photo: Ripper Collins
The third installment in our Blast from the Past solo series introduces you to another member of the “Gashouse Gang” of the 1930s era St. Louis Cardinals. This first baseman first played for the Cardinals, then went on to the Cubs, and finally ended his career in Pittsburgh.
James Anthony Collins was born on March 30, 1904 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Collins was the oldest of three children born to William and Elizabeth Collins. The family moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania when James was a child in elementary school. His father William played semipro baseball and young James wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps after watching him play. Collins practiced his father’s craft when he could and would often field ground balls off a basement wall.
Collins dropped out of school at the age of 14 and took a job in the shipping department of the coal mine where his father worked. His father played baseball on the company team and the son soon joined him, with Jimmy in center field and his father in left field. William Collins taught his son how to switch hit, which he continued to do throughout his baseball career.
Collins took on the nickname “Ripper” when a ball he hit struck a nail protruding from the outfield fence. The nail caused a partial tear in the cover of the ball, a “rip” if you will. When retrieving the ball, the opposing outfielder was asked who hit it. His reply was, “It was the ripper”.
Collins began playing minor league ball in 1922 and continued off and on in that journey until 1930. While with the Rochester Red Wings, a long time Cardinals farm club, Collins’ prowess with the bat (.376 average with 40 home runs in 1930) was noticed and in 1931, he was called up to the big league club.
Collins made his major league debut on April 18, 1931 with St. Louis. He played in 89 games at first base that season as the backup to future Hall of Famer Jim Bottomley. Collins appeared in 149 games in 1932. The Cardinals were happy enough with Collins’ performance that they traded Bottomley to Cincinnati prior to the 1933 season.
Ripper’s breakout season was in 1934. He played in all 154 games to lead the National League. He also led the NL in home runs with 35 (tied with Mel Ott), and in slugging and OPS, with .615 and 1.008, respectively. Collins became the first switch hitter to hit 30 home runs in a season. That record was surpassed by Mickey Mantle in 1955. The Cardinals won the pennant and the 1934 World Series, where Collins hit .367.
Collins was an active prankster and a member of the The Mudcat Band, a group started by Pepper Martin. Collins’ performances included singing on KMOX Radio in St. Louis.
Collins also began writing a series of articles for the local St. Louis newspaper during the 1934 pennant race. The articles provided baseball news and commentary from his roommate, Pepper Martin. After striking out in one game, his manager, Frankie Frisch, told him, “Next time, swing your typewriter”.
In 1935, Collins hit career home run number 74, which was the major league record for switch hitters at that time. On August 21, Collins played an entire game at first base without a putout.
Collins’ playing time with the Cardinals dwindled in 1936 with the arrival of Johnny Mize, who played in 129 games at first base that season. Following the 1936 season, the Cardinals traded Collins to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Lon Warneke (the subject of last week’s Blast from the Past).
Collins played for the Cubs through the 1938 season and then was sold to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. Collins returned to the major leagues in 1941 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, for whom he played in 49 games. That would be Collins’ finale in major league baseball, as he was released at the end of the season. In four of his nine big-league seasons, Collins hit over .300 and his 135 home runs led all MLB switch-hitters until Mantle’s success.
Collins became a player-manager of the Albany Senators of the Eastern League, where he remained through the 1944 season, then became the manager only until November 1946. Collins managed the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres for one season. His final managerial stint was with the Hartford Chiefs of the Eastern League for the 1949 and 1950 seasons.
Collins left managing to go into broadcasting as a color commentator in Baltimore. He became a roving minor league instructor for the Cubs in the early 1960s. His final job in professional baseball was as a scout for the Cardinals. He remained in that position until his death. In the spring of 1969 Collins suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. On April 15, 1970, Collins passed away of a fatal heart attack in New Haven, New York at the age of 66.
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.
© 2020 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.