Joseph Coyne

Joseph Coyne

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right

• Born c. 1866 in Connecticut USA
• Died November 20, 1895 in Ogdensburg, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Joseph Coyne was a catcher from Bridgeport, CT, who played one season in the New York State League with the Utica Pent-Ups in 1890. In the same league that year was another Joe Coyne, who played infield with Troy and Albany. With Utica, Coyne was the regular catcher for the first half of 1890 and hit moderately well in over 50 games with the club, but lost his job in favor of the more established Bay Brown, who joined from the folded Michigan State League. Coyne played in the early days of catcher's mitts, when most field players went bare-handed, and drew amusement from spectators as he wore his glove, which was said to resemble a ham, when he played in the outfield.

A month after being released by Utica in 1890, he was recommended by the team's manager, David Dischler, to play with the Ogdensburg Pastimes. He stayed in Ogdensburg and played with the Pastimes, primarily as catcher and third baseman, through 1894. The Pastimes did not play in 1895, and the hard-drinking Coyne struggled emotionally, working in an Ogdensburg saloon. In November 1895, Coyne was hospitalized due to the effects of alcoholism, suffering from delirium tremens. After walking out of his confinement on November 19, Coyne went missing and his friends feared the worst. His body was finally found in the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg in May 1896, presumably a suicide, though perhaps an accident. His former team, the Pastimes, played a benefit game soon afterwards to help buy a headstone for his grave.