Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896.

From 1907 to 1920, Jennings was the manager of the Detroit Tigers, where he was known for his colorful antics, hoots, whistles, and his famous shouts of "Ee-Yah!"

The teams featured Hall of Fame manager Ned Hanlon and a lineup with six future Hall of Famers: first baseman Dan Brouthers, second baseman John McGraw, shortstop Jennings, catcher Wilbert Robinson, right fielder "Wee Willie" Keeler, and left fielder Joe Kelley.

Amidst all those great players, Jennings was appointed captain in 1894, his first full season with the team.

[1] In 1899, when manager Ned Hanlon moved to the Brooklyn Superbas, several of his star players, including Jennings, Joe Kelley, and Willie Keeler followed.

However, his failing arm cut his career short, as he never played in more than 82 games or hit above .272 in two seasons with the Phillies.

While playing for the Orioles in the 1890s, Jennings and John McGraw both attended classes at St. Bonaventure University.

Jennings continued as a scholar-athlete until the spring of 1904, when he left campus early to manage the Orioles.

In 1907, Jennings was hired as manager of a talented Detroit Tigers team that included future Hall of Famers Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford.

During his years as Detroit's manager, Jennings became famous for his antics, mostly in the third base coaching box, which variously included shouts of "Ee-Yah", and other whoops, whistles, horns, gyrations, jigs, and grass-plucking.

The "Ee-Yah" whoop became his trademark and was accompanied with waves of both arms over his head and a sharp raising of his right knee.

[2][4] (See also Jack Smiles, Ee-yah: The Life And Times Of Hughie Jennings, Baseball Hall Of Famer) Behind the antics was a great coaching mind.

Connie Mack called Jennings one of the three greatest managers in history, along with John McGraw and Joe McCarthy.

"[2] In 1912, during a game in which "pick-ups" played for the Tigers when the regular team went on strike to protest the suspension of Cobb after an incident involving a fan in the stands whom Cobb assaulted, Jennings, who also sent his coaches in as substitute players, came to bat himself once as a pinch hitter.

"[5] While Jennings was fiery, hard-nosed, colorful, and even eccentric, he insisted he had always played the game honestly.

After his "no comment" drew negative publicity, Jennings issued a statement to the press in December 1926 denying knowledge of the matter and adding, "My slate has been clean base ball for 35 years... Whatever I have done in base ball has been of such a nature that I would be ready any time to go before anyone and place my case before them.

Jennings signed on as a coach with his old friend, John McGraw, who was managing the New York Giants.

In the crash, Jennings again fractured his skull, suffered a concussion of the brain, and broke both legs and his left arm.

The team finished in second place and the strain caught up with Jennings, who suffered a nervous breakdown when the season ended.

[4] On February 1, 1928, Jennings died at age 58 at his home at 530 Vine Street in Scranton, Pennsylvania.