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1871 Rockford Forest Citys Season
The Rockford Forest Citys played their first and only season in 1871 as a charter member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. They finished ninth in the league with a record of 4–21. They folded after the season. Regular season Rockford finished with 4 wins and 21 losses, 15½ games behind the champion Philadelphia Athletics club and good for last place. Player-manager Scott Hastings was found to have violated the "60 day rule" implemented by the league—if a player switched teams during the season, the team had to bench him for 60 days before he could play. Hastings had jumped from a Louisiana team to the Forest Citys in the spring and immediately begun playing for Rockford. This complaint was brought before the league, and the Forest Citys were forced to forfeit 4 of their wins. The star of the team was Cap Anson, who hit .325 for the Forest Citys and would go on to become the player-manager of the Chicago White Stockings for over 20 seasons. Ans ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Agricultural Society Fair Grounds
Agricultural Society Fair Grounds was a fairground on the west side of Rockford, Illinois. It served as the grounds for the Winnebago County Agricultural Society. It was used as a baseball grounds by the Rockford Forest Citys baseball club of the National Association during the 1871 season, so it is considered a major league ballpark by those who consider the NA to have been a major league. The Forest Citys had played their home games at the Fair Grounds beginning in 1866, and continued to call it home for the 1871 season. The Forest Citys had been a strong team during their amateur / semi-professional years, but before the 1871 season began, their star pitcher Al Spalding had signed with the Boston Red Stockings. The Forest Citys played only 6 home games during the 1871 season, and finished in last place in the new league. The rest of their star players, including Cap Anson and Bob Addy, signed with other teams for 1872, and the Rockford Forest Citys disbanded. Contemporary and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cherokee Fisher
William Charles "Cherokee" Fisher (November 1844 – September 26, 1912) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the National Association from 1871 to 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1878. Career Fisher was a pitcher during organized baseball's formative years, from about 1867 to the end of his career in 1878. He was known for his fastball on the field and his heavy drinking off it. William J. Ryczek wrote: There appeared to be a connection between a predilection for alcohol and the tendency to revolve .e., change teams frequently.. Cherokee Fisher, whose meandering will be detailed later, was another case which strengthens this connection. A heavy consumer of alcohol would logically be much more susceptible to the overtures of other clubs, as well as more likely to be in need of money. He played for the West Philadelphias in 1867, the Cincinnati Buckeyes in 1868, the Troy Haymakers in 1869 and 1870, and the Chicago Dreadnaughts in 1870 as well.G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gat Stires
Garret C. Stires (October 13, 1849 – June 13, 1933) was a Major League Baseball right fielder in the 19th century. He played for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association in 1871. He was a native of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As the Forest Citys starting right fielder, Stires was the team leader in runs batted in (24) and slugging percentage (.473). In 25 games, he hit .273 (30-for-110) with four doubles, six triples, two home runs, and 23 runs scored. He made 7 errors in 43 total chances in the outfield. Stires died at the age of 83 in Oregon, Illinois Oregon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,721 in 2010.U.S. Census BureaPopulation, Age, Sex, Race, Households/ref> History The land Oregon, Illinois was founded on was previously hel .... External linksBaseball Reference 1849 births 1933 deaths 19th-century baseball players Major League Baseball right fielders Baseball players from New ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ralph Ham
Ralph A. Ham (March 1849 – February 13, 1905) was a Major League Baseball outfielder in the 19th century. He played for the Rockford Forest Citys Rockford Forest Citys (officially the Forest City Club), from Rockford, Illinois was one of the first professional baseball clubs. Rockford played for one season during the National Association inaugural year of . They are not to be confused wit ... of the National Association in 1871. He is known for committing 13 errors over the course of 19 games, which was most likely due to Rockford's home park, the Agricultural Society Fair Grounds, being unlevel. References External linksBaseball Reference 19th-century baseball players Major League Baseball left fielders Baseball players from New York (state) Rockford Forest Citys players Sportspeople from Troy, New York 1849 births 1905 deaths {{US-baseball-outfielder-1840s-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Bird (baseball)
George Raymond Bird (June 23, 1850 – November 9, 1940) was a Major League Baseball center fielder in the 19th century. He played for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association in 1871. He was a native of Stillman Valley, Illinois Stillman Valley is a village in Marion Township, Ogle County, Illinois, United States. It lies east of Byron, south of Rockford and west of Davis Junction. The population was 1,120 at the 2010 census, up from 1,048 in 2000. The village is loca .... In 25 games as the Forest Citys starting center fielder, Bird batted .264 (28-for-106) with two doubles, five triples, 13 RBI, and 19 runs scored. At the time of his death he was the last living player from the 1871 season. External linksBaseball Reference* 1850 births 1940 deaths 19th-century baseball players Baseball players from Illinois Major League Baseball center fielders People from Stillman Valley, Illinois Sportspeople from the Rockford metropolitan area, Illino ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Barker
Alfred L. Barker (January 18, 1839 – September 15, 1912) played one major league baseball game in 1871 for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association. Barker was the starting left fielder for the Forest Citys on June 1, 1871, in a road game against the New York Mutuals. In five plate appearances he went 1-for-4 (a single) with a walk and had two runs batted in. In the field he made two putouts without an error. Despite his efforts, his team lost, 7-3. One of his teammates during his short stay with the club was future Hall of Famer Cap Anson. Barker umpired three National League games in 1881. A native of Lost Creek, Indiana, Barker died at the age of 72 in Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, located in the far northern part of the state. Situated on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). .... External links Retrosheet* ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pony Sager
Samuel B. "Pony" Sager (August 12, 1848 – October 15, 1928) was a Major League Baseball left fielder and shortstop for one month in 1871. He played for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association. From May 6 to May 30, Sager played in eight games for the club, four in left field and four at shortstop. He was a below-average fielder at both positions, but did show speed and a strong bat. He went 11-for-39 (.282) with five runs batted in, five stolen bases, and nine runs scored. One of Sager's teammates on the Forest Citys was 19-year-old future Baseball Hall of Famer Cap Anson, his teammate Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States, located along the Iowa River. It is the seat and most populous settlement of Marshall County and the 16th largest city in Iowa, with a population of 27,591 at ... whom he convinced the team to sign. External linksBaseball Reference [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Denny Mack
Dennis Joseph Mack (''Birth name, né'' McGee; March 14, 1850 – April 10, 1888) was a professional baseball player who was a first baseman and shortstop in Major League Baseball for eight seasons from to . He played for seven different teams, including as a player-manager for the Louisville Eclipse in . Career Mack spent three years at Villanova University, then joined the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, National Association for the 1871 season. The National Association was the first fully professional baseball league, and Rockford compiled a 4-21 record in its 25 games, finishing ninth in the nine-team league before folding at the season's end. Mack appeared in all 25 of his team's games, leading the team with 34 runs scored, 8 base on balls, walks, and 12 stolen bases. Mack went on to play the next three seasons in the National Association. During the last of these, 1874, he was involved in accusations of Match fixing, gam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chick Fulmer
Charles John "Chick" Fulmer (February 13, 1851 – February 15, 1940) was a Major League Baseball player who played shortstop from to . He played for the Rockford Forest Citys, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia White Stockings, Louisville Grays, Buffalo Bisons, Cincinnati Red Stockings, and St. Louis Browns. His brother, Washington Fulmer, also played a single game at the major league level. Early life Fulmer was born in Philadelphia, and he came from a family of soldiers. His father Michael was a major in the Union Army before becoming a butcher in Philadelphia. Fulmer's grandfather John fought in the American Revolution, and his great-grandfather Michael was involved in the French and Indian War. Fulmer tried to serve in the Civil War himself by joining the Southwark Guards, but he was 14 years old and he was sent home before he saw any battle. Career Fulmer made his major league debut for the Rockford Forest Citys in 1871, the first year that games were played in the National As ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Addy
Robert Edward Addy (February 1842 – April 9, 1910), nicknamed "The Magnet", was a Canadian right fielder and second baseman in Major League Baseball, whose professional career spanned from in the National Association to in the National League. He is credited as the first player to introduce the slide in an organized game, and later attempted to create a game of baseball that would have been played on ice. He is also credited as the first person born in Canada to appear in a major league game. Career Born in Port Hope, Ontario, he is credited with employing the first slide in an organized baseball game, while playing for the 1866 Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association of Base Ball Players. He was still playing for the Forrest Citys in 1869, and was with them two years later when Rockford joined the first all-professional league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. Rockford lasted just the one season in the Association, and Addy did not ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baseball Hall Of Fame Balloting, 1939
The 1939 elections to select inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame were the last ones conducted prior to the Hall's opening that year. Needing just one addition to complete the initial goal of 10 inductees from the 20th century, members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) were once again given authority to select any players active in the 20th century, excepting active players. Difficulties in convening the Centennial Commission of the previous two years led to an even smaller Old-Timers Committee selecting inductees from the 19th century – a cause of particular urgency to many who had been anticipating the five promised but unfulfilled selections in that area for over three years. In the BBWAA election, voters were instructed to cast votes for 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall upon its opening in Cooperstown, New York, on June 12 of that year. After the Hall's opening, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, located in the far northern part of the state. Situated on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). The largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford is the fifth-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States. According to 2020 U.S. Census data, the City of Rockford had a population of 148,655 with an outlying metropolitan area population of 348,360. Settled in the mid-1830s, the position of the city on the Rock River made its location strategic for industrial development. In the second half of the 19th century, Rockford was notable for its output of heavy machinery, hardware and tools; by the twentieth century, it was the second leading center of furniture manufacturing in the nation, and 94th largest city. During the second half of the 20th century, Rockford struggled alongs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
