Dickie Flowers
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard "Dickie" Flowers (1850 – October 6, 1892) was an American
professional baseball
player in the National Association
. He was a shortstop
for the 1871 Troy Haymakers
and the 1872 Philadelphia Athletics. Previously, he participated in the first professional season as every-day shortstop for the Keystone club of Philadelphia in 1869, his second season with that team.
In 1867 the 17-year-old Flowers was first shortstop and second catcher for the Quaker City club of Philadelphia in the nominally amateur National Association of Base Ball Players
. Quaker City was ambitious but Philadelphia's third team by playing strength, behind the Athletics and Keystones. Flowers scored 112 runs in 27 games, more than four per game and roughly tied with three other players for the team's second-best rate behind first catcher Fergy Malone
. The next season, he moved to the Keystones and led the team in games and runs.
When the NABBP permitted openly professional teams for the 1869 season, the Keystones were one of twelve teams that contested the professional pennant race. Flowers played in every known game and he was the third of three players who scored more than three runs per game. Continuing as the regular shortstop, he played some pitcher and catcher, too. The Keystones remained second best in Philadelphia behind the Athletics; they lost all five matches between the two and won only 3 of all 20 professional matches. For 1870 they did not return to the professional field, but Flowers moved to the Haymakers
of Troy, New York
, a pro team of average strength, where he played all 46 known games.
Troy helped establish the first professional league in 1871 with Dickie Flowers continuing as the regular shortstop and proving to be one of the stronger batters in a powerhouse lineup. Although he was only 21 years old, his major league career ended after merely three games played for the reigning champion Philadelphia Athletics in 1872.
He died in his native Philadelphia at age 42.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player in 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...
. He was a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the 1871 Troy Haymakers
Troy Haymakers
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball team.-History:Established in 1860 as the Union base ball club of neighboring Lansingburgh, New York, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National...
and the 1872 Philadelphia Athletics. Previously, he participated in the first professional season as every-day shortstop for the Keystone club of Philadelphia in 1869, his second season with that team.
In 1867 the 17-year-old Flowers was first shortstop and second catcher for the Quaker City club of Philadelphia in the nominally amateur 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...
. Quaker City was ambitious but Philadelphia's third team by playing strength, behind the Athletics and Keystones. Flowers scored 112 runs in 27 games, more than four per game and roughly tied with three other players for the team's second-best rate behind first catcher 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....
. The next season, he moved to the Keystones and led the team in games and runs.
When the NABBP permitted openly professional teams for the 1869 season, the Keystones were one of twelve teams that contested the professional pennant race. Flowers played in every known game and he was the third of three players who scored more than three runs per game. Continuing as the regular shortstop, he played some pitcher and catcher, too. The Keystones remained second best in Philadelphia behind the Athletics; they lost all five matches between the two and won only 3 of all 20 professional matches. For 1870 they did not return to the professional field, but Flowers moved to the Haymakers
Troy Haymakers
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball team.-History:Established in 1860 as the Union base ball club of neighboring Lansingburgh, New York, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National...
of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, a pro team of average strength, where he played all 46 known games.
Troy helped establish the first professional league in 1871 with Dickie Flowers continuing as the regular shortstop and proving to be one of the stronger batters in a powerhouse lineup. Although he was only 21 years old, his major league career ended after merely three games played for the reigning champion Philadelphia Athletics in 1872.
He died in his native Philadelphia at age 42.