Doc Adkins

From BR Bullpen

Merle Theron Adkins

Bats Right, Throws Right
Weight 220 lb.
School Beloit College
Debut June 24, 1902
Final Game September 29, 1903
Born August 5, 1872 in Troy, WI USA
Died February 21, 1934 in Durham, NC USA

[edit] Biographical Information

The 29-year-old Doc Adkins started out his major league baseball career in pitching for the 1902 Boston Somersets of the American League. The righthander got into four games, pitched 20 innings and had 1-1 record. He also appeared that year for the class A Western League Milwaukee Creams, pitching in 16 games (won-loss records are presently unavailable).

1903 saw Doc back in the major leagues,this time with the New York Highlanders. He appeared in only two games with no decisions and it was apparent that he wasn't going to be very successful as a major league pitcher.

His success came in the Eastern League (now the International League) with Ned Hanlon and Jack Dunn's Baltimore Orioles whom he joined during the 1903 season.

In 10 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Adkins won 165 games and lost 111. He won 20 or more games four times with his best season coming in 1908 when he won 29 and lost 12. He led the Orioles to their first minor league pennant that season while leading the Eastern League in wins. Even though he won 21 games in 1909, Adkins led the Eastern League in losses with 19, as the Orioles dropped through the standings.

While playing in Baltimore, Adkins attended the Johns Hopkins University medical school. He received his M.D. in 1907. Doc also coached the baseball team at Trinity College now (Duke University) from 1908 to 1914 while playing with the Orioles. His teams posted a 108-67-4 record.

After the 1913 season, Doc Adkins retired from the Orioles and settled in Durham, NC, where he became "one of Durham's most prominent physicians," according to his obituary in the Raleigh, NC News and Observer of February 22,1934.