Jimmy Eschen

Biography

The Brooklyn-born Jimmy Eschen also joined the Silk Sox in 1918. Four years later, the fleet hard-hitting centerfielder was Doherty’s player-manager. Beloved by his teammates, Eschen was a “players’ manager,” quick to encourage and unwilling to release players after a few bad performances. With his knowledge as a bookkeeper, Eschen also handled some the players’ finances and hosted offseason dinners at his home in Sloatsburg, N.Y.

Adept at all aspects of the game having played every position, Eschen was a good judge of talent as well as a superior player. Usually a tick behind his friend Howard Lohr in the team batting race, he flashed occasional power, possessed a powerful arm and was an excellent base stealer.

In 1915 Eschen played 15 games for the Cleveland Indians before a series of unusual events pushed him out of the major leagues. Like Lohr, Eschen had a successful day job and decided to forgo organized baseball, making more money at the semipro level. He managed the Silk Sox to a 196-116-8 record for Doherty, but the game was more important to him than wins and losses. Eschen considered baseball and its players an adored fraternity.