List of nineteenth-century Major League Baseball players with unidentified given names
December 02, 2023
Thirty-four individuals who played professional baseball at the major league level before 1900 lack identified given names (there are hundreds of other players of which this is true from the twentieth-century Negro leagues). All 34 played between 1872 and 1892; 17 played in the National Association, which folded in 1875. Identification of players remains difficult due to a lack of biographical information. A Brooklyn, New York, directory, for instance, lists more than 30 men who could be the professional player "Stoddard".[1]Philadelphia Athletics manager Bill Sharsig signed four of the 34, "local players" McBride, Stafford, Sterling, and Sweigert, for Philadelphia's last game of the season against the Syracuse Stars on October 12, 1890. Sterling pitched five innings for the Athletics and conceded 12 runs. McBride, Philadelphia's center fielder, and Stafford, the team's right fielder, both failed to reach base, but left fielder Sweigert reached base on a walk and stole a base. Society for American Baseball Research writer Bill Carle "doubt[s] we will ever be able to identify them".[2]David Nemec has commented on this phenomenon with both major league and minor league players, noting, for example, that a McGuire (not on this list because he was a minor league player) is probably the player with an unknown first name whose appearances came closest to the twentieth century.[3]
Despite their relative anonymity, several of these players received media coverage describing their games. Sporting Life noted that "the visitors took kindly to the curves of Sterling", as "the Athletics were easily beaten by the Stars" in Philadelphia's contest against Syracuse.[4] In 1872, The New York Times described O'Rourke as a new player on Eckford of Brooklyn who "appear[ed] to be an improvement over the recent incumbents": in his only game, the pitcher allowed 15 runs to score in a complete game against the Troy Trojans.[1]Lewis received a mention in Sporting Life(pictured) that recapped his performance, and another in the Pittsburgh Press, with a synopsis that summarized the game as "one of the greatest slugging matches ever seen since curve pitching came into vogue".[5][6]
Of the 34 athletes with an unidentified given name, Baltimore Monumentalsright fielder Scott played in the most games at the major league level, with 13, followed by Wills with 9. Scott also has the most hits among players without an identified given name, with 12, followed by both Wills and Jones with 5 each. Among pitchers, Lewis has the highest earned run average, 60.00,[7] whereas McDoolan has the lowest, 3.00.
^ abBatesel, Paul (2012). Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871–1875. McFarland. pp. 101, 123. ISBN978-0-7864-7012-9.
^ abBill Carle (2007). "SABR Biographical Research Committee September/October 2007 Report". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
^Nemec, David (2012). The rank and file of 19th century major league baseball : biographies of 1,084 players, owners, managers and umpires. Jefferson: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 60. ISBN9780786490448.
^(PDF). Sporting Life. Vol. 16, no. 3. October 18, 1890. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2014 – via LA84 Foundation.
^ ab(PDF). Sporting Life. Vol. 15, no. 16. July 19, 1890. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2014 – via LA84 Foundation.
^"A Disastrous Experiment". The Pittsburgh Press. July 13, 1890.
^There is a problem with this number, however. The game's box score (q.v.) reveals that at least six (and possibly as many as fourteen) of the 20 runs Lewis allowed in his single stint on the mound must have been unearned, giving Lewis an actual ERA somewhere between 18.00 and 42.00, not 60.00.
^"Higby". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^"O'Rourke". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Spencer". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
^"McDoolan". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"Gavern". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Quinlan". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Wood". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^"Boland". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Booth". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Edwards". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Evans". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Hellings". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^"Quinn". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Shaffer". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
^"Sheridan". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
^"Stoddard". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
^"Sullivan". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^"Carroll". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
^"Franklin". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
^"Jones". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"McRemer". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Murphy". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Pierce". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
^"Scott". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
^"Smith". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^"Wills". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^"Jones". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"Lewis". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"Macey". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"McBride". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
^"Stafford". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
^"Sterling". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
^"Sweigert". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^"Leonard". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
December 02, 2023
list, nineteenth, century, major, league, baseball, players, with, unidentified, given, names, thirty, four, individuals, played, professional, baseball, major, league, level, before, 1900, lack, identified, given, names, there, hundreds, other, players, which. Thirty four individuals who played professional baseball at the major league level before 1900 lack identified given names there are hundreds of other players of which this is true from the twentieth century Negro leagues All 34 played between 1872 and 1892 17 played in the National Association which folded in 1875 Identification of players remains difficult due to a lack of biographical information A Brooklyn New York directory for instance lists more than 30 men who could be the professional player Stoddard 1 Philadelphia Athletics manager Bill Sharsig signed four of the 34 local players McBride Stafford Sterling and Sweigert for Philadelphia s last game of the season against the Syracuse Stars on October 12 1890 Sterling pitched five innings for the Athletics and conceded 12 runs McBride Philadelphia s center fielder and Stafford the team s right fielder both failed to reach base but left fielder Sweigert reached base on a walk and stole a base Society for American Baseball Research writer Bill Carle doubt s we will ever be able to identify them 2 David Nemec has commented on this phenomenon with both major league and minor league players noting for example that a McGuire not on this list because he was a minor league player is probably the player with an unknown first name whose appearances came closest to the twentieth century 3 Despite their relative anonymity several of these players received media coverage describing their games Sporting Life noted that the visitors took kindly to the curves of Sterling as the Athletics were easily beaten by the Stars in Philadelphia s contest against Syracuse 4 In 1872 The New York Times described O Rourke as a new player on Eckford of Brooklyn who appear ed to be an improvement over the recent incumbents in his only game the pitcher allowed 15 runs to score in a complete game against the Troy Trojans 1 Lewis received a mention in Sporting Life pictured that recapped his performance and another in the Pittsburgh Press with a synopsis that summarized the game as one of the greatest slugging matches ever seen since curve pitching came into vogue 5 6 Of the 34 athletes with an unidentified given name Baltimore Monumentals right fielder Scott played in the most games at the major league level with 13 followed by Wills with 9 Scott also has the most hits among players without an identified given name with 12 followed by both Wills and Jones with 5 each Among pitchers Lewis has the highest earned run average 60 00 7 whereas McDoolan has the lowest 3 00 Contents 1 Players without identified given names 1 1 National Association 1 1 1 1872 1874 1 1 2 1875 1 2 Union Association American Association and Players League 1 2 1 1884 1885 1 2 2 1890 1892 2 ReferencesPlayers without identified given names edit nbsp A Sporting Life clip that describes Lewis as a much disgusted ball tosser taken from an article dated July 19 1890 5 National Association edit 1872 1874 edit Name Position Team League Year RefHigby Right fielder Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1872 8 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 errorO Rourke Pitcher Eckford of Brooklyn National Association 1872 9 Summary 0 1 win loss record 9 0 innings pitched 8 00 earned run average 15 runs allowedSpencer Shortstop Washington Nationals National Association 1872 10 Summary 1 game played 1 run 4 errorsMcDoolan Pitcher Baltimore Marylands National Association 1873 11 Summary 0 1 win loss record 9 0 innings pitched 3 00 earned run average 24 runs allowedMcGovern Gavern Second baseman Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1874 12 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 runQuinlan Shortstop Philadelphia White Stockings National Association 1874 13 Summary 1 game played 1 hit 1 run batted inWood Second baseman Baltimore Canaries National Association 1874 14 Summary 1 game played 5 plate appearances 0 hits1875 edit Name Position Team League Year RefBoland Third baseman Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 15 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 errorBooth Shortstop New Haven Elm Citys National Association 1875 16 Summary 1 game played 2 plate appearances 1 errorEdwards Center fielder Pitcher Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 17 Summary 1 game played 5 plate appearances 1 hit 0 1 win loss record 2 0 innings pitched 4 50 earned run averageEvans Left fielder New Haven Elm Citys National Association 1875 18 Summary 1 game played 2 hits 1 run batted inHellings Second baseman Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 19 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 hitQuinn Outfielder Shortstop Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 20 Summary 2 games played 1 hit 2 runsShaffer Right fielder Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 21 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 errorSheridan Left fielder Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 22 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 0 hitsStoddard Outfielder Brooklyn Atlantics National Association 1875 23 Summary 2 games played 9 plate appearances 1 hitSullivan Right fielder New Haven Elm Citys National Association 1875 24 Summary 2 games played 3 hits 3 runs batted inUnion Association American Association and Players League edit 1884 1885 edit Name Position Team League Year RefCarroll Left fielder Washington Nationals Union Association 1884 25 Summary 4 games played 16 plate appearances 4 hits 4 errorsFranklin Center fielder Washington Nationals Union Association 1884 26 Summary 1 game played 3 plate appearances 2 putoutsJones Left fielder Washington Nationals American Association 1884 27 Summary 4 games played 5 hits 294 batting averageMcRemer Right fielder Washington Nationals Union Association 1884 28 Summary 1 game played 3 plate appearances 0 hitsMurphy Catcher Left fielder Boston Reds Union Association 1884 29 Summary 2 games played 4 plate appearances 1 walkPierce Third baseman Washington Nationals Union Association 1884 30 Summary 2 games played 1 hit 7 at batsScott Right fielder Third baseman Baltimore Monumentals Union Association 1884 31 Summary 13 games played 12 hits 1 home runSmith Pitcher Right fielder Baltimore Monumentals Union Association 1884 32 Summary 1 game played 5 plate appearances 1 hits 0 0 win loss record 6 0 innings pitched 9 00 earned run averageWills Center fielder Washington Nationals American Association Kansas City Cowboys UA 1884 33 Summary 9 games played 36 plate appearances 5 hitsJones Third baseman New York Metropolitans American Association 1885 34 Summary 1 game played 4 plate appearances 1 hit1890 1892 edit Name Position Team League Year RefLewis Left fielder Pitcher Buffalo Bisons Players League 1890 35 Summary For broader coverage of this topic see 1890 Buffalo Bisons season Brooklyn vs Buffalo game and the story of Lewis 1 game played 5 plate appearances 1 hit 0 1 win loss record 3 0 innings pitched 60 00 earned run averageMacey Catcher Philadelphia Athletics American Association 1890 36 Summary 1 game played 1 plate appearance 0 hitsMcBride Center fielder Philadelphia Athletics American Association 1890 37 Summary 1 game played 2 plate appearances 0 hitsStafford Right fielder Philadelphia Athletics American Association 1890 38 Summary 1 game played 2 plate appearances 0 hitsSterling Pitcher Philadelphia Athletics American Association 1890 39 Summary 0 1 win loss record 5 0 innings pitched 21 60 earned run average Known to have been from Camden New Jersey 2 Sweigert Left fielder Philadelphia Athletics American Association 1890 40 Summary 1 game played 2 plate appearances 1 stolen baseLeonard Right fielder St Louis Browns American Association 1892 41 Summary 1 game played 1 walk 1 stolen baseReferences edit a b Batesel Paul 2012 Players and Teams of the National Association 1871 1875 McFarland pp 101 123 ISBN 978 0 7864 7012 9 a b Bill Carle 2007 SABR Biographical Research Committee September October 2007 Report Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved March 14 2014 Nemec David 2012 The rank and file of 19th century major league baseball biographies of 1 084 players owners managers and umpires Jefferson McFarland amp Co Publishers p 60 ISBN 9780786490448 Base Ball The Association PDF Sporting Life Vol 16 no 3 October 18 1890 p 8 Archived from the original PDF on January 12 2014 via LA84 Foundation a b Base Ball Players League PDF Sporting Life Vol 15 no 16 July 19 1890 p 3 Archived from the original PDF on January 12 2014 via LA84 Foundation A Disastrous Experiment The Pittsburgh Press July 13 1890 There is a problem with this number however The game s box score q v reveals that at least six and possibly as many as fourteen of the 20 runs Lewis allowed in his single stint on the mound must have been unearned giving Lewis an actual ERA somewhere between 18 00 and 42 00 not 60 00 Higby Baseball Reference Retrieved January 5 2014 O Rourke Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Spencer Baseball Reference Retrieved January 19 2014 McDoolan Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 Gavern Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Quinlan Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Wood Baseball Reference Retrieved February 16 2014 Boland Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Booth Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Edwards Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Evans Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Hellings Baseball Reference Retrieved January 5 2014 Quinn Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Shaffer Baseball Reference Retrieved January 19 2014 Sheridan Baseball Reference Retrieved January 19 2014 Stoddard Baseball Reference Retrieved January 25 2014 Sullivan Baseball Reference Retrieved February 16 2014 Carroll Baseball Reference Retrieved November 2 2014 Franklin Baseball Reference Retrieved January 2 2014 Jones Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 McRemer Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Murphy Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Pierce Baseball Reference Retrieved July 17 2017 Scott Baseball Reference Retrieved January 17 2014 Smith Baseball Reference Retrieved February 16 2014 Wills Baseball Reference Retrieved February 16 2014 Jones Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 Lewis Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 Macey Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 McBride Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 Stafford Baseball Reference Retrieved January 25 2014 Sterling Baseball Reference Retrieved January 25 2014 Sweigert Baseball Reference Retrieved February 16 2014 Leonard Baseball Reference Retrieved January 11 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of nineteenth century Major League Baseball players with unidentified given names amp oldid 1128802473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
