Doc Casey

James Patrick Casey (March 15, 1870 – December 31, 1936) was an American professional baseball third baseman. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1898 and 1907 for the Washington Senators, Brooklyn Superbas, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago Cubs.

Early years Casey was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1870. He studied dentistry at Baltimore Medical College, but left to play baseball in 1892 for the Pawtucket baseball team in the New England League. He also continued to play baseball in the New England League, for Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1893 and Portland, Maine in 1894.

Washington Senators Casey made his major league debut with the Washington Senators in September 1898. He appeared in 28 games for the Senators in 1898, principally as a third baseman, and compiled a .277 batting average with 15 stolen bases.

Brooklyn Superbas In April 1899, Casey was traded from Washington, one of the worst teams in the National League, to the Brooklyn Superbas, one of the best teams in the league.

Early in the season, Casey drew attention for his defensive play at third base. Casey appeared in 143 games and stole 27 bases and helped lead the 1899 Brooklyn club to the National League championship and a 101–47 record. Casey ranked second among National League third basemen in 1899 with 23 double plays turned. The 1899 Superbas had the two shortest players in the National League in Casey (5', 6") and Wee Willie Keeler (5', 4").

Casey appeared in only one game for Brooklyn in 1900.

Detroit Tigers Casey became the Tigers starting third baseman in 1900, appearing in 115 games for the club.

Casey remained with the Tigers in 1901 and 1902, the team's first two seasons as a major league club. In 1901, Casey led the American League in both double plays turned by a third baseman (25) and in errors by a third baseman (58). He also ranked second in the American League in 1901 with a career high 324 assists at third base and ninth in the league with 34 stolen bases. In 1905, he led all National League third basemen with a .949 fielding percentage.

Brooklyn Superbas (second stint) In December 1905, Casey was traded by the Cubs to the Brooklyn Superbas in a deal that sent outfielder Jimmy Sheckard to the Cubs. (the only third basemen with more putouts at the time Casey retired were Jimmy Collins (14 seasons), Lave Cross (21 season), Billy Nash (15 seasons), Arlie Latham (17 season), Billy Shindle (13 seasons), Jerry Denny (13 seasons), Denny Lyons (13 seasons), Hick Carpenter (12 seasons), and George Pinkney (10 seasons)). He also had 2,184 assists and 325 errors at third base, a career batting average of .258 with 9 home runs, 354 RBI and 191 stolen bases. He served as the Royals manager in 1908 and 1909 and also appeared in 251 games as a player.

After retiring from baseball, Casey maintained a dentistry practice in Detroit. He later purchased a drug store in Detroit (at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Adelaide Street). Casey's drug store reportedly "became known to thousands of fans as headquarters of the city's Winter Stove League." He was interred at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.