Jack Boyle

John Anthony Boyle (March 22 1866 - January 7 1913), nicknamed "Honest Jack", was an American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball. His younger brother, Eddie Boyle, played in 1896.

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 * Team(s) = Cincinnati Red Stockings (1886), St. Louis Browns (1887-1889, 1891), Chicago Pirates (1890), New York Giants (1892), Philadelphia Phillies (1893-1898)

Background
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Boyle began his professional baseball career in 1886, playing in one game for the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association. A pitcher by the name of Bob Mitchell is credited with his discovery.

Career
On November 12, 1886, he was traded (along with $350) to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for Hugh Nicol.

Jack caught only a couple of games until July 3. Then an injury to the regular catcher, Al Bushong, gave him his opportunity. He caught 87 straight games for the Browns using the old finger glove which preceded the protective mitt of the modern era.

Boyle accompanied Charles Comiskey to the Chicago Pirates of the Players League team in 1890, but returned with him to St. Louis the following year. In 1892 Jack signed with the New York Giants for a sum of $5,500. This was the largest salary ever paid to a major leaguer at this time.

After one season with New York, he was traded (with Jack Sharrott and cash) on March 11, 1893, to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Roger Connor. There followed five years as a star catcher for the Philadelphia club. On July 9, 1898, he was sold by Philadelphia to the Giants for $1000. However, he did not play a single game for them and was returned to Philadelphia on August 15, 1898.

Over the years Jack Boyle caught a number of famous pitchers including Silver King, Jack Stivetts, Bob Caruthers, and Dave Foutz.

Final years
He opened a saloon in the Ohio River city on Seventh Street which grew into a successful business for him.

Boyle was 46 years of age when he died of Bright's Disease at his home on Academy Avenue, Price Hill in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was interred at the St. Joseph New Cemetery in Cincinnati.