One of the leading players in major league baseballs beginnings, George Bechtel joined the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association - baseball's first professional league - in 1871.

A solid batsman during the dead ball era, he excelled on defense in right field, and also, was a well-regarded pitcher. A career .278 hitter, Bechtel hit a career-best .319 in his first pro season, 1871, for the Philadelphia Athletics. He signed with the New York Mutuals for a higher salary in 1872, batted .302 and scored 64 runs in the team's 54 game schedule.

After going 3-1 W/L on the pitching mound for the 1875 Athletics, he signed in early-season with their cross-town rivals - the Philadelphia Centennials - but managed to post a poor 2-12 record for the lousy hitting team.

He also played in the National League in its first year of existence - 1876... George Bechtel career stats: National Association: .278 BA, 276 hits in 204 Games, 214 Runs... Pitching 7-21 W/L... National League: .200 BA in 1876... baseballhistorian.com - All Rights Reserved

Various records in major league baseball have been broken as decades pass but James ‘Deacon’ White set records which still stand.

He was the first batter in major league history when he led off for the Cleveland Forest Cities on May 4 1871 in a game against the Fort Wayne Kekiongas.

Deacon White also lined the first major league hit and the first extra base hit, a double, and also hit into the first double play. Although his team lost 2-0 on the first major league game, Deacon White had 3 hits in 4 at bats.

Catcher – Cleveland Forest Cities and Boston of the National Association 1871-1875; Chicago (NL) 1876; Boston (NL) 1877; Cincinnati Red Stockings 1878-80; Buffalo Bisons (NL) 1881-1885; Detroit Wolverines 1886-88; Pittsburgh Allegheny (NL) 1889; Buffalo Bisons (Players League) 1890