Smiling Tommy Tracey, the clever
Australian (1871-1937)
Tom Tracey, welter-weight champion of Australia and white welter-weight championship of the world. Tracey had been in over 200 fights, the majority of them of the strenuous variety ranging over a period of 18 years.
Thomas Joseph Tracey, it is stated, was born on the 19th February 1871 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of Irish-English parentage.
Tommy became an exponent of the "manly art" at the
tender age of 14 years, breaking into the bare-knuckle game of the Antipodes.
But he was far from a tender youth physically, his debut going the marathon
route of 46 rounds. He was to get $25 for winning, but as the affair was a draw
the promoters refused to give the youngsters a "bob" for court
plaster. But the lad was not to be turned aside by financial arguments and he
slowly but surely forced his way to the front, first winning 126-pound
tourney's, and then jumping into the 145-pound class, until, at the age of 21
years, seven years after his bareknuckle initiation, he was the undisputed
welterweight champion of Australia. He won the title by decisively defeating
Tom Meadows in five rounds.
He immigrated to the United States from Australia in 1893, but was boxing in London England in 1896, and naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1899. In 1894, he is described as Dan Creedon's foster brother and trainer. In an article from 1908, he is referred to as Creedon's half brother.
He won the white welter-weight championship of the world in May 1903 and retired in 1904. He settled in Portland Oregon and later became a head of the Portland Boxing Commission during the mid-1910s.
According to the July 10, 1926 Portland Oregonian he was operating a small cigar store in the lobby of the Gasco building in Portland.
According to the November 26, 1937 Portland Oregonian he was the manager of Portland Light Heavyweight Jack Root at the time Root ended the comeback of Mysterious Billy Smith in 1915. The article refers to "the late Tom Tracey," so he had passed away prior to this.
Boxing Record: click
http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Tom_Tracey
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/tracey-tom.htm
1937 interview... ...Thomas Joseph Tracey was born in Bouverie Street, Carlton, on February 19, 1872, of Irish-English parentage. He had a brother Paddy, who was killed at "the landing." and a sister Daisy, married and settled in Victoria....
??? & Elizabeth Wardell
Tom b. 1870 Melbourne
Thomas Tracey, of Tipperary, married Elizabeth Waddle 1871 Victoria Australia
Thomas Tracey (Thos Tracey, s. of Mich Tracey & Elizth Early, died 1897) & Elizabeth Waddle/Wardle/Wardell (Elizabeth Tracey, d. of Louis Wardell & Agnes Burns, died 1883)
Bridget Elizabeth Tracey b. 1872 Melbourne (Bridget Tracey, d. of Thomas & Elizabeth Wardel, died 1873)
Michael Louis Tracey b. 1873 Melbourne N. (Michael Lewis Tracy, s. of John Thomas & Elizabeth Wadel, died 1875)
Agnes [Jane] Tracey b. 1875 (Agnes Tracey married Wm Geary 1903 Victoria)
Patrick Tracey b. 1877 Carlton (died 1915)
Henry Treacy b. 1879 Carlton (James Henry Treacy, s. of Thomas & Elizabeth Waddle, died 1879)
6 Nov 1915 The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.)
Roll Of Honour...2026 Pte. P. Tracey, 9th Btn.; 5th rfts., Mount-Eccles, Vic., dangerously ill, Heliopolis
19 Nov 1915 The Week (Brisbane, Qld)
2026 Pte. P. Tracey. 9th Btn., 5th rlts., Mount Eccles, Vic., died of illness, 29/10/15. (previously reported dangerously ill).
Private Patrick Tracey, 2026 9th Bn. Australian Infantry A.I.F., died 29/10/1915 of accidental injuries, aged 36, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Tracey of Carlton, Victoria, Australia. (Mrs Agnes Geary, Frida Post Office, Via Mount Eccles Victoria) Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery
Thomas Tracey (abt. 1831 - 1897)
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Tracey-566 - Caley Geary Feb 2018
In 1897, it was reported that he had married Georgie Dexter.
Russell E. Dexter, 21, of Port Jervis Orange NY, An Brake Insp, (s. of Thomas Tracey & Georgeanna Dexter, both born USA) m. Mamie Bishane, 19, of Port Jervis Orange NY, Factory Employee, (d. of Tony Bishane & Paulie Faltman, both born Austria) 27 May 1918 Port Jervis Orange NY.
Thomas Tracey died 01 Jul 1937 Portland, Oregon. Spouse's Name: Antoinet Tracey
Antoinette Tracey, b. 22 June 1877, Social Security Number: 559-32-3291, Last Place of Residence: Alameda California, died October 1965, Age: 88
Thomas Tracey married Antoinette Lang 29 December 1900 Alameda, California, United States
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LKSV-15H
1910 Census – 167
Stout St, Portland Ward 4, Multnomah, Oregon
Thomas Tracey Lodger M 38 b. Australia, Father b. Australia, Mother b. Australia, Immigrated 1893, na, manager athletic club
Antoinette Tracey Lodger F 31 b. California, Father b. Germany, Mother b. Spain, married 10 years, no children
1920 Census – 30 N 20th,
Portland, Multnomah, Oregon
Thomas J Tracey Head M 49 b. Australia, Father b. Ireland, Mother b. Australia, Immigrated 1893, na 1898, dealer cigars
Antoinette J Tracey Wife F 40 b. California, Father b. Massachusetts, Mother b. Spain
1930 Census – 786
Osage St, Portland (Districts 1-219), Multnomah, Oregon
Thomas Tracey Jr. Head M 57 b. Australia, Father b. Irish Free State, Mother b. Australia, Immigrated 1893, dealer cigar store
Antoinette M Tracey Wife F 52 b. California, Father b. Massachusetts, Mother b. Spain
William C Waterman Nephew M 16 b. California, Father b. California, Mother b. California
References
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7 December 1892 Referee (Sydney, NSW) Tom Tracey The Champion Victorian Light-weight and conqueror of Tom Williams, Tom Moadows. Dummy Mace, &c, &c. TracEy has a splendid record, and yet hopes to win the Light-weight Championship of the World. |
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Tom Tracy, of Australia. Tom Tracy, of Australia, is an Australian boxer, who, after winning a number of hard finish fights in his native country, journeyed to America in search of fame and wealth in the American prize ring. He arrived in San Francisco as companion to Dan Creedon. In Australia he was rated as a top notcher with the mittens, and he certainly was a clever boxer, although his punishing powers were not above the ordinary. He has proved his cleverness and gameness in many hard fought battles with men who are recognized as good ones over in that land of fighters, Australia. Tracy’s. height is five feet nine and one-half inches, and he weighs in prime condition, about one hundred and forty-two pounds. He is a cool, clever and rapid fighter, his strong point being in-fighting, at which he excels. Tracy has had but two fights in this country, his time being occupied travelling with a theatrical company, acting as the sparring partner of Dan Creedon, the celebrated Australian middle weight. Tracy and Creedon are foster brothers and born companions. ‘Tracy's first light was with Billy Gallagher, a clever middle weight, who, up to his meeting with the subject of our sketch, had scored a series of unbroken victories on the Pacific Coast. Tracy put an end to his victorious career, by defeating him in the nineteenth round, after one of the hardest battles ever seen on the Pacific Coast. When Champion Jim Corbett was training for his battle with Charlie Mitchell, at Jacksonville, Corbett engaged Tracy and Creedon to assist in his preparations, and he was of valuable assistance in bringing the Champion to the scratch in perfect condition. He was also one of Corbett’s seconds in that memorable battle. Tracy's last battle was with Joe Walcott. It took place at Music Hall, Boston, April 19 1894, and Tracy was knocked out by a wild left-hand swing in the sixteenth round, when he appeared to be winning. Edwards, Billy (1894) Portrait gallery of pugilists of America and their contemporaries. Pugilistic Publishing Co. |
30 Jun 1897 Referee (Sydney, NSW
Tom Tracey Married. A
Tinge of Romance.
Tommy Tracey, the
clever Australian welter-weight, is the hero of a romantic marriage which took
place recently, the facts of which have just come to light. It seems that while
Tom was training for his fight with Harry Fisher, he had occasion to pass
M'Dowell'a Hotel at West Brighton, State Island, near where Eddy Connolly and
Mike Sears were quartered. Georgie Dexter, the soubrette of the ‘Parlor Match'
Company, was a guest at that establishment and, as she was inclined to
athleticism, morning walks were frequent. It was but natural that she should
meet the Australian boxer during those strolls, and from all appearances it was
a case of love at first sight. They met often, it seems, but nothing was
suspected by the friends of either until a letter was received from the
Catskill Mountains, in which Tommy announced that Miss Dexter had become Mrs.
Tracey, and that they were enjoying their honeymoon very much indeed. The bride
is said to belong to a well-to-do family in Stouesville, Pa., where her father
is an operator in oil aud coal.— American Exchange
29 December 1897
Referee (Sydney, NSW)
Tom Tracey. Well Fixed in clover - Phenomenally Popular
Tho American correspondent of a Victorian contemporary has tbo following to say about on old friend :— ' Tom Tracey's match with Charley M'keever at San Fraucisco did not materialise, through no fault, hoverer, of the ex-Melbournite. Tracey was at New York a few weeks since, but is now at Chicago. Ho looks well, and feels confident he will give Griffo the battle of his life. Tracey’s wife is well fixed in worldly goods, and owns a well stocked farm in Sullivan county, Now York. She was a shining light in the Vaudeville profession, and though she scarcely ever now appears before the footlights, her services are always in demand. She was connected with Charley Hoyt's ' Trip to Chinatown ' company ere she met tbe clever ex-Melbournite. Tom's popularity in America is phenomenal. All who know him speak of him in the highest terms, mid his jovial temperament has made him hosts of friends.'
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27 February 1899
San Francisco Call Will Box Before
The National Club Tom Tracey, the
champion welterweight boxer of Australia |
September 12, 1900
Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.)
Tom Tracey, welter-weight champion of Australia...
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13 May 1903 The
Morning Oregonian The 20 round contest at the Expedition building last night between Rube Ferns and Tom Tracey, for the white welter weight championship of the world was won by Tracey on a decision, the contest going to the limit... |
August 28, 1903 Morning
Oregonian. (Portland, Or.)
Tracey’s
Boxing School, 105 Fourth Street.
May 05, 1912 The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.)
Holder Of The World's White Welter Title At One Time Is
Portland Man
"Smiling" Tommy Tracey, Who Heads Fistic Colony of "Has
Beens," Realized $75,000 From His Ring Career Prior to Becoming Instructor
in "Manly Art" - Once Knocked out Joe Gans Gans and Held Championship
By James H. Cassell
Thomas Joseph Tracey, known more than a decade ago as "Smiling Tommy"
Tracey, champion welterweight pugilist of Australia, world's title holder, and
one of the shiftiest welters that ever donned the padded glove, heads
Portland's fistic colony of "has beens."
Despite his 40 years and the failure of his name to appear in the prize ring
records of late years Tommy hoots at the idea that he is a "has been"
and declares that he is still in the game. As a clincher of this argument of
this argument Tommy will appear before Portland fans this week as the mentor of
Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club youths aspiring to amateur title honors. Taking
the old saying "By a man's work shall he be known." Tommy expects to
disprove the "has been" theory by turning loose a few Northwest
Associations boxing of Wednesday and Thursday nights.
While it has been eight years since he retired from the ring, laying aside the
lightweight mitts after his defeat at the hands of Joe Gans in Portland. Tommy
did not sever his connection with the sport, but donned heavier gloves of the
training camp and turned his attention to developing ring wisdom that has
caused his services to be sought by champions as well as embryonic stars, and
now, at the age of 40 years, is imparting a little of the lore accumulated in
many rings to members of Multnomah Club.
Opponents Number 200
Tracey has been in over 200 fights, the majority of them of the strenuous
variety ranging over a period of 18 years. Born in Melbourne, Australia of
Irish parents, Tommy became an exponent of the "manly art" at the
tender age of 14 years, breaking into the bare-knuckle game of the Antipodes.
But he was far from a tender youth physically, his debut going the marathon
route of 46 rounds. He was to get $25 for winning, but as the affair was a draw
the promoters refused to give the youngsters a "bob" for court
plaster.
But the lad was not to be turned aside by financial arguments and he slowly but
surely forced his way to the front, first winning 126-pound tourney's, and then
jumping into the 145-pound class, until, at the age of 21 years, seven years
after his bareknuckle initiation, he was the undisputed welterweight champion
of Australia. He won the title by decisively defeating Tom Meadows in five
rounds.
Debut Into America Splendid
With the Australian belt dangling at this waist and an accent he has never
successfully suppressed. Tracey packed his belongings in the proverbial
handkerchief and as proverbially shook the dust of Australia from his feet,
landing in San Francisco in 1893. He made a splendid showing in his first
American appearance, knocking out Billy Gallagher, welter pride of Frisco, in
18 rounds.
With his victory over Gallagher evidencing his calibre, Tracey had no
difficulty securing bouts and during the next few years was busy meeting
welters and middles from Boston to Portland with almost unvarying success. But
soon his prowess eliminated him from consideration by the 145-pounders, and
during the remainder of his career as a ringman he was forced to either concede
several pounds to his opponents, or as in the case of Joe Gans, Kid Lavigne,
and others of that caliber, was forced to reduce to 140 pounds, a performance
which sent him into the ring in a sadly weakened condition.
White Title Once Claimed.
Tracey claimed the white welterweight title of the world by virtue of a victory
over Rube Ferns in Portland 10 years ago. Joe Walcott was the world's champion
at the time and while Tommy had three chances to win the crown he lost via
knockout route, but put up such a surprising exhibition that Walcott could
never be enticed to enter the ring again with the Australian except in
"sprint" bouts. In the two six-round engagements which followed at
Philadelphia and Chicago Tommy was given newspaper decisions.
According to Tommy's account of the 16-round knockout at Boston, the affair was
scheduled for 15 rounds and at the end of that time he had a fair lead over the
negro. Tracey never could figure how they called for the extraround, but he
went after the negro for a return bout. He was disappointed on the eve of a
battle. Walcott backing out by explaining that he had a broken hand and could
not fulfill his engagement.
Among the other notable fights of Tracey's career were: Eight-round draw and
10-round defeat with Tommy Ryan, to whom he conceded weight on both occasions;
lost 10 round decision to George Green, San Francisco middleweight; 18 round
knockout over Frank McConnell for Pacific Coast welterweight title; knocked out
Tommy Cavanaugh in seven rounds; knocked out Harry Fisher in 14 rounds; knocked
out by Joe Gans in eight rounds; lost 20 round decision to Kid Lavigne; lost
six round decison to "Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien; draw with Douglas,
a middleweight, and defeat of Young Griffo and Paddy Smith on the same night,
forcing Griffo to quit in three rounds and knocking out Smith in the same
round.
Tracey quit the game at the age of 32 years, and two years later opened his
well-known boxing school in Portland. He joined the Multnomah Club corps of
instructors four months ago and is one of the most popular boxing mentors the
organization has ever had.
Winnings Nearly $75,000
Tracey estimates that he won nearly $75,000 during his many years of ring work,
with $4,000 received at San Francisco for Boxing Kid Lavigne, his biggest
purse. He fought in the days of small purses and hard bouts, and, as with the
majority, failed to save much of his earnings.
The Portlander was considered one of the shiftiest men in the ring with good
punches to either right or left hand. His favorite blow, and the one which
scored nearly all knockouts, was a left hook to the jaw. Walcott rated him as
his toughest opponent, while his services were in great demand at the training
camps of many of the champions.
Tracey believes that the majority of present-day champions are not as clever as
the old-timers, and uses Wolgast, Nelson, and the majority of the present-day
middles of the wade-in-with-the-head-and-swing-away type as examples of the
decadence of ring craft. He says that such man as McFarland and Coulon, the
cleverest of the top-notchers, are followers of the old school boxing.
March 12, 1916 The
Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.)
Man Run Down By Auto
Tom Tracy sustains broken ribs and bruises in accident.
Tom Tracy of the Teasdale Apartments was run down by an auto at Twentieth and Washington streets yesterday...Mr Tracy is 43 years of age and is a boxing instructor,
3 July 1937 San
Bernardino Sun
Former Australian Welterweight Dead (By United Press)
PORTLAND, Ore., July 2. Tom Tracey, 40 years ago one of the reigning welterweights, died last night from an illness which had afflicted him for several years. He was 65 years old. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Tracey came to the United States in 1893 as welterweight champion of Australia. He began his American invasion at San Francisco, subsequently fighting Joe Walcott. Rube Ferns, Kid Lavigne, Tommy Ryan, Young Griffo and Mysterious Billy Smith. In later years he became boxing instructor of the Multnomah athletic club here.
21 Jul 1937 The
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld)
Tom Tracey Dies in America
Melbourne, July 21.
His sister has received word of the death In America of Tom Tracey, who will be known to, many of the "Old Brigade" an the sparring partner to Dan Creedon. Tracey, who was reared in Carlton, went near to the top of the welterweight tree in America in the nineties.
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Tommy Tracey 1937 |
14 August 1937 The Sporting Globe (Vic) [online page] ...Thomas Joseph Tracey was born in Bouverie Street, Carlton, on February 19, 1872, of Irish-English parentage. He had a brother Paddy, who was killed at "the landing." and a sister Daisy, married and settled in Victoria.... [Last interview with Tommy Tracey, yarns about the great John L., Fitz., Peter Jackson, Corbett, Jeffries and Jack Johnson] |
Last update: 27
February 2018