MLB History: Top 100 Players in Baseball History (90-81)
By David Hill
89. Ed Delahanty
Ed Delahanty was one of the brightest stars in baseball during the 1890’s and into the 1900’s. However, his career, and life, were cut short mysteriously.
During his playing days, there were very few players in Delahanty’s class. The star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, Delahanty was one of the first pure power hitters in the game. He led the National League in home runs twice, had three seasons where he hit over .400, and led his league in doubles five times. He even led the National League in steals with 58 in 1898. In 1902, his first season in the American League, Delahanty’s .376/.453/.590 batting line led the league in each category.
Overall, Delahanty had a career .346/.411/.505 batting line with 101 home runs, 522 doubles and 455 stolen bases. He ranks fifth all time in career batting average, 13th with 186 triples and, when his career had ended, was eighth all time in home runs. Delahanty was also the second player to hit four home runs in a game, all of which were inside the park home runs. He is the only player in major league history with a four home run game and a four double game in his career.
It is that end to his career which overshadows how great of a player he was. The details of his death are unknown, but Delahanty was kicked off a train for being drunk and disorderly. There were reports that he was threatening other passengers with a straight razor, but that is not known for sure. Either way, after he was removed, Delahanty attempted to cross the International Bridge near Niagara Falls, and either fell, jumped, or was pushed off the bridge, dying either from drowning or being swept over the Falls on July 2, 1903.
One of the top players of his day, Ed Delahanty’s brilliant career is often overlooked due to his tragic and strange death.
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