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{{short description|American baseball player and manager (1893-1971)}}
⚫
{{Refimprove|date=December 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Doc Prothro
|name=Doc Prothro
|image=Doc_Prothro_1924.jpg
|image_size=150
|caption=Prothro with the [[Memphis Chicks (Southern Association)|Memphis Chicks]] in 1924
|position=[[Third baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|position=[[Third baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1893|7|16}}
|birth_date={{Birth date|1893|7|16}}
|birth_place=[[Memphis, Tennessee]]
|birth_place=[[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|1971|10|14|1893|7|16}}
|death_date={{Death date and age|1971|10|14|1893|7|16}}
|death_place=[[Memphis, Tennessee]]
|death_place=Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 26
|debutdate=September 26
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|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
|statleague = MLB
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.318
|stat1value=.318
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
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* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1939}}–{{mlby|1941}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1939}}–{{mlby|1941}})
}}
}}
'''James Thompson "Doc" Prothro''' (July 16, 1893 – October 14, 1971) was an [[infielder]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]] in American [[Major League Baseball]]. Prothro was so nicknamed because he was a practicing dentist before signing his first professional baseball contract at age 26.<ref name=prothrosabr>{{cite web|url=http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=11487&bid=3311|title=Nowlin, Bill, ''Doc Prothro'', Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project}}</ref> His son, [[Tommy Prothro]], became a successful [[Coach (sport)|coach]] in U.S. college [[American football|football]] (at [[Oregon State University]] and [[UCLA]]) and, during the 1970s, led the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[San Diego Chargers]] of the [[National Football League]].<ref name=prothrosabr/>
'''James Thompson''' "'''Doc'''" '''Prothro Sr.''' (July 16, 1893 – October 14, 1971) was an American [[infielder]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Prothro was so nicknamed because he was a practicing dentist before signing his first professional baseball contract at age 26.<ref name=prothrosabr>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/doc-prothro/ |title=Doc Prothro |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] |first=Bill |last=Nowlin}}</ref> After playing five seasons in MLB, Prothro became a manager, compiling what remains the worst career [[winning percentage]] among major league managers.


==Career==
A native of [[Memphis, Tennessee]], Doc Prothro was a right-handed hitting [[third baseman]] and [[shortstop]] for the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], [[Boston Red Sox]] and [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1920; 1923–26), [[batting average|batting]] .318 in 180 games.<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/prothdo01-bat.shtml Career statistics from Baseball Reference]</ref> He was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel, who managed the [[Chattanooga Lookouts]] at [[Engel Stadium]].<ref name=prothrosabr/> In 1928, Prothro became a manager in the [[Southern Association]], then one of the higher-level minor leagues, leading the [[Memphis Chicks]] and [[Little Rock Travelers]] to four SA pennants through 1938.
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{{More citations needed|section|date=December 2009}}
[[File:The Volunteer 1917 Junior Dental Class.png|thumb|right|University of Tennessee Junior Dental class, 1917. Prothro is listed, but not identified, as being in the photo.]]


As a player, Prothro was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel, who managed the [[Chattanooga Lookouts]] at [[Engel Stadium]].<ref name=prothrosabr/> Prothro played in the major leagues as a right-handed hitting [[third baseman]] and [[shortstop]] for the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], [[Boston Red Sox]] and [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1920; 1923–26), [[batting average (baseball)|batting]] .318 with no home runs and 81 [[Run batted in|RBI]] in 180 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/prothdo01-bat.shtml |title=Doc Prothro Stats |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
⚫
In [[1939 in baseball|1939]], Prothro replaced [[Jimmie Wilson (baseball)|Jimmie Wilson]] as manager of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. In his three full seasons (1939-[[1940 in baseball|40]]&ndash;[[1941 in baseball|41]]) at the helm of the Phils, the club remained locked in the [[National League]] "cellar" — losers of 106, 103 and 111 games in successive seasons. Prothro's career mark of 138–320, with a .301 winning percentage, is the worst record in major league history for managers leading a club for at least three seasons.

In 1928, Prothro became a manager in the [[Southern Association]] (SA), then one of the higher-level minor leagues, leading the [[Memphis Chicks (Southern Association)|Memphis Chicks]] and [[Little Rock Travelers]] to four SA pennants through 1938.

⚫
In 1939, Prothro replaced [[Jimmie Wilson (baseball)|Jimmie Wilson]] as manager of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. In his three full seasons (1939–1941) at the helm of the Phillies, the club remained locked in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] cellar — losers of 106, 103 and 111 games. Prothro's career mark of 138–320 has the lowest managerial [[winning percentage]], .301, in major league history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/index.shtml |title=MLB Managers |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref>{{efn|The rankings include persons who managed at least 315 major league games.}}


Prothro was fired after the 1941 season and replaced by [[Hans Lobert]] and thereafter returned to the Southern Association, where he piloted the Chicks from 1942 to 1947. After he retired as Memphis' manager, he remained active as a co-owner of the club.
Prothro was fired after the 1941 season and replaced by [[Hans Lobert]] and thereafter returned to the Southern Association, where he piloted the Chicks from 1942 to 1947. After he retired as Memphis' manager, he remained active as a co-owner of the club.


==Personal life==
Prothro died in Memphis in 1971 at the age of 78.
A native of [[Memphis, Tennessee]], Prothro attended the [[University of Tennessee Health Science Center]]. He died in Memphis in 1971 at the age of 78. His son, [[Tommy Prothro]], became a successful coach in [[college football]] (at [[Oregon State University]] and [[UCLA]]) and, during the 1970s, led the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[San Diego Chargers]] of the [[National Football League]].<ref name=prothrosabr/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseball stats |br=p/prothdo01 |brm=prothr001jam |retro=P/Pprotd101}}
*{{find a Grave|46790744}}


{{Philadelphia Phillies managers}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies managers}}
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[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Tennessee]]
[[Category:20th-century American dentists]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball infielders]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball infielders]]
[[Category:Memphis Chickasaws players]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies managers]]
[[Category:Portland Beavers players]]
[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 23:04, 30 December 2024

Doc Prothro
Prothro with the Memphis Chicks in 1924
Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1893-07-16)July 16, 1893
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died: October 14, 1971(1971-10-14) (aged 78)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 26, 1920, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 1926, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Batting average.318
Home runs0
Runs batted in81
Managerial record138–320
Winning %.301
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As manager

James Thompson "Doc" Prothro Sr. (July 16, 1893 – October 14, 1971) was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Prothro was so nicknamed because he was a practicing dentist before signing his first professional baseball contract at age 26.[1] After playing five seasons in MLB, Prothro became a manager, compiling what remains the worst career winning percentage among major league managers.

Career

[edit]
University of Tennessee Junior Dental class, 1917. Prothro is listed, but not identified, as being in the photo.

As a player, Prothro was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel, who managed the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium.[1] Prothro played in the major leagues as a right-handed hitting third baseman and shortstop for the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds (1920; 1923–26), batting .318 with no home runs and 81 RBI in 180 games.[2]

In 1928, Prothro became a manager in the Southern Association (SA), then one of the higher-level minor leagues, leading the Memphis Chicks and Little Rock Travelers to four SA pennants through 1938.

In 1939, Prothro replaced Jimmie Wilson as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. In his three full seasons (1939–1941) at the helm of the Phillies, the club remained locked in the National League cellar — losers of 106, 103 and 111 games. Prothro's career mark of 138–320 has the lowest managerial winning percentage, .301, in major league history.[3][a]

Prothro was fired after the 1941 season and replaced by Hans Lobert and thereafter returned to the Southern Association, where he piloted the Chicks from 1942 to 1947. After he retired as Memphis' manager, he remained active as a co-owner of the club.

Personal life

[edit]

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Prothro attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He died in Memphis in 1971 at the age of 78. His son, Tommy Prothro, became a successful coach in college football (at Oregon State University and UCLA) and, during the 1970s, led the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.[1]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The rankings include persons who managed at least 315 major league games.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Nowlin, Bill. "Doc Prothro". SABR.
  2. ^ "Doc Prothro Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "MLB Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
[edit]
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