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Leading Infielders 1880s Leading Infielders 1880s

Professional Baseball Players during the Dead Ball Era

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Baseball History 1880s Infielders

1880s It was certainly normal during the dead ball era to see most of the action played out in the infield. Major league baseball history attests to the fact that baseball was a rough-and-tumble game in the 1870s thru the early 1900s. Batters bunted, slapped or chopped the ball, and infielders tripped base runners and base runners retaliated by sliding into bases with spikes held high. Nimble infielders were held in high regard by teams managers.

Long time major league manager Ned Hanlon was once quoted in a Baltimore newspaper, I need fielders who are not afraid to get a few stitches and be ready to come right back into the game. Dead Ball Era Baseball History Three major leagues - National League (NL) American Association (AA) Union Association (UA)

* Henry Myers Shortstop 5 foot 9 inches, 159 lbs, Right-handed Born in Philadelphia. In 1881 played one game as a 23-year old rookie for the Providence Grays Baseball Team of the National League, no hits in 4 at bats. Signed with the Baltimore Orioles of the AA for 1882. An aggressive player, Henry Myers managed and played 68 games at short and pitched in 6 other games, batted .180. Pitching record 0-2 w/l, completed 1-of-2 starts, pitched 26 innings. Played in six games for the Wilmington Quicksteps Baseball Team of the UA in 1884, batted .125.

* Sam Barkley Second baseman & First Baseman 5 ft, 11 inches, 178 lbs RH a solid fielder and a first class hitter, Sam Barkley playing with Toledo led the American Association with 39 doubles in his rookie season, 1884, and batted .306, scored 71 runs and played in all 104 regular scheduled games. Sam Barkley career stats: .258 BA, 126 Ds, 39 Ts, 7 Hrs, 362 runs scored. Toledo AA 1884; St. Louis AA 1885, Pittsburgh AA 1886; Pittsburgh NL 1887; Kansas City AA 1888-1889.

* Charlie Bastian Second Baseman & Shortstop Right-handed Born on July 4 1860 in Philadelphia a gutsy infielder he played eight years in the majors, 1884-1891, including 4 with Philadelphia from 1885-88. Played 243 career games at SS, 232 at 2B, 30 at 3B, and pitched one game. Teams relied on Charlie Bastian fielding expertise. Batted .189 career in 1806 at bats, led the NL in strike outs with 82 in his first year in the National League. Struck out 308 times, walked 179 times in 504 career games.

* Chappy Lane First Baseman & OF Born in Pittsburgh played two seasons in the American Association, 1882 with Pittsburgh, batted .178 in 57 games, with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, scored 26 runs. George Lane played in 1884 with Toledo of the AA, hit .228 with 9 DS, 5 Ts, 1 Hr. An all-around athlete Chappy Lane played 89 career games at 1B, 22 in the outfield, 3 games as catcher, and two at 2nd base.

For complete stats of all baseball players, please see Players section on our home page

1887 Baseball Cards from Library of Congress

                      

Sam Barkley                              Charles Bastian





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