Mary K Dougherty, both living at home in Bolivar. His sons are William, James and Edward. William is a student of Penn State College.
Also surviving the deceased are three brothers, Michael of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Robert and Frank both of Bolivar and a sister Miss Mary Dougherty of Bolivar.
Patrick Dougherty Services Tomorrow
Bolivar May 2nd, 1940
Funeral services for Patrick H. Dougherty who passed away Tuesday Morning will be conducted at 9:30 o’clock Friday Morning at St. Mary’s church with Rev. Bartholomew O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bolivar.
Copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Ronald G. Taylor All rights reserved.