Charlie Abbey
Encyclopedia
Charles S. "Charlie" Abbey (October 14, 1866 – April 27, 1926) was a professional baseball
player whose career spanned 11 seasons, including five seasons in Major League Baseball
with the Washington Senators (1893–1897). Over his major league career, Abbey batted
.281 with 307 runs
, 493 hits
, 67 doubles
, 46 triples
, 19 home runs, 280 runs batted in (RBIs) and 93 stolen bases in 452 games played
. In addition to playing in the majors, Abbey also played in the minor leagues
with numerous teams. Abbey primarily played the outfield
position; however, he did pitch one game in the majors. Abbey batted and threw left-handed
.
baseball team in 1888. In 1889, Abbey played for the independent league Kearney, Nebraska
baseball team and the Des Moines Prohibitionists of the Western Association
. During the 1890 season, Abbey played for the St. Paul Apostles of the Western Association. In 1891, Abbey played for two teams, the St. Paul Apostles and the Portland Gladiators
of the Pacific Northwest League
. Abbey played with the Columbus Reds, the Ishpeming-Nagaunee Unions and the Marinette Badgers in 1892.
National League
. He made his major league debut on August 16, 1893. When Abbey made his debut, he became the first person from Nebraska
to play in the majors. On the season, Abbey batted
.259 with 11 runs
, 30 hits
, one double
, four triples
, 12 runs batted in (RBIs) and nine stolen bases in 31 games played
. On the defensive side, Abbey played all of his 31 games in the outfield
and committed five errors
in 79 total chances
. In 1894, Abbey batted .314 with 95 runs, 164 hits, 26 doubles, 18 triples, seven home runs, 101 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 129 games played. Abbey led the Senators in plate appearances (589), at-bats (523), hits and triples. Abbey also led all rookies in the majors in games played, at-bats, triples and walks
(63). Abbey played all of his 129 games in the outfield and committed 37 errors in 407 total chances. During the 1895 season, Abbey batted .275 with 102 runs, 142 hits, 14 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs, 84 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 133 games played. He led the National League in assists
as an outfielder (34) and defensive games in the outfield (133). In 1896, Abbey played 79 games with the Senators and batted .262 with 47 runs, 79 hits, 12 doubles, six doubles, one home run, 49 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Abbey also pitched
one game, giving-up three runs (one earned
) in two innings pitched
. As an outfielder, Abbey committed 16 errors 132 total chances. During his final season in professional baseball, 1897, Abbey batted .260 with 52 runs, 78 hits, 14 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 34 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 80 games played. In all of his 80 games, Abbey played in the outfield and committed eight errors in 148 total chances. During the 1897 season, Abbey was used as a first base umpire
in two National League games. Abbey also played for the Providence Clamdiggers that season in the minor leagues.
. On April 27, 1926, Abbey died at the age of 59 in San Francisco, California
and was later buried in Steele Cemetery in Falls City, Nebraska.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose career spanned 11 seasons, including five seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Washington Senators (1893–1897). Over his major league career, Abbey batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.281 with 307 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 493 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 67 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 46 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 19 home runs, 280 runs batted in (RBIs) and 93 stolen bases in 452 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. In addition to playing in the majors, Abbey also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with numerous teams. Abbey primarily played the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
position; however, he did pitch one game in the majors. Abbey batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Early career
Abbey began his professional career with the independent league Beatrice, NebraskaBeatrice, Nebraska
Beatrice is a city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska.Beatrice is located south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. It is surrounded by agricultural country. The population was 12,459 at the 2010 census.-History:...
baseball team in 1888. In 1889, Abbey played for the independent league Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 30,787 at the 2010 census. It is home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney....
baseball team and the Des Moines Prohibitionists of the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
. During the 1890 season, Abbey played for the St. Paul Apostles of the Western Association. In 1891, Abbey played for two teams, the St. Paul Apostles and the Portland Gladiators
Portland Gladiators
The Portland Gladiators were a Minor League Baseball team in the New Pacific League. They were based in Portland, Oregon and only lasted one season, in , before the league folded in mid-season. They ended up wining the championship game. One notable player for the Gladiators was Charlie...
of the Pacific Northwest League
Pacific Northwest League
The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region.-Founding:...
. Abbey played with the Columbus Reds, the Ishpeming-Nagaunee Unions and the Marinette Badgers in 1892.
Washington Senators
In 1893, Abbey began his tenure with the Washington Senators of Major League Baseball'sMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
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...
. He made his major league debut on August 16, 1893. When Abbey made his debut, he became the first person from Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
to play in the majors. On the season, Abbey batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.259 with 11 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 30 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, one double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 12 runs batted in (RBIs) and nine stolen bases in 31 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. On the defensive side, Abbey played all of his 31 games in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
and committed five errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 79 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
. In 1894, Abbey batted .314 with 95 runs, 164 hits, 26 doubles, 18 triples, seven home runs, 101 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 129 games played. Abbey led the Senators in plate appearances (589), at-bats (523), hits and triples. Abbey also led all rookies in the majors in games played, at-bats, triples and walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(63). Abbey played all of his 129 games in the outfield and committed 37 errors in 407 total chances. During the 1895 season, Abbey batted .275 with 102 runs, 142 hits, 14 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs, 84 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 133 games played. He led the National League in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
as an outfielder (34) and defensive games in the outfield (133). In 1896, Abbey played 79 games with the Senators and batted .262 with 47 runs, 79 hits, 12 doubles, six doubles, one home run, 49 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Abbey also pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
one game, giving-up three runs (one earned
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
) in two innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. As an outfielder, Abbey committed 16 errors 132 total chances. During his final season in professional baseball, 1897, Abbey batted .260 with 52 runs, 78 hits, 14 doubles, eight triples, three home runs, 34 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 80 games played. In all of his 80 games, Abbey played in the outfield and committed eight errors in 148 total chances. During the 1897 season, Abbey was used as a first base umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in two National League games. Abbey also played for the Providence Clamdiggers that season in the minor leagues.
Personal
Abbey was born on October 14, 1866 in Falls City, NebraskaFalls City, Nebraska
Falls City is a city in Richardson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,671 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Richardson County.-Geography:Falls City is located at ....
. On April 27, 1926, Abbey died at the age of 59 in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and was later buried in Steele Cemetery in Falls City, Nebraska.