Joe Tinker (1946)


Date of Birth: 7/27/1880
Date of Death: 7/27/1948
Birthplace: Muscotah, Kansas

Joe Tinker started playing baseball at the age of 14 and he was on a semi-pro baseball team by the time he was in his late teens. At age 19, he was in the minor leagues, playing there from 1900-1901.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs bought Tinker's contract in 1902. In his first season in the major leagues, Tinker batted .261 with 129 hits, 19 doubles, and 27 stolen bases in 131 games. He played with his infield partners Johnny Evers and Frank Chance for the first time in September, 1902. He led all NL shortstops in assists with 461 and with double plays turned with 49.

Tinker batted .291 in 124 games in 1903. He had 134 hits, 21 doubles, and 27 stolen bases. The following season, he had a career high 41 stolen bases. In 1905, he played in a career high 149 games and he had 135 hits, 18 doubles, 31 stolen bases, and a .247 batting average. Defensively, he led all NL shortstops in double plays turned with 67.

Tinker struggled offensively in 1906, batting just .233 in 148 games. He had an even worse season in 1907, when he batted .221 in 117 games. He played better in 1908, finishing the season with 146 hits, 22 doubles, a career high 14 triples, 30 stolen bases, and a .266 batting average in 157 games. He excelled defensively, leading the NL in assists with 570.

In 1909, Tinker had a career high 26 doubles. He finished the season with 132 hits, 11 triples, 23 stolen bases, and a .256 batting average in 143 games. The next year, his batting average went up to .288. He had 136 hits and 25 doubles in 134 games in 1910.

Tinker had a good season in 1911, batting .278 with 149 hits, 24 doubles, 12 triples, and 30 stolen bases in 144 games. Defensively, he led the NL in assists with 486, and he led all NL shortstops in putouts with 333.

Tinker had a career high 155 hits and a .282 batting average in 1912. He again led all NL shortstops in putouts with 354.

Final Years as a Player

In December, 1912, the Cubs traded Tinker to the Cincinnati Reds. He was made player-manager of the Reds, but he stayed with them just one season.

After the 1913 season ended, Tinker joined the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. He spent two seasons as player-manager of the team, but he only played in 31 games in 1915 due to a muscle injury. In 1916, the Cubs bought the Whales and the teams merged. Tinker was player-manager in his final season, playing in just seven games that season.

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Tinker include:

  • 1,804 games played
  • 1,687 hits
  • 114 triples
  • 336 stolen bases
  • .262 batting average
  • .308 on-base percentage
  • .661 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Tinker as a shortstop include:

  • 1,745 games played
  • 635 errors
  • 671 double plays
  • 5,856 assists
  • 3,768 putouts
  • .938 fielding percentage

Postseason statistics for Tinker include:

  • 4 postseasons
  • 21 games played
  • 68 at-bats
  • 16 hits
  • 2 doubles
  • 1 home run
  • 7 stolen bases
  • 9 strikeouts to 7 walks
  • .235 batting average

Post Playing Career

After leaving major league baseball as a player, Tinker owned and managed minor league teams from 1916 through the early 1920s.

Tinker spent the 1920s in real estate, but he returned to baseball in the 1930s as a coach and manager in the minor leagues. His last position was in 1946 as a scout for the Boston Braves.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Joe Tinker
ESPN - Joe Tinker
Baseball Reference - Joe Tinker

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