HOF Registration Information
Riverdale, NY - The 39th annual Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 11. Eight individuals, two teams and one legacy inductee will be honored. Leading up to the induction, all members of Class of 2017 will be profiled on
GoJaspers.com.
James Joseph "Airy" Donahue
Sponsored by Charles Manning '73 and Jerome Wood '75
James Joseph "Airy" Donahue, Class of 1911, carved a legacy as a leader across multiple disciplines. He served as a captain on both the basketball and baseball teams at Manhattan College and later signed with the Boston Red Sox professional baseball club.
Donahue was a four-year varsity left fielder and second baseman on the Jaspers baseball team. In November of 1907, in the All-American---All-Cuban game, Donahue smacked a hit with the bases loaded in the first inning and tallied four runs on the play. He was selected as the team captain in 1911. 131. That squad went 15-6 and averaged almost nine runs per game. During his baseball career, he batted .450 for the Jaspers.
On the hardwood, "Airy" earned four letters and captained the basketball team during his junior and senior year. He played right guard on the 1910-11 team that won a total of 13 games, its best season in program history at the time. They ended the season with nine straight wins, finishing off the streak with a victory against Cornell.
While he was immensely successful in his collegiate athletic endeavors, he accomplished multiple feats after graduation. He signed with the Red Sox in June of 1911 for $300 per month and was with the team until October of 1912.
Donahue used his Bachelor of Science degree from Manhattan College to become an engineer with the New York City Board of Water Supply and Public Service Commission for Water and Subway Tunnels. He also pursued a law degree at Fordham University and was admitted to practice in New York State.
James Joseph "Airy" Donahue was a legendary contributor to Manhattan College Athletics. It is no small feat to have a profound impact on multiple Jasper programs, and Donahue's legacy is forever cemented in Manhattan College lore.
