Bill Donovan

William Edward Donovan (October 13, 1876 – December 9, 1923), nicknamed "Wild Bill" and "Smiling Bill", was an American right-handed baseball pitcher and manager.

Donovan played Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators (1898), Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1902), and Detroit Tigers (1903–1912). In 1901, he led the National League with 25 wins. He later helped Detroit win three consecutive American League pennants from 1907 to 1909. In 1907, he compiled a 25–4 record with a 2.12 earned run average (ERA). In 18 major league seasons, Donovan appeared in 378 games as a pitcher and compiled a 186–139 win–loss record with 289 complete games and a 2.69 ERA in innings pitched. The family moved to Philadelphia when Donovan was a baby. Donovan began playing baseball in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and became a member of the Park Sparrows baseball team.

Later in his career, Donovan's control improved. Former umpire Billy Evans later wrote that the nickname was somewhat ironic because "control was Donovan's greatest asset" in the last ten years of his pitching career.

Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1902) Donovan began the 1899 season in the minor leagues with the Richmond Champions of the Atlantic League. He compiled a 17–4 record in 22 games for Richmond.

On July 27, 1899, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas for $500. He appeared in only five games for Brooklyn in 1899, compiling a 1–2 record.

In 1907, Donovan emerged as one of the best pitchers in the game while leading Detroit to the American League pennant. He appeared in 32 games and compiled a 25–4 record with a 2.19 ERA. His winning percentage of .862 led the American League.

Donovan started Game 1 of the 1907 World Series, and the Tigers led in the ninth inning with two outs and Chicago's Harry Steinfeldt on third base; Chicago pinch hitter Del Howard swung on a third strike that should have ended the game, but Detroit's catcher Boss Schmidt "missed the ball, which got by him to the crowd," allowing Steinfeldt to score the tying run. After Schmidt's error, Donovan held the Cubs scoreless for another four innings, but the game ended in a tie after 13 innings.

In 1908, Donovan appeared in 29 games and compiled an 18–7 record with a 2.08 ERA. and made two relief appearances, compiling a 1–0 record and allowing one earned run in 10 innings pitched. In 1913, the Grays finished with a 69–80 record. In 1914, Donovan turned the club around, leading the Grays to a 95–59 record and the International League pennant. Ruth won 10 of the 11 games in which he pitched for Donovan's Providence team.

New York Yankees (1915–1917) New York Mayor J.P. Michel, Jacob Ruppert and Donovan in 1915 In December 1914, at baseball's winter meetings in Chicago, Donovan was hired by the New York Yankees' new owners, Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston, as the club's new manager. Donovan took over a Yankees team that lacked stars and finished with a 70–84 record in 1914. The Yankees compiled a 69–83 record in their first year under Donovan, but improved to 80–74 in 1916 – the club's first winning record since 1910. In 1917, the Yankees lost multiple players to injury and regressed to 70–84. Owner Ruppert later said of Donovan: "He was a wonderful fellow and great leader. . . . I still think that barring injuries and hard luck Bill Donovan would have brought the Yankees their first pennant. The hardest thing I ever had to do was release him."

During his 1915 and 1916 seasons, Donovan also appeared in 10 games as a pitcher for the Yankees, compiling a 0–3 record with a 4.67 ERA in innings pitched. The 1918 Detroit Tigers finished 20 games out of first place. On the last day of the 1918 season, Donovan, at age 41, went to the mound for a final game as the club's starting pitcher. Facing off against Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox, Donovan pitched five innings, gave up only one run, and won his 185th major league game.

Jersey City (1919–1920) Donovan was hired as the manager of the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League. He was the manager of the Jersey City team in both 1919 and 1920. On August 9, 1921, Donovan was dismissed as the Phillies' manager. The dismissal was reportedly based on Baker's suspicion that Donovan had some knowledge of the Chicago White Sox' attempt to throw the 1919 World Series. Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis later vindicated Donovan of any wrongdoing and ordered Baker to send Donovan a letter of apology.

Hartford (1922–1923) In December 1921, Donovan was hired as the manager of the New Haven Eastern League baseball club. Donovan's former Detroit teammate Ty Cobb was a co-owner of the New Haven club. Donovan led New Haven to the Eastern League pennant in 1922 and returned as manager for a second season in 1923.

Managerial record Team Year Regular season PostseasonGamesWonLostWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultNYY 152 5th in AL – – – –NYY 154 4th in AL – – – –NYY 153 6th in AL – – – –NYY total 459 PHI 87 fired – – – –PHI total 87 Total 546

Family and death Donovan married Nellie Stephen in 1905. They were divorced in 1915. Donovan was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.