[4] 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".

[10] 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.

[1] Collins made his major league debut for the Browns on September 5, 1919, at the age of 22,[1] entering the game as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Bert Gallia and drawing a walk in a 12–3 loss against the Detroit Tigers.

[1] During the 1923 season, Collins played 47 games (37 starts) and had the fifth highest caught stealing percentage in the American League (AL) at 44.4%.

[16] 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.

[17] Sisler lodged a formal protest to AL president Ban Johnson,[18] and the suspensions were rescinded four days later.

He became the starting catcher "by default"[24] after Benny Bengough—who was Miller Huggins' first choice for the job—suffered from a sore arm before spring training commenced.

[27] This, along with Bengough's recurring problems with his arm, prompted the Yankees to buy Hank Severeid from the Washington Senators.

[33] After the Yankees purchased Bill Dickey from the Jackson Senators before the start of the 1928 season,[36] the team now had four catchers on their roster.

[39] The catching situation—along with his dismal .221 batting average that year[1]—made Collins redundant, and at the end of the season, he was sold to the Boston Braves.

[3] Collins managed to play just seven games for the Braves during the 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.

[1] After the Braves acquired several younger catchers, he was released and sent to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League[3][40] There, he batted .122 and had 5 hits in 16 games played[10] before manager Bill Clymer cut him loose after the season ended.

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.