Ossie Vitt
After a ten-year career in the big leagues, in which his best success came as a third baseman for the Detroit Tigers, Ossie Vitt embarked on an odyssey as a manager. He made a name for himself as a hardnosed skipper in the minor leagues, earning titles in three different leagues. But when he got a chance to manage in the majors with Cleveland in the late 1930s, his methods led to a mutiny by his talented team, and his firing.
Quotes About Vitt
"We think we have a good chance to win the pennant, but we'll never win it with Vitt as manager. If we can get rid of him, we can win. We feel sure about that." — Mel Harder, in a closed-door meeting with 10 of his teammates and Indians' owner Alva Bradley in June of 1940.
Played For
Detroit Tigers (1912-1917)
Boston Red Sox (1921)
Managed
Cleveland Indians (1938-1940)
Best Season: 1915
Vitt hit second in one of baseball's greatest lineups. Shortstop Donie Bush led off, followed by Vitt, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Bobby Veach. Even though the tablesetters, Bush and Vitt, didn't hit all that well, they still managed 99 and 116 runs scored, respectively. Bush finished second in the league with 118 bases on balls, Cobb led the league in batting, hits, runs, steals (96) and nearly everything else, while Crawford and Veach each drove in 112 runs. The Bengals led the league in runs scored by a wide margin and won 100 games. But it wasn't enough, as they finished 2 1/2 games behind their rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Vitt played 152 game and had 13 triples and 26 steals. He was also the best defensive third baseman in the league, at least for that season.
Born
Oscar Joseph Vitt was born on January 4, 1890, in San Francisco, CA.
Died
January 31, 1963, Oakland, CA
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 3B
Primary Team: DET
Major League Debut
April 11, 1912
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1912
Rabbit Maranville
Cy Williams
Del Pratt
Bobby Veach
Ray Schalk
Casey Stengel
Buck Weaver
Ray Chapman
Herb Pennock
Similar Players
Tris Speaker and Ty Cobb were similar as managers: demanding, insufferable at times, and distant from their players. All had success, but only Speaker won a pennant, when he was a player/manager.
Related Players
Bob Feller, Mel Harder, and Ken Keltner were the ringleaders of the faction within the Cleveland clubhouse, who asked Indians' owner Alva Bradley to fire Vitt in the midst of the 1940 season. For their actions, the team was branded "The Crybaby Indians."
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