was the best man at McGraw's wedding and a pallbearer following the death of McGraw's 23-year-old wife in 1899. McGraw and Jennings staged a reunion year after year on their birthdays. Jennings won two World Series as a coach in and . When McGraw became ill, Jennings filled in as the Giants' manager for parts of and . His overall managing record was 1184-995. Managerial record A lifetime of tragic accidents Jennings' life was filled with several tragic accidents. There was the beaning incident in Philadelphia that left him unconscious for three days. While attending Cornell, he fractured his skull diving head-first into a swimming pool at night, only to find the pool had been emptied. In December 1911, Jennings came close to death after an off-season automobile accident. While driving a car given to him by admirers, Jennings' car overturned while crossing a bridge over the Lehigh River near Gouldsboro, southeast of Scranton. In the crash, Jennings again fractured his skull, suffered a concussion of the brain, and broke both legs and his left arm. For several days after the accident, doctors were unsure if Jennings would survive. The physical abuse and blows to the head undoubtedly took their toll. During the 1925 season, McGraw was ill, and Jennings was put in full charge of the Giants. The team finished in second place and the strain caught up with Jennings, who suffered a nervous breakdown when the season ended. According to his obituary, Jennings "was unable to report" to spring training in 1926 due to his condition. Jennings retired to the Winyah Sanatorium in Asheville, North Carolina. He did return home to Scranton, Pennsylvania, spending much of his time recuperating in the Pocono Mountains. In early 1928, Jennings died from meningitis in Scranton, Pennsylvania at age 58. Jennings was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945 as a player. See also List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders List of Major League Baseball player-managers List of Major League Baseball managers by wins 1909 Detroit Tigers season Notes Further reading Kashatus, William C. Diamonds in the Coal Fields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania (McFarland, 2002). Smiles, Jack. Ee-yah: The Life and Times of Hughie Jennings, Baseball Hall of Famer (McFarland, 2005). External links 1869 births 1928 deaths 19th-century baseball players Allentown (minor league baseball) players American people of Irish descent Baltimore