The Mystery of Ed Delahanty

Do you know who the first player to win a batting title in both leagues? I bet you didn’t think it was Ed Delahanty, one of baseball’s early legends, who in fact became the first player to win the batting title in both the National and American Leagues. He won his first batting title with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1899, where he slugged an astounding .410 batting average. As a matter of fact, this was not the first time Ed Delahanty had hit over .400, as in 1894 FOUR Philadelphia Phillies reached the feat. Delahanty, along with Hall of Famers Sam Thompson and “Sliding” Billy Hamilton and OF Tuck Turner all reached the impressive milestone, the first and only time four outfielders on the same team had done it in the same season. “Big” Ed had also won a batting title with the 1902 Washington Senators, hitting .378. At the plate, “Big” Ed Delahanty huge presence in the batters box set him apart, making history in a time when baseball was still developing.

Another interesting note about Delahanty is that FOUR of his brothers also played in Major League Baseball. While Ed was by far the most successful, brothers Tom, Jim, Joe, and Frank all spent time with big league clubs.

While these accomplishments and stories are all wonderful and impressive, this is not a happy story about the life of Ed Delahanty, as it sadly ends in tragedy.

Edward James Delahanty was born on October 30, 1867, in Cleveland, Ohio, into an Irish-American family. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, Delahanty developed his incredible baseball skills on the local sandlots before making his MLB debut in 1888 with the Quakers. His less than exceptional early life shaped his tough, no-nonsense approach to the game, at a time where this style of play was applauded in the game of baseball. Starting with the Philadelphia Quakers (later Phillies), Delahanty quickly gained regional recognition for his absurdly powerful swing. By the 1890s, he had emerged as one of the best hitters in the league, leading to his rise as one of baseball’s first true superstars. Many of baseballs early hard-hitting stars were Irish-American like Delahanty, as fellow major leaguers Mike “King” Kelly, Jim O’Rourke, and Roger Connor were on their way to respective Hall of Fame careers.

Ed Delahanty’s first few seasons in Major League Baseball were a mix of a rocky start, and raw talent developed from his rough and tumble lifestyle, relentless determination, and flashes of unmatched brilliance. In 1888, his first season with the Quakers, Delahanty struggled initially, hitting just .228 in his rookie season. However, he quickly evolved into one of the game’s premier hitters, and by 1893, Delahanty was hitting .368, giving us a look on what to expect from Delahanty in the future.

Known for his booming power and graceful swing, Delahanty wasn’t just a slugger—he was a tactician. In an era dominated by small ball philosophy praise by players like John McGraw and Wee Willie Keeler, Delahanty was ahead of his time, leading the league in extra-base hits and earning a reputation for terrorizing pitchers. In fact, Delahanty once hit four home runs in a single game in 1896, showing off his ability to both hit for average and deliver moonshots into the grand stand .

By the time 1903 rolled around, while it was not establishes yet, Delahanty was already looking like a sure fire future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as he had led the league in 33 offensive categories in 15 seasons.

Like most Irish-American immigrants at the time, Delahanty had struggled with alcoholism. His drinking worsened over the years, leading to erratic behavior and even affecting his on field performance.

Here is where the mystery starts to take place: one foggy summer night, July 2, 1903, Ed Delahanty found himself in a spectral trance. Delahanty was on a train, and had been expelled from the train for drunken behavior, and at one point even pulled out a knife on a man after and argument. After being kicked off, he stumbled through the darkness, and some say he was haunted by whispers of his own past glories and failures. The mist around Niagara Falls seemed to swirl with ghostly echoes of his batting exploits.

While there are different versions of the story, it is thought that as he approached the roaring falls, the water’s incessant thunder grew louder, mingling with the phantoms of lost innings and unfulfilled potential. Delahanty, disoriented and desperate, tried to find his way but was ensnared by the icy grip of the mist. He slipped and fell, the chilling water swallowing him whole. The next morning, his lifeless body was found, but those who knew him said his spirit never truly left the falls. They say on foggy nights, you can still hear the faint crack of his bat and see his shadow wandering the banks, forever seeking redemption from his spectral fate.

While that may not all be true, it is still a shame that one of baseball’s earliest stars had such a tragic ending.

Written by Gavin Winkler