Zip Collins
From BR Bullpen
John Edgar Collins
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 152 lb.
- Debut July 31, 1914
- Final Game September 27, 1921
- Born May 4, 1892 in Brooklyn, NY USA
- Died December 19, 1983 in Manassas, VA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Zip Collins played five seasons in the majors. His best year was with the 1915 Pirates, when he hit .294 at age 23, playing mostly center field. One teammate was the 41-year-old Honus Wagner. Zip was traded by the team in September, in spite of having one of the highest batting averages among the regulars. The 1915 Boston Braves, however, were a contending team and probably wanted him for the stretch run. A teammate there was Rabbit Maranville.
He worked as an inspector at a defense plant in New Jersey during World War I.
He and his contemporary Zip Zabel are the only two major leaguers who are remembered by the first name "Zip".
In a slight oddity, Zip hit only one double in 1916 although he had nearly 300 at-bats, while he had six triples. He holds the "record" for the most triples in a season by a player with one double.
