On this day in 1909, Michael “Doc” Powers passed away at the age of 39. He had become ill during the inaugural game at Shibe Park on April 12, and had a swift decline due to an intussusception. Here’s my painting of him with the Athletics in 1902, based on the work of Carl Horner. #baseballart #DocPowers
Michael “Doc” Powers got his nickname because he was actually a licensed physician. In fact, for a while he was batterymates with Jim “Doc” Newton on the New York Highlanders, the only time in professional baseball history that the pitcher and catcher both had gone to medical school. Check out the mask he has on – it speaks to the safety equipment of the era and perhaps the fact that the hardest throwing guys out there probably topped out in the low 90s at best – seems like a fastball from today’s hurlers might dent that cage but good! But anyway, Doc went to medical school at the same time he was playing minor league ball in Kentucky. When he joined the Athletics, he passed the Pennsylvania board examination and practiced medicine each offseason in a Philadelphia suburb, where he no doubt treated patients with similarly antiquated equipment! Sadly, the baseball world lost this singular character far too early. We all know the name Ray Chapman, who was killed by a pitch in 1920 and is largely thought of as the only player to die as the result of an injury sustained in a major league game. Some say Doc Powers also deserves consideration to be similarly remembered. At the first game ever played at Shibe Park in 1909, Doc fell ill, suffering from intense abdominal pain. He refused to leave the game, however, with an initial diagnosis of a stomach muscle pull. It coincided with happening after a play where he either dove for a ball, crashed into a wall or both – or perhaps the result of a bad cheese sandwich consumed before the game. In any event, when he did go to the hospital, it was eventually determined he was suffering from a bowel obstruction. Initial surgeries worked to correct this, but his condition worsened soon after and it was discovered that gangrene had begun destroying his intestines. There had been great optimism that Doc would be back on the field in a few days, but instead he passed away two weeks after he went down. It’s likely none of the aforementioned theories were the cause of Doc’s condition, and that he had been suffering for some time from the blockage, leading to his tragic loss. Here is Mike “Doc” Powers on his T206 card.
T206 Mike Powers PSA 1 … At age 30 Mike Powers was the principal starting catcher for the 1901 Philadelphia A’s. The remainder of his ten year career was mainly as a second-string/backup catcher for Philadelphia until his untimely death on April 26, 1909. Two weeks earlier he started and played a complete game in the home opener at the first ever game at Shibe Park, catching Eddie Plank’s complete game six-hitter. … An exhibition to benefit Powers’ widow and children was organized for June 30, 1910, at Shibe Park. The exhibition was comprised of a skills competition followed by a loosely played six-inning game. In addition to the A’s, including stars Frank Baker and Eddie Collins, other American League stars that participated were Jimmy Austin (NY), Hal Chase (NY), Harry Hooper (Bos), Germany Schaefer (Wash), Tris Speaker (Bos), and Jake Stahl (Bos). Only players from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington participated, as they were the only teams with no games that day. This unofficial all-star game occurred a year before the more famous all-star benefit for Amos Rusie in 1911. … #mikepowers #docpowers #philadelphiaathletics #t206 #tobaccocards #defacedpinhole #psa1project #psa1projectbgw
On this day in 1909, Michael “Doc” Powers passed away at the age of 39. He had become ill during the inaugural game at Shibe Park on April 12, and after a swift decline due to an intussusception, was gone two weeks later. Here’s my painting of the man with the Athletics in 1902. #DocPowers #baseballart
On this day in 1870, Michael “Doc” Powers was born in Pittsfield, MA. He’s best remembered for suffering an injury on April 21, 1909 at Shibe Park (the day it opened) and passing away due to complications surrounding the event weeks later. Here’s a painting of him with the A’s in 1902. #Athletics #DocPowers #baseballart
On this day in 1870, #DocPowers was born in Pittsfield, MA. Here’s a painting of him with the Philadelphia #Athletics in 1902. @thorn_john would probably appreciate this one. #baseballart
On this day in 1909, Michael “Doc” Powers passed away at the age of 39. Here’s my painting of the man with the #Athletics in 1902. #DocPowers #baseballart
My 1907 Sporting Life Magazine featuring the Philadelphia Athletics. This team contained 6 future Hall of Famers including manager Connie Mack, as well as players Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, Rube Waddell, Jimmy Collins, and Eddie Collins. This team also had catcher Michael “Doc” Powers, who was a licensed physician and in 1905 caught pitcher Jim “Doc” Newton when both were teammates on the New York Highlanders creating baseball’s first (and only) battery of licensed physicians. Powers career would come to an abrupt end in April 1909 when he would collide with a wall in an attempt to make a catch at Shibe Park. The collision left Powers with internal injuries that required three surgeries, but infections from the surgeries would claim his life just two weeks after the incident. This would make him the first player in MLB history to die from an injury sustained on the field (Jim Creighton was also thought to have died from a ruptured hernia due to a swing in 1862, but some accounts say the injury occurred during a cricket match rather than a swing during the baseball game). #philadelphia #athletics #philadelphiaathletics #mlb #baseball #docpowers #eddieplank #conniemack #rubewaddell #chiefbender #eddiecollins #jimmycollins #sportinglife #vintagebaseball #baseballhistory #jimcreighton #cooperstown #nationalbaseballhalloffame
Today's look! LipSense Colors picked out my #DocPowers #mulledwinelipsense #beigechampagnelipsense #candlelightshadowsense #mocajavashimmershadowsense #cctm
Michael Riley "Doc" Powers got his nickname because of his license as a physician. Doc was potentially the first major leaguer to die from injuries sustained on the field. At Philadelphia's Shibe Park, Powers crashed into a wall while chasing a foul pop up, and sustained internal injuries that would claim his life two weeks later. Although Doc claimed he only became ill because of a cheese sandwich he ate before the game. Ain't no foul ball gonna kill me! I love this card because he has his mask on! #athletics #baseballcards #docpowers #t206