View source for Johnny Evers

{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (1881–1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Johnny Evers
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|image=Johnny Evers 1910 FINAL2sh.jpg
|caption=Evers with the Chicago Cubs in 1910
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1881|7|21}}
|birth_place=[[Troy, New York]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1947|3|28|1881|7|21}}
|death_place=[[Albany, New York]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 1
|debutyear=1902
|debutteam=Chicago Orphans
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 6
|finalyear=1929
|finalteam=Boston Braves
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.270
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=12
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=538
|stat4label=[[Stolen base]]s
|stat4value=324
|teams=
'''As player'''
* [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago Orphans / Cubs]] ({{mlby|1902}}–{{mlby|1913}})
* [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] ({{mlby|1914}}–{{mlby|1917}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1917}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1922}})
* [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] ({{mlby|1929}})
'''As manager'''
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1913}}, {{mlby|1921}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1924}})
|highlights=
* 3× [[World Series]] champion ([[1907 World Series|1907]], [[1908 World Series|1908]], [[1914 World Series|1914]])
* [[NL MVP]] (1914)
* [[Chicago Cubs#Cubs Hall of Fame|Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1946 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1946]]
|hofmethod=Old-Timers Committee
}}
'''John Joseph Evers''' (July 21, 1881 – March 28, 1947){{efn|According to Tim Layden, Evers pronounced his name "EE-vers", not "EV-ers", as is widely known.}} was an American professional [[baseball]] [[second baseman]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1902 through 1917 for the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]], and [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. He also appeared in one game apiece for the [[Chicago White Sox]] and Braves while coaching them in 1922 and 1929, respectively.

Evers was born in [[Troy, New York]]. After playing for the local [[minor league baseball]] team for one season, [[Frank Selee]], manager of the Cubs, purchased Evers's contract and soon made him his starting second baseman. Evers helped lead the Cubs to four [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[List of National League pennant winners|pennants]], including two [[World Series]] championships. The Cubs traded Evers to the Braves in 1914; that season, Evers led the Braves to victory in the World Series, and was named the league's [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award#Chalmers Award (1911–1914)|Most Valuable Player]].

[[File:Johnny evers-home.jpg|thumb|alt=Johnny Evers boyhood home, Troy, NY.|Johnny Evers boyhood home in Troy, New York.]]

Evers continued to play for the Braves and Phillies through 1917. He then became a [[coach (baseball)|coach]], [[scout (sport)|scout]], manager, and [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] in his later career.

Known as one of the smartest ballplayers in MLB,{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}} Evers also had a surly temper that he took out on [[umpire (baseball)|umpires]]. Evers was a part of a great [[double-play]] combination with [[Joe Tinker]] and [[Frank Chance]], which was immortalized as "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" in the poem "[[Baseball's Sad Lexicon]]". Evers was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] by the [[Veterans Committee]] in 1946.

==Early life==
Evers was born on July 21, 1881, in [[Troy, New York]].<ref name=sabr/> His father worked as a [[saloon keeper]]. Many of Evers' relatives, including his father, brothers, and uncles, played [[baseball]].<ref name=sabr2/> Evers attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and played [[sandlot ball]] in Troy.<ref name=sabr2>{{cite web|url=http://research.sabr.org/journals/johnny-evers |title=Johnny Evers, The Find of the 1902 Season |publisher=Society of American Baseball Research |first=Frank |last=Keetz |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name=whitesox/>

==Career==

===Minor league career===
Evers made his professional debut in [[minor league baseball]] for the [[Troy Trojans (minor league baseball)|Troy Trojans]] of the Class-B [[New York State League]] in 1902 as a [[shortstop]]. Evers reportedly weighed less than {{convert|100|lbs}}, and opposing fans thought he was a part of a comedic act.<ref name=sabr/> Evers reportedly weighed no more than {{convert|130|lbs}} during his career.<ref name=warsaw>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trxHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6696,6376931&dq=johnny-evers+joe-tinker&hl=en|newspaper=Warsaw Daily Union|title=Johnny Evers Loses Battle: Dies Friday After a Long Illness|agency=United Press International|page=7|date=March 29, 1947|access-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>

Evers [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] .285 and led the New York State League with 10 [[home run]]s.<ref name=sabr/> [[Frank Selee]], [[manager (baseball)|manager]] of the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[scout (sport)|scouted]] Evers's teammate, pitcher [[Alex Hardy]]. Selee, also looking for a [[second baseman]] due to an injury to starter [[Bobby Lowe]],<ref name="evers made manager"/> purchased Hardy's and Evers's contracts for $1,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1500|1902}}}} in current dollar terms); the Trojans were willing to sell Evers's services due to his temper.

===Chicago Cubs===
Evers made his MLB debut with the Cubs on September 1 at shortstop, as Selee moved [[Joe Tinker]] from shortstop to [[third base]].<ref name=sabr/> Only three players in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) were younger than Evers: [[Jim St. Vrain]], [[Jimmy Sebring]], and [[Lave Winham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1902-other-leaders.shtml |title=1902 National League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> Three days later, Selee returned Tinker to shortstop and assigned Evers to [[second base]].<ref name=sabr/> In his month-long tryout with the Cubs, Evers batted .222 without recording an [[extra-base hit]] and played inconsistent defense.<ref name=sabr/> However, Lowe's injury did not properly heal by [[spring training]] in 1903, allowing Evers to win the starting job for the 1903 season.<ref name=sabr/> Lowe recovered during the 1903 season, but Evers' strong play made Lowe expendable; Evers finished third in the NL in [[fielding percentage]] among second basemen (.937), and finished fifth in [[assist (baseball)|assists]] (245) and [[putout]]s (306).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1903-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1903 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The Cubs sold Lowe to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] after the season.<ref name="evers a star">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BwsbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6483,3417799&dq=johnny-evers+bobby-lowe&hl=en|title=Evers A Star In Every Way: Youngster Has Demonstrated That He Can Think As Well As Play a Great Mechanical Game|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=10|date=October 17, 1908|access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> Evers played 152 games in the 1904 season.<ref name=sabr/> Defensively, his 518 assists and 381 putouts led the NL, though his 54 errors led all NL second basemen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1904-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1904 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

During the 1906 season, Evers finished fifth in the NL with 49 stolen bases,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1906-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1906 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> and led the league with 344 putouts and led all second basemen with 44 errors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1906-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1906 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The Cubs won the [[List of National League pennant winners|NL pennant]] in 1906, but lost the [[1906 World Series]] to the [[Chicago White Sox]] four games to two; Evers batted 3-for-20 (.150) in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1906_WS.shtml |title=1906 World Series&nbsp;— Chicago White Sox over Chicago Cubs (4-2) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> During the 1907 season, Evers led the NL with 500 assists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1907-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1907 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The Cubs repeated as NL champions in 1907, and won the [[1907 World Series]] over the [[Detroit Tigers]], four games to none, as Evers batted 7-for-20 (.350).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1907_WS.shtml |title=1907 World Series&nbsp;— Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4-0) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Johnny Evers 1910.jpg|thumb|left|Evers with the Cubs, circa 1910]]
During the 1908 pennant race, Evers alerted the umpires to [[Fred Merkle]]'s baserunning error in a game against the [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]], which became known as "[[Merkle's Boner]]". [[Al Bridwell]] hit what appeared to be the game-winning [[single (baseball)|single]] for the Giants, while Merkle, the baserunner on first base, went to the clubhouse without touching second base. Evers called for the ball, and the umpire ruled Merkle out.<ref name=sabr/> NL [[List of National League presidents|president]] [[Harry Pulliam]] ruled the game a tie, with a makeup to be played. The Cubs won the makeup game, thereby winning the pennant.<ref name=sabr/><ref name="evers made manager"/><ref name="evers a star"/> The Cubs then won the [[1908 World Series]] over Detroit, four games to one, as Evers again batted 7-for-20 (.350).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1908_WS.shtml |title=1908 World Series&nbsp;— Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4-1) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> For the 1908 season, Evers had a .300 batting average, good for fifth in the NL, and a .402 on-base percentage, second only to [[Honus Wagner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1908-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1908 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref>

Evers drew 108 [[base on balls|walks]] during the 1910 season, trailing only [[Miller Huggins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1910-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1910 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> However, Evers missed the end of the season with a broken leg.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mr4WAAAAIBAJ&pg=5643,1868160&dq=johnny-evers+bankrupt&hl=en|title=Evers–Ad Wolgast Of Baseball|page=18|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=December 11, 1914|access-date=October 15, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Without Evers, the Cubs won the NL pennant, but lost the [[1910 World Series]] to the [[Philadelphia Athletics]], four games to one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1910_WS.shtml |title=1910 World Series&nbsp;— Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs (4-1) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Evers was involved in a car accident on May 20, 1910 that saw writer and friend George A. Macdonald killed when the automobile was struck by a trolley car that saw Evers see the result on Macdonald, who had his skull crushed. The sight of the accident overwhelmed Evers in grief, which Evers acknowledged in 1913 when he said he had "my first touch of nervous prostration." The financial disaster in Emerson Shoe Company, which he co-owned until it met ruin in late 1910, made matters worse. Evers agreed to manage the [[Navy Midshipmen]], a [[college baseball]] team, in 1911, despite the opposition of Cubs' manager [[Frank Chance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iv8aAAAAIBAJ&pg=2936,4416952&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Ready To Defy Cub Manager: Will Coach Navy Team and Pass Up Spring Trip, Regardless of Consent|page=17|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 19, 1910|access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> He experienced a nervous breakdown in 1911; returning to the Cubs later in the season, he played in only 46 games that year.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xhUbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6354,3384357&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Just As Scrappy As Ever|page=26|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 15, 1911|access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> Evers indicated that this was a result of a business deal that cost Evers most of his savings.<ref name=sabr/> Evers rebounded to bat .341 in 1912, good for fourth in the NL,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1912-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1912 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> and he led the NL with a .431 [[on-base percentage]].<ref name=sabr/> Team owner [[Charles Murphy (baseball owner)|Charles W. Murphy]] named Evers manager in 1913, signing him to a five-year contract, succeeding Chance.<ref name=sabr/>

===Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies===
After the 1913 season, Evers was offered $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1913}}}} in current dollar terms) to jump to the [[Federal League]], but he opted to take less money to remain with the Cubs.<ref name="sweeney sabr">{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-sweeney-3/ |title=Bill Sweeney |first1=Peter |last1=Morris |website=sabr.org |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> In February 1914, after Evers signed his players to contracts, Murphy fired Evers as manager and traded him to the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] for [[Bill Sweeney (infielder)|Bill Sweeney]] and [[Hub Perdue]].<ref name="sweeney sabr"/> Murphy insisted that Evers had resigned as manager, which Evers denied. Evers insisted he was a [[free agent]],<ref name="who wins him">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DBE9AAAAIBAJ&pg=3327,2730525&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers: Who Wins Him? Status Remains One of the Mysteries of Baseball. Says He is Free; Charles Webfoot Murphy Says He is the Property of the Boston Nationals|newspaper=Meriden Morning Record|page=1|date=February 12, 1914|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> but the league assigned him to the Braves.<ref name="sweeney sabr"/> He signed a four-year contract at $10,000 per season (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10000|1914}}}} in current dollar terms), with a $20,000 [[signing bonus]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XXFiAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,810572&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers to Boston Nationals: National League Sells Deposed Manager of Chicago Cubs to "Braves"|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|page=3|date=February 14, 1914|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

During the 1914 season, the Braves fell into last place of the eight-team NL by July 4. However, the Braves came back from last place in the last ten weeks of the season to win the NL pennant.<ref name=warsaw/> Evers' .976 fielding percentage led all NL second basemen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1914-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1914 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The Braves defeated the Philadelphia Athletics in the [[1914 World Series]], four games to none,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/10/14/archives/braves-capture-worlds-series-in-four-straight-new-record-in.html |title=Braves Capture World's Series In Four Straight&nbsp;— New Record in Baseball Set When Boston Beats the Athletics, 3 to 1. Victory Has No Precedent: Gate Receipts Total $226,739 -Boston Players Divide $73,140 and Mackmen Get $48,760. Evers Breaks Up Game: His Single Scores Two Runs in the Fifth, Routing Shawkey&nbsp;— Scored First Run in Fourth. 34,365 See The Struggle: Wild Scene at Fenway Park When Contest Ends&nbsp;— Stallings Greatest Manager in Baseball, Says Evers|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 14, 1914 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> as Evers batted 7-for-16 (.438).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1914_WS.shtml |title=1914 World Series&nbsp;— Boston Braves over Philadelphia Athletics (4-0) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Evers won the Chalmers Award, the forerunner of the modern-day [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award#Chalmers Award (1911–1914)|Most Valuable Player award]], ahead of teammate [[Rabbit Maranville]].<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1914.shtml#NLmvp |title=1914 Awards Voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

Evers was limited in 1915 by injuries, and also served suspension for arguing with [[umpire (baseball)|umpires]].<ref name=sabr/> After a poor season in 1916, Evers began the 1917 season with a .193 batting average.<ref name=sabr/> Due to Evers' declining performance, the Braves placed Evers on [[waivers (baseball)|waivers]] at mid-season, and he was claimed by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref name=sabr/> Evers rejected an offer to become manager of the [[Jersey City Skeeters]] of the [[International League]] that offseason.<ref name=redsox/> He signed with the [[Boston Red Sox]] as a player-coach for the 1918 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9kYbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6748,2604351&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Anxious To Be In Game Again: New Redsox Player and Coach Will Lose No Time in Getting Into Shape|page=2|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=February 24, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> but was released without playing a game for them.<ref name=redsox>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k6wWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5667,4982394&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Wants Revenge For Release By The Red Sox|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=3|date=May 19, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Not receiving another offer from an MLB team, Evers traveled to Paris as a member of the [[Knights of Columbus]] to promote baseball in France.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I4QWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3949,1313014&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Meets An Old Friend In France|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=6|date=August 30, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Coaching and managing career===
In 1920, Evers was slated to become head baseball coach at [[Boston College]], however he instead accepted a last minute offer to join the New York Giants as a [[coach (baseball)|coach]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Evers Expected Today at Boston College |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=May 10, 1920}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0EshAAAAIBAJ&pg=5080,817268&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Evers Joins Giants: Believed Johnny Will Be McGraw's Right Hand Man|agency=Associated Press|page=8|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=May 10, 1920|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> He managed the Cubs again in 1921, succeeding [[Fred Mitchell (baseball)|Fred Mitchell]]. With the team struggling, Evers was fired in August and replaced with [[Bill Killefer]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_opAAAAIBAJ&pg=6967,2862745&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Deposed as Leader of Chicago Cubs; Killefer Is His Successor|page=1|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 4, 1921|access-date=October 15, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Cubs finished seventh out of eight in the NL that season.<ref name=warsaw/>

Evers served as a coach for the Chicago White Sox in 1922 and 1923.<ref name=warsaw/> He returned to second base in 1922, filling in for an injured [[Eddie Collins]]. Evers played in one game for the White Sox as Collins recovered.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/04/28/archives/evers-at-second-base-plays-full-game-as-indians-and-white-sox.html |title=Evers at Second Base. – Plays Full Game as Indians and White Sox Battle to Tie, 6 to 6|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 28, 1922 |access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:(John J. Evers, Chicago Cubs, baseball card portrait) (LOC) (3970980335).jpg|thumb|right|145px|A 1911 Johnny Evers T205 Tobacco Card]]
Evers was named the White Sox acting manager for the 1924 season, succeeding Chance, who had been hired as manager during the offseason, was ordered home before the season began, due to poor health.<ref name=whitesox>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJ4hAAAAIBAJ&pg=4597,4361753&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Evers Made Manager: Frank Chance Ordered Home Because of Health|newspaper=Reading Eagle|page=17|date=April 20, 1924|access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> However, Evers suffered from [[appendicitis]] during the season, missing time during the year,<ref name="evers made manager">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-17/sports/ct-spt-0618-city-cell-chicago--20120618_1_guillen-and-wife-ibis-cubs-careers-cubs-white-sox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618163620/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-17/sports/ct-spt-0618-city-cell-chicago--20120618_1_guillen-and-wife-ibis-cubs-careers-cubs-white-sox |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |title=Cubs-White Sox: Top five Chicago Cubs-Chicago White Sox games on the South Side|first=Dave |last=van Dyck|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> and the White Sox opened up a managerial search when Chance died in September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ku8oAAAAIBAJ&pg=1912,5872294&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Frank Chance, Famous Manager of White Sox, Dies on Coast; Former 'Peerless Leader' of Chicago Cubs, Gives Up Fight|agency=United Press|page=1|newspaper=The Southeast Missourian|date=September 16, 1924|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> The White Sox replaced Evers with Collins after the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y3wuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4180,1653979&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Eddie Collins Manager; White Sox Player to Succeed Johnny Evers|agency=Associated Press|page=18|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=December 12, 1924|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

Evers rejoined the Braves as a scout.<ref name=warsaw/> As Braves owner [[Emil Fuchs (baseball)|Emil Fuchs]] sold manager [[Rogers Hornsby]] to the Cubs and assumed managerial duties himself for the 1929 season, Fuchs hired Evers as a coach. Fuchs had no experience as a field manager,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TyxlAAAAIBAJ&pg=2501,1029520&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers With Boston; Former Second Baseman to Act as Assistant Manager for Braves|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|page=17|date=November 8, 1928|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> and so Evers became [[captain (sports)|captain]] of the Braves, directing the team during the game and dealing with umpires.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sPUjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5239,3909705&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Big League Teams Name Their Captains|first=George|last=Kirksey|agency=United Press International|page=2|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=March 13, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Evers and fellow coach [[Hank Gowdy]] played in one game in the 1929 season, coming into the bottom of the ninth inning on October 6, 1929.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0sgLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3652,441794&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Major Leagues End Races With Few Fireworks: Old Veterans And Rookies In Lineups For Last Tilts of Year|agency=Associated Press|page=10|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|date=October 7, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> In the process, Evers became the oldest player in the league for the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1929-other-leaders.shtml |title=1929 National League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

Evers remained a coach for the Braves under [[Bill McKechnie]], who succeeded Fuchs as field manager in 1930, and served in the role through 1932. He continued to scout for the Braves,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1atQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,3660585&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Now&mdash;and then: Johnny Evers&mdash;Too Much Pepper|page=3|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=July 6, 1934|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and then became [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] of the [[Albany Senators (minor league baseball)|Albany Senators]] of the [[New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–37)|New York–Pennsylvania League]] in 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1935-06-08 |title=Johnny Evers Awaits Action by Executive Committee on Pitts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-johnny-evers-awaits-actio/163486461/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Miami News |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=United Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1935-02-04 |title=Johnny Evers Will Operate Albany Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-johnny-evers-will-operat/163486408/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=23 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He resigned from Albany at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/307621502.html?dids=307621502:307621502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+12%2C+1935&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Johnny+Evers+Resigns&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131201258/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/307621502.html?dids=307621502:307621502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+12,+1935&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Johnny+Evers+Resigns&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Johnny Evers Resigns |page=10|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=September 12, 1935 |access-date=July 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=March 2013}}</ref> Over his managerial career, he posted a 180–192 record.

====Managerial record====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Games!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
|-
![[1913 Chicago Cubs season|CHC]]|| {{mlby|1913}}
||153||{{WinLossPct|88|65}}|| 3rd in NL || – || – || – || –
|-
!colspan="11"|
|-
![[1921 Chicago Cubs season|CHC]]|| {{mlby|1921}}
||96||{{WinLossPct|41|55}}|| fired || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|CHC total ||249||{{WinLossPct|129|120}}|| || {{WinLossPct|0|0}} ||
|-
!rowspan="3"|[[1924 Chicago White Sox season|CWS]]|| rowspan="3"|{{mlby|1924}}
||21||{{WinLossPct|10|11}}|| leave || rowspan="3"| – || rowspan="3"| – || rowspan="3"| – || rowspan="3"| –
|-
!colspan="5"|
|-
||102||{{WinLossPct|41|61}}|| 8th in AL
|-
! colspan="2"|CWS total ||123||{{WinLossPct|51|72}}|| || {{WinLossPct|0|0}} ||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total ||372||{{WinLossPct|180|192}}|| || {{WinLossPct|0|0}} || 
|}

==Personal==
In January 1909, Evers married Helen Fitzgibbons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KepRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6002,260316&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Helen Evers, Widow of Baseball Great|page=11–B|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=January 11, 1974|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> His son, John J. Evers, Jr., born later that year, served as a [[Lieutenant]] in World War II and was assigned to the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater of Operations]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1944-01-16 |title=Famed Johnny Evers Still Follows Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-famed-johnny-evers-s/163486381/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Palm Beach Post |page=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During 1914, John Jr. became ill with scarlet fever and was being quarantined at home in Troy. A doctor granted Helen permission to allow their daughter Helen (then three at the time) to visit her ailing brother. Unfortunately, while John Jr. got better, Helen became ill and died weeks later. After that, Evers and his wife's uncertain marriage (made difficult because of their separated lives that saw him live in Chicago and her live in Troy) fell apart and the two essentially separated. When Helen died in 1974, she was buried with Evers in the same plot in Troy. When his son was 11 years old, Evers bought part of the Albany Senators and gave him the stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/01/28/archives/johnny-evers-jr-becomes-baseball-magnate-at-11.html |title=Johnny Evers Jr. Becomes Baseball Magnate at 11 |newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 28, 1921 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Evers' brother, [[Joe Evers]], and uncle, [[Tom Evers]], also played in MLB.<ref name=sabr/> His great-nephew is ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' writer Tim Layden, who wrote an article about him in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2012/12/03/tinker-to-evers-to-chance-to-me|title=Tinker to Evers to Chance . . . to Me|first=Tim|last=Layden|work=Sports Illustrated|date=December 3, 2012}}</ref>

Though Evers and Tinker were part of one of the most successful double-play combinations in baseball history, the two despised each other off of the field.<ref name=sabr/> They went several years without speaking to each other after one argument.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=Bill|author-link=Bill James|year=1995|title=[[Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?]]|publisher=Simon & Schuster|pages=207–208|isbn=0684800888}}</ref> When Chance once named Tinker the smartest ballplayer he knew, Evers took it as a personal affront.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/02/18/archives/dentists-after-baseball-job-applications-still-arriving-at-the.html |title=Dentists After Baseball Job&nbsp;— Applications Still Arriving at the Giants' Office&nbsp;— Shafer to Sign at Marlin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 18, 1913 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

==Later life==
In the 1920s, Evers settled in Troy to live with his older sister Anna Evers Kennedy. Evers operated a sporting goods store in [[Albany, New York]] in 1923. However, Evers lost his money and filed for bankruptcy in 1936.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-05-13 |title=Johnny Evers Files Bankruptcy Petition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-johnny-evers-files-bank/163486343/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=Hartford Courant |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LnctAAAAIBAJ&pg=5355,3008151&dq=johnny-evers+bankrupt&hl=en |newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|title=Time Deals Harshly With Two Of Diamond's Immortals|date=May 25, 1936|page=12|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> The store was passed down to Evers' descendants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kHohAAAAIBAJ&pg=5790,2800406|title=On The Block: Evers family sell famous Merkle ball at Leland's sports memorabilia auction|first=Steve|last=Amedio|page=C1|newspaper=The Daily Gazette|date=February 13, 1993|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> He also worked as superintendent of [[Bleecker Stadium]] in Albany<ref name=humancrab/><ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-04-16 |title=Johnny Evers To Have Charge Bleeker Stadium |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-johnny-evers-to-have-ch/163486363/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Boston Globe |page=24 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and spent time teaching baseball to sandlot players.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GFwbAAAAIBAJ&pg=5182,93327&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Teacher Now|page=10|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 3, 1937|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

Evers suffered a [[stroke]] in August 1942, which paralyzed the right side of his body.<ref name=obit/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wD9FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4582,5900742&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Fights For Life in Hospital|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|page=9|date=August 26, 1942|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> He remained bedridden or confined to a wheelchair for most of the next five years.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trxHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6696,6376931&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en |title=Johnny Evers Loses Battle: Dies Friday After a Long Illness|page=7|agency=United Press International|newspaper=Warsaw Daily Union|date=March 29, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> Evers died of a [[cerebral hemorrhage]] in 1947 at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany,<ref name=sabr>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/johnny-evers/ |title=Johnny Evers |first1=David |last1=Shiner |website=sabr.org |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |access-date=October 15, 2009}}</ref><ref name=obit>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ga4uAAAAIBAJ&pg=4603,5957152&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers, Ball Star, Dies: Member of Immortal Diamond Combination|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|page=1|agency=Associated Press|date=March 28, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> and is buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Troy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cubs fans visit Evers grave in Troy|work=The Saratogian|agency=The Associated Press|date=Nov 3, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Johnny-evers-grave.jpg|thumb|alt=Johnny Evers gravesite|Johnny Evers gravesite at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Troy, New York.]]

==Legacy==
[[File:Johnny Evers Hall of Fame plaque.jpg|thumb|Evers' plaque of at the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]]]
Evers retired in 1918, having batted .300 or higher twice in his career, [[stolen base|stolen]] 324 bases and scored 919 runs. He frequently argued with umpires and received numerous suspensions during his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5NxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3841,6068956&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=National Prexy Hands Evers Three-Day Suspension For Baiting Umps|agency=Associated Press|page=9|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date=May 20, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> His combative play and fights with umpires earned him the nickname "The Human Crab".<ref name=humancrab>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kdksAAAAIBAJ&pg=3382,435956&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Warns Players Not to Fight With Umpires|agency=United Press International|page=2|newspaper=The Bulletin|location=Bend, Oregon|date=July 31, 1942|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

Evers served as the pivot man in the "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" [[double-play]] combination, which inspired the classic baseball poem "[[Baseball's Sad Lexicon]]", written by ''[[New York Evening Mail]]'' newspaper columnist [[Franklin Pierce Adams]] in July 1910.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ashley|first=Sally|year=1986|title=F.P.A.: The Life and Times of Franklin P. Adams|publisher=Beaufort|page=65}}</ref> Evers, Tinker, and Chance were all inducted in the Hall of Fame in the same year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D4YhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2068,92886&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=New Plaques Placed in Baseball Hall of Fame|agency=[[International News Service]]|page=11|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=July 21, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

The Merkle play remains one of the most famous in baseball history. The ball used in the Merkle play was sold at an auction in the 1990s for $27,500, making it one of the four most valuable baseballs based on purchase price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/happened-infamous-ball-merkle-blunder-article-1.324910 |title=What happened to the infamous ball from 'The Merkle Blunder'? |work=New York Daily News |first=David |last=Hinckley|date=September 22, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref> Evers' role in Merkle's boner cemented his legacy as a smart ballplayer.

Evers is mentioned in the 1949 poem "[[Line-Up for Yesterday]]" by [[Ogden Nash]]:

{{quote box |width= 18em |border= 4px |align= center |bgcolor= #FAF0E6 |qalign= center | title=Line-Up for Yesterday|<poem>E is for Evers,
His jaw in advance;
Never afraid
to [[Joe Tinker|Tinker]] with [[Frank Chance|Chance]].</poem>
|source=&nbsp;— [[Ogden Nash]], [[Sport (US magazine)|''Sport'' magazine]] (January 1949)<ref>{{cite news|title=N is for Nash and his poem that's a smash|first=Don|last=Freeman|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=October 19, 1992}}</ref>}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
*[[List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball player-managers]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*{{bbhof|evers-johnny}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=e/eversjo01|fangraphs=1003876|brm=evers-002joh|retro=E/Peverj102}}
*{{baseball-reference manager|eversjo01}}
*{{cite news|last1=Amedio|first1=Steve|title=On The Record: Troy's connection to the 1908 Chicago Cubs title|url=http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20161029/on-the-record-troys-connection-to-the-1908-chicago-cubs-title|access-date=Nov 3, 2016|work=Troy Record|issue=October 29, 2016}}

{{Chicago Cubs managers}}
{{Chicago White Sox managers}}
{{1907 Chicago Cubs}}
{{1908 Chicago Cubs}}
{{1914 Boston Braves}}
{{NL Chalmers Award}}
{{1946 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies HOF}}
{{Chicago Cubs HOF}}
{{Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame}}
{{good article}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evers, Johnny}}
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