Johnny Evers

Evers was born on July 21, 1881, in Troy, New York. His father worked as a saloon keeper. Many of Evers' relatives, including his father, brothers, and uncles, played baseball. Evers attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and played sandlot ball in Troy.{{cite web|url=http://research.sabr.org/journals/johnny-evers |title=Johnny Evers, The Find of the 1902 Season |publisher=Society of American Baseball Research |first=Frank |last=Keetz |access-date=July 18, 2012}}

Evers made his professional debut in minor league baseball for the Troy Trojans of the Class-B New York State League in 1902 as a shortstop. Evers reportedly weighed less than {{convert|100|lbs}}, and opposing fans thought he was a part of a comedic act. Evers reportedly weighed no more than {{convert|130|lbs}} during his career.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trxHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6696,6376931&dq=johnny-evers+joe-tinker&hl=en|newspaper=Warsaw Daily Union|title=Johnny Evers Loses Battle: Dies Friday After a Long Illness|agency=United Press International|page=7|date=March 29, 1947|access-date=September 23, 2012}}

Evers batted .285 and led the New York State League with 10 home runs. Frank Selee, manager of the Chicago Cubs, scouted Evers's teammate, pitcher Alex Hardy. Selee, also looking for a second baseman due to an injury to starter Bobby Lowe, purchased Hardy's and Evers's contracts for $1,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1500|1902}}}} in current dollar terms); the Trojans were willing to sell Evers's services due to his temper.

Evers made his MLB debut with the Cubs on September 1 at shortstop, as Selee moved Joe Tinker from shortstop to third base. Only three players in the National League (NL) were younger than Evers: Jim St. Vrain, Jimmy Sebring, and Lave Winham.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1902-other-leaders.shtml |title=1902 National League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}} Three days later, Selee returned Tinker to shortstop and assigned Evers to second base. In his month-long tryout with the Cubs, Evers batted .222 without recording an extra-base hit and played inconsistent defense. However, Lowe's injury did not properly heal by spring training in 1903, allowing Evers to win the starting job for the 1903 season. Lowe recovered during the 1903 season, but Evers' strong play made Lowe expendable; Evers finished third in the NL in fielding percentage among second basemen (.937), and finished fifth in assists (245) and putouts (306).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1903-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1903 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} The Cubs sold Lowe to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BwsbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6483,3417799&dq=johnny-evers+bobby-lowe&hl=en|title=Evers A Star In Every Way: Youngster Has Demonstrated That He Can Think As Well As Play a Great Mechanical Game|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=10|date=October 17, 1908|access-date=October 15, 2012}} Evers played 152 games in the 1904 season. Defensively, his 518 assists and 381 putouts led the NL, though his 54 errors led all NL second basemen.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1904-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1904 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}

During the 1906 season, Evers finished fifth in the NL with 49 stolen bases,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1906-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1906 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}} and led the league with 344 putouts and led all second basemen with 44 errors.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1906-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1906 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} The Cubs won the NL pennant in 1906, but lost the 1906 World Series to the Chicago White Sox four games to two; Evers batted 3-for-20 (.150) in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1906_WS.shtml |title=1906 World Series — Chicago White Sox over Chicago Cubs (4-2) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}} During the 1907 season, Evers led the NL with 500 assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1907-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1907 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} The Cubs repeated as NL champions in 1907, and won the 1907 World Series over the Detroit Tigers, four games to none, as Evers batted 7-for-20 (.350).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1907_WS.shtml |title=1907 World Series — Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4-0) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}

File:Johnny Evers 1910.jpg

During the 1908 pennant race, Evers alerted the umpires to Fred Merkle's baserunning error in a game against the New York Giants, which became known as "Merkle's Boner". Al Bridwell hit what appeared to be the game-winning single for the Giants, while Merkle, the baserunner on first base, went to the clubhouse without touching second base. Evers called for the ball, and the umpire ruled Merkle out. NL president Harry Pulliam ruled the game a tie, with a makeup to be played. The Cubs won the makeup game, thereby winning the pennant. The Cubs then won the 1908 World Series over Detroit, four games to one, as Evers again batted 7-for-20 (.350).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1908_WS.shtml |title=1908 World Series — Chicago Cubs over Detroit Tigers (4-1) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}} For the 1908 season, Evers had a .300 batting average, good for fifth in the NL, and a .402 on-base percentage, second only to Honus Wagner.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1908-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1908 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}}

Evers drew 108 walks during the 1910 season, trailing only Miller Huggins.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1910-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1910 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} However, Evers missed the end of the season with a broken leg.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mr4WAAAAIBAJ&pg=5643,1868160&dq=johnny-evers+bankrupt&hl=en|title=Evers–Ad Wolgast Of Baseball|page=18|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=December 11, 1914|access-date=October 15, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Without Evers, the Cubs won the NL pennant, but lost the 1910 World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics, four games to one.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1910_WS.shtml |title=1910 World Series — Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs (4-1) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} Evers agreed to manage the Navy Midshipmen, a college baseball team, in 1911, despite the opposition of Cubs' manager Frank Chance.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iv8aAAAAIBAJ&pg=2936,4416952&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Ready To Defy Cub Manager: Will Coach Navy Team and Pass Up Spring Trip, Regardless of Consent|page=17|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 19, 1910|access-date=October 15, 2012}} He experienced a nervous breakdown in 1911; returning to the Cubs later in the season, he played in only 46 games that year.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xhUbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6354,3384357&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Just As Scrappy As Ever|page=26|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 15, 1911|access-date=October 15, 2012}} Evers indicated that this was a result of a business deal that cost Evers most of his savings. Evers rebounded to bat .341 in 1912, good for fourth in the NL,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1912-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1912 National League Batting Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 17, 2012}} and he led the NL with a .431 on-base percentage. Team owner Charles W. Murphy named Evers manager in 1913, signing him to a five-year contract, succeeding Chance.

After the 1913 season, Evers was offered $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1913}}}} in current dollar terms) to jump to the Federal League, but he opted to take less money to remain with the Cubs.{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-sweeney-3/ |title=Bill Sweeney |first1=Peter |last1=Morris |website=sabr.org |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=July 17, 2012}} In February 1914, after Evers signed his players to contracts, Murphy fired Evers as manager and traded him to the Boston Braves for Bill Sweeney and Hub Perdue. Murphy insisted that Evers had resigned as manager, which Evers denied. Evers insisted he was a free agent,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DBE9AAAAIBAJ&pg=3327,2730525&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers: Who Wins Him? Status Remains One of the Mysteries of Baseball. Says He is Free; Charles Webfoot Murphy Says He is the Property of the Boston Nationals|newspaper=Meriden Morning Record|page=1|date=February 12, 1914|access-date=March 29, 2013}} but the league assigned him to the Braves. He signed a four-year contract at $10,000 per season (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10000|1914}}}} in current dollar terms), with a $20,000 signing bonus.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XXFiAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799,810572&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers to Boston Nationals: National League Sells Deposed Manager of Chicago Cubs to "Braves"|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|page=3|date=February 14, 1914|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

During the 1914 season, the Braves fell into last place of the eight-team NL by July 4. However, the Braves came back from last place in the last ten weeks of the season to win the NL pennant. Evers' .976 fielding percentage led all NL second basemen.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1914-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1914 National League Fielding Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} The Braves defeated the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series, four games to none,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/10/14/archives/braves-capture-worlds-series-in-four-straight-new-record-in.html |title=Braves Capture World's Series In Four Straight — New Record in Baseball Set When Boston Beats the Athletics, 3 to 1. Victory Has No Precedent: Gate Receipts Total $226,739 -Boston Players Divide $73,140 and Mackmen Get $48,760. Evers Breaks Up Game: His Single Scores Two Runs in the Fifth, Routing Shawkey — Scored First Run in Fourth. 34,365 See The Struggle: Wild Scene at Fenway Park When Contest Ends — Stallings Greatest Manager in Baseball, Says Evers|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 14, 1914 |access-date=July 18, 2012}} as Evers batted 7-for-16 (.438).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1914_WS.shtml |title=1914 World Series — Boston Braves over Philadelphia Athletics (4-0) |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}} Evers won the Chalmers Award, the forerunner of the modern-day Most Valuable Player award, ahead of teammate Rabbit Maranville.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1914.shtml#NLmvp |title=1914 Awards Voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}

Evers was limited in 1915 by injuries, and also served suspension for arguing with umpires. After a poor season in 1916, Evers began the 1917 season with a .193 batting average. Due to Evers' declining performance, the Braves placed Evers on waivers at mid-season, and he was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies. Evers rejected an offer to become manager of the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League that offseason. He signed with the Boston Red Sox as a player-coach for the 1918 season,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9kYbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6748,2604351&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Anxious To Be In Game Again: New Redsox Player and Coach Will Lose No Time in Getting Into Shape|page=2|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=February 24, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}} but was released without playing a game for them.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k6wWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5667,4982394&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Wants Revenge For Release By The Red Sox|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=3|date=May 19, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Not receiving another offer from an MLB team, Evers traveled to Paris as a member of the Knights of Columbus to promote baseball in France.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I4QWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3949,1313014&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Meets An Old Friend In France|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=6|date=August 30, 1918|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 1920, Evers was slated to become head baseball coach at Boston College, however he instead accepted a last minute offer to join the New York Giants as a coach.{{cite news |title=Evers Expected Today at Boston College |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=May 10, 1920}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0EshAAAAIBAJ&pg=5080,817268&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Evers Joins Giants: Believed Johnny Will Be McGraw's Right Hand Man|agency=Associated Press|page=8|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=May 10, 1920|access-date=March 29, 2013}} He managed the Cubs again in 1921, succeeding Fred Mitchell. With the team struggling, Evers was fired in August and replaced with Bill Killefer.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_opAAAAIBAJ&pg=6967,2862745&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Deposed as Leader of Chicago Cubs; Killefer Is His Successor|page=1|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 4, 1921|access-date=October 15, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Cubs finished seventh out of eight in the NL that season.

Evers served as a coach for the Chicago White Sox in 1922 and 1923. He returned to second base in 1922, filling in for an injured Eddie Collins. Evers played in one game for the White Sox as Collins recovered.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/04/28/archives/evers-at-second-base-plays-full-game-as-indians-and-white-sox.html |title=Evers at Second Base. – Plays Full Game as Indians and White Sox Battle to Tie, 6 to 6|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 28, 1922 |access-date=July 17, 2012}}

File:(John J. Evers, Chicago Cubs, baseball card portrait) (LOC) (3970980335).jpg

Evers was named the White Sox acting manager for the 1924 season, succeeding Chance, who had been hired as manager during the offseason, was ordered home before the season began, due to poor health.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJ4hAAAAIBAJ&pg=4597,4361753&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Evers Made Manager: Frank Chance Ordered Home Because of Health|newspaper=Reading Eagle|page=17|date=April 20, 1924|access-date=October 15, 2012}} However, Evers suffered from appendicitis during the season, missing time during the year,{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-17/sports/ct-spt-0618-city-cell-chicago--20120618_1_guillen-and-wife-ibis-cubs-careers-cubs-white-sox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618163620/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-17/sports/ct-spt-0618-city-cell-chicago--20120618_1_guillen-and-wife-ibis-cubs-careers-cubs-white-sox |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |title=Cubs-White Sox: Top five Chicago Cubs-Chicago White Sox games on the South Side|first=Dave |last=van Dyck|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 17, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012}} and the White Sox opened up a managerial search when Chance died in September.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ku8oAAAAIBAJ&pg=1912,5872294&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Frank Chance, Famous Manager of White Sox, Dies on Coast; Former 'Peerless Leader' of Chicago Cubs, Gives Up Fight|agency=United Press|page=1|newspaper=The Southeast Missourian|date=September 16, 1924|access-date=March 29, 2013}} The White Sox replaced Evers with Collins after the season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y3wuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4180,1653979&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Eddie Collins Manager; White Sox Player to Succeed Johnny Evers|agency=Associated Press|page=18|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=December 12, 1924|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

Evers rejoined the Braves as a scout. As Braves owner Emil Fuchs sold manager Rogers Hornsby to the Cubs and assumed managerial duties himself for the 1929 season, Fuchs hired Evers as a coach. Fuchs had no experience as a field manager,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TyxlAAAAIBAJ&pg=2501,1029520&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers With Boston; Former Second Baseman to Act as Assistant Manager for Braves|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|page=17|date=November 8, 1928|access-date=March 29, 2013}} and so Evers became captain of the Braves, directing the team during the game and dealing with umpires.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sPUjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5239,3909705&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Big League Teams Name Their Captains|first=George|last=Kirksey|agency=United Press International|page=2|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=March 13, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Evers and fellow coach Hank Gowdy played in one game in the 1929 season, coming into the bottom of the ninth inning on October 6, 1929.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0sgLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3652,441794&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Major Leagues End Races With Few Fireworks: Old Veterans And Rookies In Lineups For Last Tilts of Year|agency=Associated Press|page=10|newspaper=The Evening Independent|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|date=October 7, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}} In the process, Evers became the oldest player in the league for the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1929-other-leaders.shtml |title=1929 National League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}

Evers remained a coach for the Braves under Bill McKechnie, who succeeded Fuchs as field manager in 1930, and served in the role through 1932. He continued to scout for the Braves,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1atQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,3660585&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Now—and then: Johnny Evers—Too Much Pepper|page=3|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=July 6, 1934|access-date=March 29, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and then became general manager of the Albany Senators of the New York–Pennsylvania League in 1935.{{Cite news |date=1935-06-08 |title=Johnny Evers Awaits Action by Executive Committee on Pitts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-johnny-evers-awaits-actio/163486461/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Miami News |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press}}{{Cite news |date=1935-02-04 |title=Johnny Evers Will Operate Albany Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-johnny-evers-will-operat/163486408/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=Chicago Tribune |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}} He resigned from Albany at the end of the season.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/307621502.html?dids=307621502:307621502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+12%2C+1935&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Johnny+Evers+Resigns&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131201258/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/307621502.html?dids=307621502:307621502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+12,+1935&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Johnny+Evers+Resigns&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Johnny Evers Resigns |page=10|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=September 12, 1935 |access-date=July 18, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=March 2013}} Over his managerial career, he posted a 180–192 record.

Evers married Helen Fitzgibbons.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KepRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6002,260316&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Helen Evers, Widow of Baseball Great|page=11–B|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=January 11, 1974|access-date=March 29, 2013}} His son, John J. Evers, Jr., served as a Lieutenant in World War II, assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations.{{Cite news |date=1944-01-16 |title=Famed Johnny Evers Still Follows Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-famed-johnny-evers-s/163486381/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Palm Beach Post |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}} When his son was 11 years old, Evers bought part of the Albany Senators and gave him the stock.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/01/28/archives/johnny-evers-jr-becomes-baseball-magnate-at-11.html |title=Johnny Evers Jr. Becomes Baseball Magnate at 11 |newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 28, 1921 |access-date=July 18, 2012}} Evers' brother, Joe Evers, and uncle, Tom Evers, also played in MLB. His great-nephew is Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1206500/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410172819/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1206500/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2013|title=Tinker To Evers To Chance ... ... To Me: After years of boasting that he was related to Hall of Fame second baseman Johnny Evers, the author set out to explore—for better and worse—the century-old myth of the double-play artist|first=Tim|last=Layden|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 3, 2012|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

Though Evers and Tinker were part of one of the most successful double-play combinations in baseball history, the two despised each other off of the field. They went several years without speaking to each other after one argument.{{cite book|last=James|first=Bill|author-link=Bill James|year=1995|title=Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?|publisher=Simon & Schuster|pages=207–208|isbn=0684800888}} When Chance once named Tinker the smartest ballplayer he knew, Evers took it as a personal affront.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/02/18/archives/dentists-after-baseball-job-applications-still-arriving-at-the.html |title=Dentists After Baseball Job — Applications Still Arriving at the Giants' Office — Shafer to Sign at Marlin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 18, 1913 |access-date=July 18, 2012}}

Evers operated a sporting goods store in Albany, New York in 1923. However, Evers lost his money and filed for bankruptcy in 1936.{{Cite news |date=1936-05-13 |title=Johnny Evers Files Bankruptcy Petition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-johnny-evers-files-bank/163486343/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=Hartford Courant |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LnctAAAAIBAJ&pg=5355,3008151&dq=johnny-evers+bankrupt&hl=en |newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|title=Time Deals Harshly With Two Of Diamond's Immortals|date=May 25, 1936|page=12|access-date=July 18, 2012}} The store was passed down to Evers' descendants.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kHohAAAAIBAJ&pg=5790,2800406|title=On The Block: Evers family sell famous Merkle ball at Leland's sports memorabilia auction|first=Steve|last=Amedio|page=C1|newspaper=The Daily Gazette|date=February 13, 1993|access-date=March 29, 2013}} He also worked as superintendent of Bleecker Stadium in Albany{{Cite news |date=1936-04-16 |title=Johnny Evers To Have Charge Bleeker Stadium |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-johnny-evers-to-have-ch/163486363/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=The Boston Globe |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}} and spent time teaching baseball to sandlot players.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GFwbAAAAIBAJ&pg=5182,93327&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Teacher Now|page=10|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=May 3, 1937|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

Evers suffered a stroke in August 1942, which paralyzed the right side of his body.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wD9FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4582,5900742&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Fights For Life in Hospital|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|page=9|date=August 26, 1942|access-date=March 29, 2013}} He remained bedridden or confined to a wheelchair for most of the next five years.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trxHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6696,6376931&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en |title=Johnny Evers Loses Battle: Dies Friday After a Long Illness|page=7|agency=United Press International|newspaper=Warsaw Daily Union|date=March 29, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}} Evers died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1947 at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany,{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/johnny-evers/ |title=Johnny Evers |first1=David |last1=Shiner |website=sabr.org |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=October 15, 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ga4uAAAAIBAJ&pg=4603,5957152&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers, Ball Star, Dies: Member of Immortal Diamond Combination|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|page=1|agency=Associated Press|date=March 28, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}} and is buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Troy.{{cite news|title=Cubs fans visit Evers grave in Troy|work=The Saratogian|agency=The Associated Press|date=Nov 3, 2016}}

File:Johnny-evers-grave.jpg

File:Johnny Evers Hall of Fame plaque.jpg]]

Evers retired in 1918, having batted .300 or higher twice in his career, stolen 324 bases and scored 919 runs. He frequently argued with umpires and received numerous suspensions during his career.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5NxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3841,6068956&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=National Prexy Hands Evers Three-Day Suspension For Baiting Umps|agency=Associated Press|page=9|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date=May 20, 1929|access-date=March 29, 2013}} His combative play and fights with umpires earned him the nickname "The Human Crab".{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kdksAAAAIBAJ&pg=3382,435956&dq=johnny-evers+albany&hl=en|title=Johnny Evers Warns Players Not to Fight With Umpires|agency=United Press International|page=2|newspaper=The Bulletin|location=Bend, Oregon|date=July 31, 1942|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

Evers served as the pivot man in the "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" double-play combination, which inspired the classic baseball poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon", written by New York Evening Mail newspaper columnist Franklin Pierce Adams in July 1910.{{cite book|last=Ashley|first=Sally|year=1986|title=F.P.A.: The Life and Times of Franklin P. Adams|publisher=Beaufort|page=65}} Evers, Tinker, and Chance were all inducted in the Hall of Fame in the same year.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D4YhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2068,92886&dq=johnny-evers&hl=en|title=New Plaques Placed in Baseball Hall of Fame|agency=International News Service|page=11|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=July 21, 1947|access-date=March 29, 2013}}

The Merkle play remains one of the most famous in baseball history. The ball used in the Merkle play was sold at an auction in the 1990s for $27,500, making it one of the four most valuable baseballs based on purchase price.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/happened-infamous-ball-merkle-blunder-article-1.324910 |title=What happened to the infamous ball from 'The Merkle Blunder'? |work=New York Daily News |first=David |last=Hinckley|date=September 22, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2012}} Evers' role in Merkle's boner cemented his legacy as a smart ballplayer.

Evers is mentioned in the 1949 poem "Line-Up for Yesterday" by Ogden Nash:

{{quote box |width= 18em |border= 4px |align= center |bgcolor= #FAF0E6 |qalign= center | title=Line-Up for Yesterday|E is for Evers,

His jaw in advance;

Never afraid

to Tinker with Chance.

|source= — Ogden Nash, Sport magazine (January 1949){{cite news|title=N is for Nash and his poem that's a smash|first=Don|last=Freeman|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=October 19, 1992}}}}

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