Jimmy Wolf

Jimmy Wolf
Right fielder
Born: (1862-05-12)May 12, 1862 Louisville, Kentucky
Died: May 16, 1903(1903-05-16) (aged 41) Louisville, Kentucky
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
May 2, 1882, for the Louisville Eclipse
Last appearance
August 21, 1892, for the St. Louis Browns
Career statistics
Batting average	.290
Runs batted in	593
Runs scored	779
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
As Player Louisville Eclipse/Colonels (1882–1891) St. Louis Browns (1892) As Manager Louisville Eclipse/Colonels (1889)
Career highlights and awards
American Association batting champion: 1890 American Association hits leader: 1890 2 seasons with 100+ runs scored 1 season with 100+ RBI

William Van Winkle "Jimmy" Wolf (May 12, 1862 – May 16, 1903), also known as Chicken Wolf, was an American Major League Baseball player from Louisville, Kentucky who played right field, but occasionally played other positions in the infield.

Wolf played for his hometown team, the Louisville Colonels of the American Association, from 1882, when they were called the Eclipse, to 1891. When the American Association folded, he then played for the St. Louis Browns of the National League in 1892. It was his last season in the Majors. He played in just three games for the Browns when he decided to retire.

In 1889, with the team 2–8 after ten games under player-manager Dude Esterbrook, the managerial reins were handed over to Wolf, who won only 14 of the 65 games he managed. The other two managers to follow, Dan Shannon and Jack Chapman, didn't fare any better, as Louisville won only 27 games that year with 111 losses. In 1890, he led the American Association in batting with .363.

Wolf died in 1903 at the age of 41, from the effects of brain trauma he suffered a few years before in a fire-fighting accident, and is interred at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. This cemetery is where other Louisville ballplayers have been buried as well, including childhood friend and teammate Pete Browning.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
• List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• SABR Biography "Chicken Wolf"