Dory Dean
Encyclopedia
Charles Wilson "Dory" Dean (November 6, 1852 – May 4, 1935) was an American
, 19th century Major League Baseball
player from Cincinnati, Ohio
. He was a right-handed pitcher
who played for just one Major League season, the Cincinnati Reds
.
as well, but the vacuum that was left in the local baseball community after the Red Stockings' departure allowed for the young talent in the area to develop their skills. Dory was one of these ballplayers. In , having previously played for the local minor league
Blue Stockings in . he was signed to play for the Reds to help support the pitching staff that had only Cherokee Fisher
at the time. After a 4-21 start to the season, they gave Dean a chance to pitch and he did well, even though it resulted in another loss. Fisher was given another start, which he lost, and was given his release from the team. This left Dean as the lone pitcher on the team.
After Dean had made seventeen straight starts, the last thirteen of them losses, another local product, Dale Williams
, was brought in to pitch. Williams made nine starts, but the result was just as disastrous. Dean was again instituted as the starting pitcher for the remainder of the season. He finished the year with a 4-26 record for a club that compiled 9-56 mark.
It was during this long losing streak that Dory began using an unusual pitching motion in an attempt to gain an advantage over the hitters. During his delivery to the plate, he would twist around on his foot to where his back was facing the batter before he threw the ball. Other pitchers began to deliver the ball in the same fashion, such as Harold Ernst and John Montgomery Ward
. Ward claimed he learned it from Ernst. The style was officially outlawed after the season, presumably to stop Ward from having an unfair advantage. The rule was later discarded, and pitchers began to use it again, such as John Clarkson
, Cy Young
, and later in the 20th century, Luis Tiant
.
and played tennis
at a high level for the remainder of his life. Dory died in Nashville at the age of 82, and is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 19th century 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...
player from 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...
. He was a right-handed 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...
who played for just one Major League season, the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (1876-1880)
The Cincinnati Reds, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, were a professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio that played from 1876–1880. The Reds were a charter member of the National League.-History:...
.
Career
Dory began playing in Cincinnati when the famous Red Stockings left town after the 1870 season. He had been working as an engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
as well, but the vacuum that was left in the local baseball community after the Red Stockings' departure allowed for the young talent in the area to develop their skills. Dory was one of these ballplayers. In , having previously played for the local minor league
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...
Blue Stockings in . he was signed to play for the Reds to help support the pitching staff that had only Cherokee Fisher
Cherokee Fisher
William Charles "Cherokee" Fisher , was an American baseball pitcher.Fisher was a pitcher during organized baseball's formative years, from about 1867 to the end of his career. He was known for his fastball on the field and his heavy drinking off it. William J...
at the time. After a 4-21 start to the season, they gave Dean a chance to pitch and he did well, even though it resulted in another loss. Fisher was given another start, which he lost, and was given his release from the team. This left Dean as the lone pitcher on the team.
After Dean had made seventeen straight starts, the last thirteen of them losses, another local product, Dale Williams
Dale Williams (baseball)
Elisha Alphonso "Dale" Williams was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Williams played for the Cincinnati Reds in . In 9 career games, he had a 1-8 record with a 4.23 ERA. He batted and threw right-handed....
, was brought in to pitch. Williams made nine starts, but the result was just as disastrous. Dean was again instituted as the starting pitcher for the remainder of the season. He finished the year with a 4-26 record for a club that compiled 9-56 mark.
It was during this long losing streak that Dory began using an unusual pitching motion in an attempt to gain an advantage over the hitters. During his delivery to the plate, he would twist around on his foot to where his back was facing the batter before he threw the ball. Other pitchers began to deliver the ball in the same fashion, such as Harold Ernst and John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
. Ward claimed he learned it from Ernst. The style was officially outlawed after the season, presumably to stop Ward from having an unfair advantage. The rule was later discarded, and pitchers began to use it again, such as John Clarkson
John Clarkson
John Gibson Clarkson was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs , Chicago White Stockings , Boston Beaneaters , and Cleveland Spiders .He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
, Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
, and later in the 20th century, Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
.
Post-career
After his baseball career he became an electrotyper, eventually he founded his own company in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and played tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
at a high level for the remainder of his life. Dory died in Nashville at the age of 82, and is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville, Tennessee. It is one of the largest cemeteries in Nashville.Among those interred or entombed in the cemetery, there are many prominent members of the country music genre and their families.-List:Use the following...
.