At St. Joe’s, our history is filled with remarkable stories—but how many schools can claim that one of their alumni is the subject of a rock song?
If you’re a fan of Irish punk rock, you may know the Dropkick Murphys, the Boston-based band. But did you know they have a song that ties back to St. Joe’s? It’s called “Jimmy Collins’ Wake,” and it celebrates one of our very own alumni: Jimmy Collins, Class of 1890.
Collins was a student-athlete in the 1880s before making his mark in baseball history. He became a standout third baseman and later the first manager of the Boston Americans (now the Red Sox), leading them to victory in the very first World Series in 1903. His contributions to the sport earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But his legend doesn’t end there. When Collins passed away in 1943, many of his Boston teammates traveled to Buffalo for what became a true Irish wake. As the story goes, they propped his body up in the casket and placed in his arms a trophy awarded to him by Boston fans.
In memory of that famous wake, the Dropkick Murphys wrote Jimmy Collins’ Wake, a wild tribute to his life and legacy. The song captures the spirit of an Irish farewell, proud and full of energy.