John Eubank
{{Short description|American baseball player (1872–1958)}}
{{about||the American football player and coach|John Eubank (American football)|those of a similar name|John Ewbank (disambiguation){{!}}John Ewbank|or|John Eubanks (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=John Eubank
|image=John Eubank.jpg
|position=Pitcher
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1872|9|9}}
|birth_place=Servia, Indiana, U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1958|11|3|1872|9|9}}
|death_place=Bellevue, Michigan, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 19
|debutyear=1905
|debutteam=Detroit Tigers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=August 2
|finalyear=1907
|finalteam=Detroit Tigers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Win–loss record
|stat1value=8–13
|stat2label=Earned run average
|stat2value=3.12
|stat3label=Strikeouts
|stat3value=56
|teams=
- Detroit Tigers (1905–1907)
}}
John Franklin Eubank (September 9, 1872 – November 3, 1958), nicknamed "Honest John,"{{Cite news|title=Honest John's Luck Came Good at Last: Pitched Detroit to its First Victory on Athletics' Lot--Winning Run Pulled Out in the Ninth Inning|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=July 14, 1906|page=9|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/563935052}} was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1905 to 1907.
Early years
Baseball player
=Detroit Tigers=
Eubank was purchased by the Detroit Tigers from Fort Dodge Gypsum Eaters of the Iowa State League in early August 1905.{{cite news|title=American League Notes|newspaper=Sporting Life|date=August 6, 1905|page=7|url=http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1905/VOL_45_NO_21/SL4521007.pdf}} Eubank made his major league debut with the Tigers as a 33-year-old rookie on September 19, 1905. On September 22, 1905, he allowed only one hit and no runs in six innings as a relief pitcher against Washington.{{cite news|title=American League|newspaper=Sporting Life|date=September 30, 1905|page=7|url=http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1905/VOL_46_NO_03/SL4603007.pdf}} Eubank compiled a record of 1–0 with a 2.08 ERA in 1905.
He pitched in a career-high 24 games and 135 innings in 1906, compiling a 4–10 record with a 3.53 ERA. At the end of September, he pitched a complete-game shutout against New York.{{cite news|title=Whitewash By Eubanks: Servia Slinger Bests Hogg in Great Battle That Ends Series; Back Twirler in Brilliant Style on Field Slow and Soggy|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=September 27, 1906|page=9|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/563814347}}
In 1907, Eubank went 3–3 with a 2.67 ERA on a Detroit team that won the American League pennant. He lost his first start of the 1907 by a 1-0 score.{{cite news|title=Eubank Pitches Like Champion But Is Against Shut-Out Game: Combination of Bad Breaks in Ninth Lets in a Run and Spoils His Chance of Starting With Victory. Great Work by Plank, Who Opposes Servia Lad. One Big Block--Wintry Day Holds the Crowd Down|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Joe S. Jackson|author-link=Joe S. Jackson|date=May 21, 1907|page=8|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/564037309}} In late June, Eubank pitched a shutout against the Cleveland Naps to stop a four-game losing streak.{{cite news|title=Honest John Stops Slide: Naps Shut Out by Eubank in Game That is Close All Its Distance|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=June 29, 1907 |author=Joe S. Jackson |author-link=Joe S. Jackson |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/564059962}} He pitched his last major league game on August 2, 1907.
Eubank was sent to Indianapolis late in the 1907 season where he had three wins in three starts.{{cite news|title=Told About the Tigers|date=September 17, 1907|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/564077931}} He returned to the Tigers for the 1907 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Although he did not pitch in the World Series, Eubank protested when he was denied a share of the club's bonus funds. The team voted to exclude him in spite of his protest.{{cite news|title=Detroit Dope: The American Champions Still In Local Flavor|author=Paul H. Bruske|date=October 26, 1907|page=9|newspaper=Sporting Life|url=http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1907/VOL_50_NO_07/SL5007009.pdf}}
=Minor leagues=
Eubank continued to play in the minor leagues for several years, concluding his career with the Grays from Goshen, Indiana.{{cite news|title=Obituary: John F. Eubank|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=November 1958|page=22}}
Later years
At the time of the 1910 U.S. Census, Eubank was living in Bellevue, Michigan, with his wife, Bessie, and their children, Jennie (age 18), David (age 13), and Dewey (age 11).Census entry for J. F. Eubank, age 38, born in Indiana.
At the time of the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Censuses, Eubank remained in Bellevue with his wife Bessie.Census entry for John F. Eubank, age 47, born in Indiana. Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: T625_763; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 86; Image: 21. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].Census entry for John F. Eubanks, age 57, born in Indiana. Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: 983; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0001; Image: 246.0; FHL microfilm: 2340718. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Census, Eubank was living in Bellevue with his son, Ralph.Census entry for John F. Eubank, age 67, born in Indiana. Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Bellevue, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: T627_1747; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 23-1. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
In November 1958, after a long illness, Eubank died at his home in Bellevue, Michigan.