Charlie Sweasy
Encyclopedia
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
. In the meantime he played for six teams during the five seasons of the National Association
, so he may be considered one of the first "journeyman" ballplayers. A right-handed thrower and batter, he played second base almost exclusively.
Born 1847 in Newark, New Jersey
, Sweasy's debut with a "major" team was in 1866 with the New Jersey Irvingtons that hailed from Irvington, New Jersey
about 20 miles inland. Irvington was a new member of the National Association of Base Ball Players
, with many other clubs as the association tripled in size to more than 90 in its first post-war season. The Irvingtons frightened the champion Brooklyn Atlantics
by winning their first meeting on June 14 and losing their third one only in extra innings on October 29. Several team members would later play professionally including Sweasy and Andy Leonard
, also of Newark.
; the move suggests that they were somehow compensated by club members if not by the club.
When the NABBP permitted professionalism for 1869, Sweasy and Leonard were two of five new men hired to complete the First Nine of the Cincinnati Red Stockings
, the first team on salary for a season. All had previously played in the infield, with Harry Wright and Asa Brainard sharing pitcher
and second base for Cincinnati. Wright put Sweasy at second and made center field
the position shared by the two pitchers.
Sweasy earned $800 for the eight-month season, March 15 to November 15. That was the standard rate with four men earning more. Years later, the son of club officer George Ellard recalled the skills of each player in words of praise. Ellard (1908: 100) covered Sweasy in the field and only in the field, with most attention to his grasp of flies to short center and right, where he was "one of the surest catcher
s of high fly balls to be found." The limited statistical record suggests that he fit comfortably in the supporting cast during the Red Stockings innings, hitting a little less frequently than team average, with a few more extra bases
on hits. In two years he played all but one of 130 games in the record books, one of six who played essentially without interruption.
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).
The Olympics appointed Sweasy captain
, meaning that he would have many duties of a modern field manager, speaking for the team during the game and making many internal decisions. Unfortunately, he missed two long stretches of the season with illness, barely playing and so barely "managing". Two other transplants, Asa Brainard and Fred Waterman, acted as captains in his absence.
Charlie Sweasy played almost every game during his five NABBP seasons, through 1870 and age 22. Then he played only occasionally for five teams in four NA seasons. His batting record during those years and thereafter is unusually weak, suggesting that his skills were left behind by competitive improvement in the game or weakened by illness and forced idleness.
Sweasy returned to a regular playing role and earned his manager's credit in 1875, when he captained the lesser of two St. Louis clubs that joined the NA; the "Reds" dropped out after 19 games, overmatched. Next year he returned to Cincinnati as the second baseman of a new club that was a charter member of the National League
. Probably he was hired by old teammate Charlie Gould
, the first baseman and manager. His major league career ended two years later as regular second baseman for the new Providence Grays
. Apparently he was a marginal "major leaguer", able to hold a regular job at that level only for teams on the way in and teams on the way out.
Sweasy died 1908 in his native Newark, 60 years old, and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey
.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the original 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,...
, 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 returned to Cincinnati in 1876, hired by the new club that was a charter member of the 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...
. In the meantime he played for six teams during the five seasons of the 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...
, so he may be considered one of the first "journeyman" ballplayers. A right-handed thrower and batter, he played second base almost exclusively.
Born 1847 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...
, Sweasy's debut with a "major" team was in 1866 with the New Jersey Irvingtons that hailed from 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:...
about 20 miles inland. Irvington was a new member 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...
, with many other clubs as the association tripled in size to more than 90 in its first post-war season. The Irvingtons frightened the champion Brooklyn Atlantics
Brooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
by winning their first meeting on June 14 and losing their third one only in extra innings on October 29. Several team members would later play professionally including Sweasy and Andy Leonard
Andy Leonard
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...
, also of Newark.
Cincinnati
For 1868 Sweasy and Leonard moved to Cincinnati and joined the Buckeyes, the chief local rival of the Red StockingsCincinnati 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 they were somehow compensated by club members if not by the club.
When the NABBP permitted professionalism for 1869, Sweasy and Leonard were two of five new men hired to complete the First Nine 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,...
, the first team on salary for a season. All had previously played in the infield, with Harry Wright and Asa Brainard sharing pitcher
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...
and second base for Cincinnati. Wright put Sweasy at second and made center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
the position shared by the two pitchers.
Sweasy earned $800 for the eight-month season, March 15 to November 15. That was the standard rate with four men earning more. Years later, the son of club officer George Ellard recalled the skills of each player in words of praise. Ellard (1908: 100) covered Sweasy in the field and only in the field, with most attention to his grasp of flies to short center and right, where he was "one of the surest catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
s of high fly balls to be found." The limited statistical record suggests that he fit comfortably in the supporting cast during the Red Stockings innings, hitting a little less frequently than team average, with a few more extra bases
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
on hits. In two years he played all but one of 130 games in the record books, one of six who played essentially without interruption.
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 Charlie Sweasy 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 (NA).
The Olympics appointed Sweasy captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, meaning that he would have many duties of a modern field manager, speaking for the team during the game and making many internal decisions. Unfortunately, he missed two long stretches of the season with illness, barely playing and so barely "managing". Two other transplants, Asa Brainard and Fred Waterman, acted as captains in his absence.
Charlie Sweasy played almost every game during his five NABBP seasons, through 1870 and age 22. Then he played only occasionally for five teams in four NA seasons. His batting record during those years and thereafter is unusually weak, suggesting that his skills were left behind by competitive improvement in the game or weakened by illness and forced idleness.
Sweasy returned to a regular playing role and earned his manager's credit in 1875, when he captained the lesser of two St. Louis clubs that joined the NA; the "Reds" dropped out after 19 games, overmatched. Next year he returned to Cincinnati as the second baseman of a new club that was a charter member of the 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...
. Probably he was hired by old teammate Charlie Gould
Charlie Gould
Charles Harvey Gould , nicknamed "The Bushel Basket", was an American Major League Baseball player during the 1860s and 1870s. He was the first baseman for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869 and 1870, the first team consisting entirely of professional players...
, the first baseman and manager. His major league career ended two years later as regular second baseman for the new Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
. Apparently he was a marginal "major leaguer", able to hold a regular job at that level only for teams on the way in and teams on the way out.
Sweasy died 1908 in his native Newark, 60 years old, and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
.