{{short description|American baseball player (1896–1960)}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Pat Collins |image=Pat Collins 1922.jpg |width=230 |caption=Collins with the St. Louis Browns, 1922 |position=Catcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1896|9|13}} |birth_place=Sweet Springs, Missouri, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|1960|5|20|1896|9|13}} |death_place=Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate= September 5 |debutyear= 1919 |debutteam= St. Louis Browns |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=May 23 |finalyear=1929 |finalteam=Boston Braves |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.254 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=33 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=168 |teams= *St. Louis Browns ({{mlby|1919}}–{{mlby|1926}}) *New York Yankees ({{mlby|1926}}–{{mlby|1928}}) *Boston Braves ({{mlby|1929}}) |highlights= * 2× World Series champion ({{wsy|1927}}, {{wsy|1928}}) }} '''Tharon Leslie "Pat" Collins''' (September 13, 1896 – May 20, 1960) was an American baseball catcher who played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees and Boston Braves from 1919 to 1929. Collins batted and threw right-handed and also played five games at first base.
Collins played minor league baseball for the Joplin Miners until 1919, when he signed with the Browns. After spending six seasons with the organization, Collins spent a one-year sojourn in the minor leagues before he was traded to the Yankees, where he spent the next three years and played in the famous 1927 Murderers' Row lineup. At the conclusion of the 1928 season, he was traded to the Braves, with whom he played his last major league game on May 23, 1929. A two-time World Series champion, he is famous for being the only major league player to pinch hit and pinch run in the same game.
==Personal life== Collins was born on September 13, 1896, in Sweet Springs, Missouri.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/collipa01.shtml|title=Pat Collins Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> His mother, Sarah, ran a boarding house, and he had three siblings: Ola, Mildred, and Rathal.<ref name="1910census">{{cite web| url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2ZR-9SM | title=Tharon Collins in household of Sarah P Collins, "United States Census, 1910; citing sheet 6-B, family 136, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374474| website=FamilySearch| series="United States Census, 1910", index and images| access-date=January 18, 2014}}</ref> He attended school in Sweet Springs before moving to Kansas City, Kansas, to play sandlot ball.<ref name=wonder>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6phOhlHUH8kC&q=pat+collins+baseball&pg=PA155|title=The Wonder Team: The True Story of the Incomparable 1927 New York Yankees|publisher=Popular Press|date=January 1, 1995|last=Trachtenberg|first=Leo|pages=155|isbn=9780879726782|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> He was married to Daisy C. Collins.<ref name=dies>{{cite news|title=Former Yankee Catcher Dies|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=espTAAAAIBAJ&pg=1801,601136&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=May 20, 1960|page=14|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During his time with the Yankees, his teammate Babe Ruth – who usually called everyone "Kid" due to his inability to remember people's names – mockingly gave Collins the nickname "Horse Nose".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dBcJfBze6sC&q=pat+collins+murderers%27+row&pg=PA47|title=Tony Lazzeri: A Baseball Biography|publisher=McFarland|date=January 1, 2005|last=Votano|first=Paul|pages=47|isbn=9780786484522|access-date=September 25, 2013}}</ref> After his major league career ended, he went on to run a restaurant in Kansas City,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sisler's Failure to Extend Long Batting Streak Probably Cost Browns 1922 Flag|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JL9RAAAAIBAJ&pg=3842,3954144&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=July 10, 1941|first=Harold|last=Claassen|page=6|access-date=September 23, 2013|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida}}</ref> then operate a tavern in Lawrence, Kansas, until 1952.<ref name=filed>{{cite news|title=Tax Liens Filed Against Former Baseball Player|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qDNdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3516,189772&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=April 2, 1952|page=13|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
In April 1952, the state of Kansas took Collins to court over alleged unpaid federal income tax from 1945 to 1950.<ref name=filed/> Although he was convicted in December of evading $4,037 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|4037|1952}}}} today), a federal judge ordered a new trial after evidence emerged showing his friend had deposited $48,300 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|48300|1952}}}} today) in a safety deposit box for him.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Pat Collins Trial|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UDFdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2257,340940&dq=pat+collins+tax+trial&hl=en|date=January 5, 1953|page=5|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Collins Granted New Trial in Income Tax Case|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/562042605|date=January 4, 1953|access-date=August 24, 2013|page=C3|newspaper=The Hartford Courant}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> After being treated for a heart condition,<ref name=dies/> Collins died in his sleep on May 20, 1960, in Kansas City at the age of 63 and was interred at the city's Memorial Park Cemetery.<ref name=BR/><ref name=wonder/>
==Professional career==
===Minor leagues=== Collins began his professional baseball career in 1917 with the Joplin Miners, a minor league baseball team that were members of the Class A Western League.<ref name=BRm>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=collin001tha|title=Pat Collins Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> In 1919, his last season with the Miners, he had a breakthrough year, posting a batting average of .316 and amassing 100 hits, 19 doubles and 10 home runs in 96 games played.<ref name=BRm/> This caught the attention of the St. Louis Browns, who signed him near the end of the season.<ref name=BR/>
===St. Louis Browns (1919–24)=== Collins made his major league debut for the Browns on September 5, 1919, at the age of 22,<ref name=BR/> entering the game as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Bert Gallia and drawing a walk in a 12–3 loss against the Detroit Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET191909050.shtml|title=September 5, 1919 St. Louis Browns at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=September 5, 1919|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> Between 1920 and 1922, he never played more than 31 games nor started more than 20 games a season as catcher, and his role was limited to occasional pinch-hitting appearances.<ref name=BR/>
During the {{mlby|1923}} season, Collins played 47 games (37 starts) and had the fifth highest caught stealing percentage in the American League (AL) at 44.4%.<ref name=BR/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1923-fielding-leaders.shtml|title=1923 American League Fielding Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> During a June 8 road game at Shibe Park, he became the first and only major league player to pinch hit and pinch run in the same game. His teammate Homer Ezzell reached base in the third inning, but needed to use the restroom. Collins was inserted into the game as a pinch runner until Ezzell returned. In the ninth inning, Collins returned to pinch hit for pitcher Ray Kolp after the Philadelphia Athletics' manager Connie Mack agreed to drop the no free substitution rule and allowed Collins to pinch hit.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kss2NdawNcUC&q=pat+collins+pinch+hit+and+pinch+run+in+same+game&pg=PA109|title=This Day in Baseball: A Day-by-day Record of the Events that Shaped the Game|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2008|last1=Nemec|first1=David|last2=Flatow|first2=Scott|pages=109|isbn=9781589793804|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nolan is KC's Mr. Amateur Baseball|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF45CEEFB16A58&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|date=June 20, 1998|access-date=August 24, 2013|page=D2|first=Rich|last=Sambol|newspaper=The Kansas City Star}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> However, the official box score lists his pinch hit appearance only.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA192306080.shtml|title=June 8, 1923 St. Louis Browns at Philadelphia Athletics Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=June 8, 1923|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
In {{mlby|1924}}, there were two factors which limited Collins to just 20 games (11 starts) as catcher. Firstly, he dislocated the joint in his left thumb during spring training after splitting the finger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tuesday Was Hard Luck Day In Most Baseball Camps|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fNxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5998,3249314&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=March 19, 1924|page=13|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida}}</ref> Then on June 22, Collins—along with Browns manager George Sisler and coach Jimmy Austin—were suspended indefinitely after arguing balls and strikes with the umpire.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yanks Lost To Sox But Cobb's Men Also Fall|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nORSAAAAIBAJ&pg=3781,3003160&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=June 23, 1924|page=8|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=The Morning Leader|location=Regina}}</ref> Sisler lodged a formal protest to AL president Ban Johnson,<ref>{{cite news|title=Sisler Makes Protest To Johnson|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/499264851|date=June 23, 1924|access-date=August 24, 2013|page=6|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> and the suspensions were rescinded four days later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suspension Of Collins Lifted|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1hlgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5599,4198706&dq=pat+collins+signed+browns&hl=en|date=June 26, 1924|page=15|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express}}</ref> After the season ended, Collins was not re-signed by the Browns, so he spent the {{mlby|1925}} season with the St. Paul Saints, a minor league baseball team that competed in the American Association (AA). There, he batted .316 and hit 19 home runs in 132 games.<ref name=BRm/>
===New York Yankees (1926–28)=== The Saints traded Collins to the New York Yankees on August 30, 1925, in exchange for $25,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|25000|1925}}}} today) and three players to be named later (the Yankees later sent Pee-Wee Wanninger to St. Paul on December 16).<ref name=BR/><ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Collins, Catcher, Sold To Yankees|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ESBFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2447,1118119&dq=pat+collins&hl=en|date=August 31, 1925|page=8|access-date=August 24, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|location=Dubuque}}</ref> During his years with the team, he developed a reputation of being slow-footed<ref name=backstop>{{cite news|title=Earl Smith Rates As Best Backstop In Coming Series|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3aVHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3025,1836636&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=October 4, 1927|page=10|access-date=August 26, 2013|newspaper=Meriden Record|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and having a throwing arm that was described as "terrible"<ref>{{cite news|title=Claim St. Louis Battery Forces Outshine Yanks|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1A0iAAAAIBAJ&pg=1568,6793664&dq=pat+collins+yankees+terrible+throwing+arm&hl=en|date=September 28, 1926|page=13|access-date=August 26, 2013|first=Henry L.|last=Farrell|newspaper=Berkeley Daily Gazette|agency=United Press International}}</ref> and "weak".<ref name=shadows>{{cite news|title=Shadows Of Yankee Park May Trip Card Sluggers|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LcxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1758,1441775&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=September 29, 1926|page=7A|access-date=August 26, 2013|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, his steadiness behind the plate<ref name=backstop/> and his bat<ref name=shadows/> kept him in the lineup. He became the starting catcher "by default"<ref name=bam>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kd89yDOqqhYC&q=pat+collins+baseball&pg=PA228|title=The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth|publisher=Random House LLC|date=May 2, 2006|last=Montville|first=Leigh|pages=228|isbn=9780385518703|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> after Benny Bengough—who was Miller Huggins' first choice for the job—suffered from a sore arm before spring training commenced.<ref name=bam/> In his first season with the organization, Collins had the fourth highest on-base percentage (.433) and tenth best at bats per home run ratio (41.4) in the AL, though he also recorded the fifth highest number of strikeouts in the league with 57. Defensively, he played the fourth highest number of games at catcher (100), during which he finished second in errors committed by a catcher (14), fifth in passed balls (6) and fourth in stolen bases allowed in the AL. However, he compensated for this by turning the most double plays (14) and recording the second highest range factor (4.75) as catcher, while finishing fourth in putouts (401) and fifth in assists (74) at his position and catching the fifth highest number of baserunners stealing (34).<ref name=BR/> On July 20, in the final game of a series against the Browns (his former team), Collins injured a side ligament while attempting to run down catcher Wally Schang,<ref name=Severeid>{{cite news|title=Yanks Buy Severeid From Washington|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zVRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3326,922407&dq=pat+collins+catcher&hl=en|date=July 23, 1926|page=12|access-date=September 18, 2013|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel|agency=Associated Press}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA192607200.shtml|title=July 20, 1926 St. Louis Browns at New York Yankees Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=July 20, 1926|access-date=September 18, 2013}}</ref> who was also facing his former team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schanwa01.shtml|title=Wally Schang Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 18, 2013}}</ref> This, along with Bengough's recurring problems with his arm, prompted the Yankees to buy Hank Severeid from the Washington Senators.<ref name=Severeid/> In the postseason, the Yankees advanced to the 1926 World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1926_WS.shtml|title=1926 World Series (4–3): St. Louis Cardinals (89–65) over New York Yankees (91–63)|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=January 13, 2013}}</ref> Collins did not receive much playing time throughout the series, appearing in just three games and getting no hits and one strikeout in two plate appearances.<ref name=BR/>
The {{mlby|1927}} season saw Collins split catching duties with Johnny Grabowski and Bengough. He appeared in the most games behind the plate out of the three players – 89 games caught by Collins versus 68 by Grabowski and Bengough's 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1927.shtml|title=1927 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 18, 2013}}</ref> He was usually placed near the bottom of the Yankees lineup, which was given the nickname "Murderers' Row".<ref name=MR>{{cite news|title=Baseball Preview '02: 75th anniversary of Murderers' Row|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F86C9F6012274A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|date=March 19, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2013|first=Hal|last=Bock|publisher=Associated Press Archive}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> Many sports analysts, baseball writers and fans consider the 1927 team the greatest baseball team of all time.<ref name=MR/><ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Verducci's Top 10 Teams of All Time – 1927 Yankees|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/mlb.verducci.top.10.teams.all.time/content.1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401101557/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/mlb.verducci.top.10.teams.all.time/content.1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 1, 2010|access-date=January 13, 2013|first=Tom|last=Verducci|work=SI.com|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Murderers' Row – Opposing Pitchers' Worst Nightmare|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KyQxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6266,2435643&dq=mark+koenig+murderers+row&hl=en|date=March 23, 2002|page=6B|access-date=January 13, 2013|newspaper=Rome News-Tribune}}</ref> Although Collins was labelled an "offensive afterthought",<ref name=MR/> he still managed to bat a respectable .275 and drove in 36 runs in 311 plate appearances. Defensively, he once again finished fourth in the AL in number of games (89) and putouts (267) at catcher, while also recording the fourth highest fielding percentage at the position (.976).<ref name=BR/> At the end of the year, the Yankees once again advanced to the World Series, where they swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games.<ref name=27WS>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1927_WS.shtml|title=1927 World Series (4–0): New York Yankees (110–44) over Pittsburgh Pirates (94–60)|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Collins played in Games 1 and 4; in the first game, he was hitless in two at bats but garnered two walks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT192710050.shtml|title=October 5, 1927 World Series Game 1, Yankees at Pirates Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=October 5, 1927|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> while in the latter game he went 3-for-3 with a double.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA192710080.shtml|title=October 8, 1927 World Series Game 4, Pirates at Yankees Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=October 8, 1927|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> His series average of .600 was the highest among his teammates.<ref name=27WS/>
After the Yankees purchased Bill Dickey from the Jackson Senators before the start of the {{mlby|1928}} season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dickebi01.shtml|title=Bill Dickey Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> the team now had four catchers on their roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1928.shtml|title=1928 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> The increase competition restricted Collins to 45 starts and 70 games in total.<ref name=BR/> In the 1928 World Series, the Yankees achieved a second consecutive Fall Classic sweep, this time against the Cardinals in a rematch of the series from two years before.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1928_WS.shtml|title=1928 World Series (4–0): New York Yankees (101–53) over St. Louis Cardinals (95–59)|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> However, he played just one game in the series, entering the 7th inning of Game 4 as a defensive substitute and hitting a double two innings later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN192810090.shtml|title=October 9, 1928 World Series Game 4, Yankees at Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|date=October 9, 1928|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> The catching situation—along with his dismal .221 batting average that year<ref name=BR/>—made Collins redundant, and at the end of the season, he was sold to the Boston Braves.<ref name=wonder/>
===Boston Braves and back to the minors (1929–32)=== Collins managed to play just seven games for the Braves during the {{mlby|1929}} season, making his final major league appearance on May 23. During his brief tenure with the team, he was hitless, but drove in 2 runs, drew 3 walks and had 3 sacrifice bunts in 11 plate appearances.<ref name=BR/> After the Braves acquired several younger catchers, he was released and sent to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League<ref name=wonder/><ref name=loop>{{cite news|title=Collins Leaves National Loop|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FspPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2058,6254554&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=December 27, 1929|page=5A|access-date=September 25, 2013|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida}}</ref> There, he batted .122 and had 5 hits in 16 games played<ref name=BRm/> before manager Bill Clymer cut him loose after the season ended.<ref name=loop/> He promptly signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Indians, a minor league team that played in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Collins Signs With Seattle Club|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UWZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2543,4969367&dq=pat+collins&hl=en|date=December 29, 1929|page=1C|access-date=September 25, 2013|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He batted .244 during his stint with the team and was traded midway through the 1930 season to the Kansas City Blues, thus returning to the AA. His numbers improved tremendously—he recorded a .358 batting average, amassed 39 hits and slugged 7 doubles and 3 home runs in 109 at bats. The {{mlby|1931}} season saw Collins play just 27 games with the Blues and his average dipped to .182.<ref name=BRm/> He was scheduled to be traded to the Omaha Packers in July,<ref>{{cite news|title=Collins, Deviveros Are Signed by Omaha|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SqtQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2407,6502537&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=July 12, 1931|page=2|access-date=September 25, 2013|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|agency=Associated Press}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> but the deal fell through and he remained with the team through to the {{mlby|1932}} season. That year, he played 105 games and batted .268, collected 78 hits with 14 doubles, 3 triples and 4 home runs before retiring from professional baseball at the end of the season.<ref name=BRm/>
==Post-playing career== After playing his final major league season in {{mlby|1929}}, Collins returned to minor league baseball and played for several teams until {{mlby|1932}}.<ref name=BRm/> In 1936, he teamed up with former minor league pitcher Van Hammer in attempting to establish a new Western League franchise in St. Joseph, Missouri, after the St. Joseph Saints moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and became the Waterloo Hawks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Western League Now Eight Club Circuit|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=suNBAAAAIBAJ&pg=4985,3744453&dq=pat+collins+yankees&hl=en|date=March 4, 1936|page=10|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|location=Dubuque|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, the plan fell through after a court injunction was issued barring him from using the stadium in St. Joseph for professional baseball.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Collins Awarded St. Joseph Franchise in Western League|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1CNaAAAAIBAJ&pg=1721,2277227&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=November 16, 1936|page=5|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=St. Joseph Gazette|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Because of this, Collins forfeited the St. Joseph franchise<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Joseph to Forfeit Its Baseball Franchise|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hqtQAAAAIBAJ&pg=1741,2542048&dq=pat+collins+baseball&hl=en|date=March 27, 1937|page=2|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|agency=Associated Press}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and subsequently bought the Western League's Rock Island Islanders instead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Western League to Operate; Rock Island Is New Member|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=095BAAAAIBAJ&pg=1433,445159&dq=st+joseph+western+league+waterloo&hl=en|date=April 4, 1937|page=16|access-date=September 1, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|location=Dubuque|agency=United Press International}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{Portal|Baseball}} {{baseballstats|mlb=112520|espn=20315|fangraphs=1002460|brm=collin001tha|br=c/collipa01}} *{{find a Grave|6826247}}
{{1927 New York Yankees}} {{1928 New York Yankees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Pat}} Category:1896 births Category:1960 deaths Category:St. Louis Browns players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:New York Yankees players Category:Boston Braves players Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Baseball players from Missouri Category:Joplin Miners players Category:St. Paul Saints (AA) players Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Category:Kansas City Blues (baseball) players Category:Seattle Indians players Category:People from Sweet Springs, Missouri Category:American expatriate baseball players in Cuba