Andy Leonard
Encyclopedia
Andrew Jackson Leonard played left field for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings
, the first fully professional baseball
team. He was one of five men to play regularly for both the Cincinnati and the Boston Red Stockings, the latter winning six championships during his seven seasons. He played several infield positions on lesser teams in his early twenties but left field was his regular professional position.
Born 1846 in County Cavan
and raised in Newark, New Jersey
, Leonard is commonly recognized as the first native of Ireland
to play in the major leagues. He was one of four who played during the first National Association
season, so he owes the distinction partly to fortunate scheduling in the spring of 1871, partly to our counting the NA as a major league. (But it seems likely that Leonard and Fergy Malone
both played in the first National League
game, 22 April 1876.)
Leonard played five seasons in the amateur era of the National Association of Base Ball Players
(NABBP), beginning in 1864 with the Hudson River club of Newburgh, New York, not far North of the metropolis. Early in the 1866 season he moved to the Irvington club of Irvington, New Jersey
, several miles inland from Newark and from the Elysian Fields, Hoboken
, where many New York city teams played home matches. (At least two teammates, Hugh and Matt Campbell, were natives of Ireland.) At that time, in his early twenties, the right-handed Leonard played mainly in the infield.
moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
, and joined the Buckeyes, the chief local rival of the Red Stockings
; the move suggests that he was somehow compensated by club members if not by the club.
When the NABBP permitted professionalism for 1869, Leonard was one of five new men hired by Harry Wright
of the Cincinnati Red Stockings
to complete the first fully professional team. He was paid $800 for the eight months from March 15 to November 15, the standard rate, while four men earned more.
All of the Red Stockings had previously played in the infield; Wright put Leonard in left, then the most active outfield position. He played nine of the next ten seasons as Harry Wright's regular left fielder, although as a right-handed thrower with early infield experience he filled in at second, third, and shortstop, too.
Years later, the son of officer George Ellard recalled the skills of each player in words of praise. Ellard (1908: 101) called the "jolly, good-natured fellow ... of Irvington-Buckeye fame" a brilliant left fielder but noted that "he ranked the best as a batsman." The limited statistical record shows that he was one of the strong supporting players during the Red Stockings innings, perhaps third behind George Wright and Waterman over the two seasons, but that may be said of a few others. In two years he played 128 of 131 games in the record books, one of six who played essentially without interruption.
More important, he filled in at shortstop for about 15 games that Wright did not play in 1870.
Cincinnati toured the continent undefeated in 1869 and may have been the strongest team in 1870, but the club dropped professional base ball after the second season.
's Washington Olympics
, an established club that also joined the new, entirely professional National Association
(NA). Wright did sign Leonard one year later and he remained in place for the Boston Red Stockings' run of six pennants in seven seasons.
Andy Leonard lost his major league job in 1879 but returned to the infield in Rochester as a shortstop, in some ways the most demanding position, one always filled by George Wright on brother Harry's professional teams. In 1880 he returned to Cincinnati and the major leagues but "failing vision forced his retirement from the game. In his final game, on July 3, 1880, his errors allowed Providence four runs in a 6-4 Cincinnati loss" (Richardson and Sumner 1989).
Leonard worked for Wright & Ditson, George Wright's sporting goods firm, for several years before his 1903 death in Boston at age 57. He is buried in New Calvary Cemetery, Boston.
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
, the first fully professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. He was one of five men to play regularly for both the Cincinnati and the Boston Red Stockings, the latter winning six championships during his seven seasons. He played several infield positions on lesser teams in his early twenties but left field was his regular professional position.
Born 1846 in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
and raised in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Leonard is commonly recognized as the first native of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to play in the major leagues. He was one of four who played during the first National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
season, so he owes the distinction partly to fortunate scheduling in the spring of 1871, partly to our counting the NA as a major league. (But it seems likely that Leonard and Fergy Malone
Fergy Malone
Fergus G. Malone was a professional baseball player in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the catcher for Athletic of Philadelphia in 1871, champion of the first professional league season....
both played in the first National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
game, 22 April 1876.)
Leonard played five seasons in the amateur era of the National Association of Base Ball Players
National Association of Base Ball Players
The National Association of Base Ball Players was the first organization governing American baseball. The first, 1857 convention of sixteen New York City clubs...
(NABBP), beginning in 1864 with the Hudson River club of Newburgh, New York, not far North of the metropolis. Early in the 1866 season he moved to the Irvington club of Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
, several miles inland from Newark and from the Elysian Fields, Hoboken
Elysian Fields, Hoboken, New Jersey
Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey is believed to be the site of the first organized baseball game, giving Hoboken a strong claim to be the birthplace of baseball....
, where many New York city teams played home matches. (At least two teammates, Hugh and Matt Campbell, were natives of Ireland.) At that time, in his early twenties, the right-handed Leonard played mainly in the infield.
Cincinnati
In 1868 "Andy" and teammate Charlie SweasyCharlie Sweasy
Charles James Sweasy , born Swasey, played second base for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first fully professional baseball team. He returned to Cincinnati in 1876, hired by the new club that was a charter member of the National League...
moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and joined the Buckeyes, the chief local rival of the Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
; the move suggests that he was somehow compensated by club members if not by the club.
When the NABBP permitted professionalism for 1869, Leonard was one of five new men hired by Harry Wright
Harry Wright
William Henry "Harry" Wright was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings...
of the Cincinnati Red Stockings
Cincinnati Red Stockings
The Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
to complete the first fully professional team. He was paid $800 for the eight months from March 15 to November 15, the standard rate, while four men earned more.
All of the Red Stockings had previously played in the infield; Wright put Leonard in left, then the most active outfield position. He played nine of the next ten seasons as Harry Wright's regular left fielder, although as a right-handed thrower with early infield experience he filled in at second, third, and shortstop, too.
Years later, the son of officer George Ellard recalled the skills of each player in words of praise. Ellard (1908: 101) called the "jolly, good-natured fellow ... of Irvington-Buckeye fame" a brilliant left fielder but noted that "he ranked the best as a batsman." The limited statistical record shows that he was one of the strong supporting players during the Red Stockings innings, perhaps third behind George Wright and Waterman over the two seasons, but that may be said of a few others. In two years he played 128 of 131 games in the record books, one of six who played essentially without interruption.
More important, he filled in at shortstop for about 15 games that Wright did not play in 1870.
Cincinnati toured the continent undefeated in 1869 and may have been the strongest team in 1870, but the club dropped professional base ball after the second season.
1871
Wright was hired to organize a new team in Boston, where he signed three teammates for 1871. The other five regulars including Andy Leonard signed with Nick YoungNicholas Young (executive)
thumb|Nicholas Ephraim Young was an American executive, manager and umpire in professional baseball who served as president of the National League from 1885 to 1902. Born in Amsterdam, New York at Johnson Hall, the estate of Sir William Johnson, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War,...
's Washington Olympics
Washington Olympics
The Olympic Club of Washington, D.C., or Washington Olympics, was an early professional baseball team.When the National Association of Base Ball Players permitted openly professional clubs for the 1869 season, the Olympics were one of twelve to go pro...
, an established club that also joined the new, entirely professional National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(NA). Wright did sign Leonard one year later and he remained in place for the Boston Red Stockings' run of six pennants in seven seasons.
Andy Leonard lost his major league job in 1879 but returned to the infield in Rochester as a shortstop, in some ways the most demanding position, one always filled by George Wright on brother Harry's professional teams. In 1880 he returned to Cincinnati and the major leagues but "failing vision forced his retirement from the game. In his final game, on July 3, 1880, his errors allowed Providence four runs in a 6-4 Cincinnati loss" (Richardson and Sumner 1989).
Leonard worked for Wright & Ditson, George Wright's sporting goods firm, for several years before his 1903 death in Boston at age 57. He is buried in New Calvary Cemetery, Boston.