Donie Bush

Donie Bush

Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush (October 8, 1887 – March 28, 1972), was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and team owner. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers (1908–1921) and the Washington Senators (1921–1923). In fourteen seasons in the major leagues, Bush displayed a keen eye and a talent for drawing bases on balls, drawing more walks during the decade from 1910 to 1919 than any other player in Major League Baseball. He was also an excellent contact hitter who was consistently among the league leaders in sacrifice hits, runs scored, and stolen bases. Bush is also remembered as one of the best fielding shortstops of the Dead-ball era. He holds the Major League records for most triple plays (9) and most putouts in a season by a shortstop with 425. He was also regularly among the American League leaders in assists by a shortstop, and still holds the American League record for total chances by a shortstop. Bush was a true baseball man who spent 67 years (1905–1972) working in professional baseball as a Major League manager (including manager of the 1927 Pirates team that lost in the World Series to the 1927 Yankees), minor league manager, scout, owner, and executive. He remained active until 1972, succumbing to an illness and died eating a hot dog while working as a scout in Florida at age 84. He became known in Indiana as "Mr. Baseball."