Addie Joss - Death and Benefit Game

Death and Benefit Game

Joss attended spring training with Cleveland before the start of the 1911 season. He collapsed on the field from heat prostration on April 3 in an exhibition game in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was taken to a local hospital and released the next day. He apologized to his teammates for "pulling a baby trick." As late as April 7, press reports had taken note of his ill health, but speculated about "ptomaine poisoning" or "nervous indigestion." The Naps traveled to Toledo for exhibition games on April 10 and Joss went to his home on Fulton Street where he was seen by his personal physician, Dr. George W. Chapman. Chapman thought Joss could be suffering from nervous indigestion or food poisoning. By April 9, as Joss was coughing more and had a sever headache, and Chapman changed his diagnosis to pleurisy and reported Joss would not be able to play for one month and would need 10 days of rest to recover. Joss could not stand on his own and his speech was slurred. On April 13, Chapman sought a second opinion from the Naps' team doctor, who performed a lumbar puncture and diagnosed Joss with tuberculous meningitis. The disease had spread to Joss' brain and on April 14, 1911 at age 31, he died.

Upon hearing news of his death (Joss was well-liked by his peers and baseball fans), the Press wrote "every train brings flowers" and "floral tributes by the wagonload are hourly arriving at the Joss home from all sections of the country." The Joss family arranged for the funeral to take place on April 17, which was the same day the Naps were to play a road game against the Detroit Tigers in the Tigers' home opener. Naps players signed a petition stating they would not attend the game so they could instead attend the funeral, and asked for the game to be rescheduled, which the Tigers balked at. American League president Ban Johnson initially supported the Tigers' position until later siding with the Naps. Naps owner Charles Somers and 15 Naps players attended the funeral, which was officiated by player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday.

The first 'all-star' game was played on July 24, 1911, as a benefit for Joss's family, over the opposition of American League management. Naps players invited players from the other seven American League teams to play against the Naps. Visiting club players who were involved in the game included Home Run Baker,Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Sam Crawford, Walter Johnson, Tris Speaker, Gabby Street, and Smokey Joe Wood. "I'll do anything they want for Addie Joss' family," Johnson said. Washington Senators manager Jimmy McAleer volunteered to manage the all-stars. "The memory of Addie Joss is sacred to everyone with whom he ever came in contact. The man never wore a uniform who was a greater credit to the sport than he," McAleer said. The game, attended by approximately 15,270 fans helped raise nearly $13,000 ($324,257) to help Joss' surviving family members pay remaining medical bills. The Naps roster lost 5–3.