Hardy Richardson
Encyclopedia
Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson (April 21, 1855 – January 14, 1931) was a second basemen and outfielder
mostly, who played in the Major Leagues
for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons
(1879–85). He batted and threw right-handed.
, Jack Rowe
, and Deacon White
. It was a desire to secure the services of the "Big Four" that led the Detroit Wolverines
to purchase the Bisons franchise for $7,000 in 1885. They won Detroit the National League
pennant and the World Series
in 1887.
Richardson's best season probably came in 1890 with the Boston Reds of the Players' League, when he had 181 hits in 555 turns at bat, a .326 batting average, while also compiling a career-high 13 home runs and 146 RBIs. He also picked up 42 stolen bases and score 126 runs.
In a game against Philadelphia on July 20, 1883, both Richardson and Rowe were memorably credited with home runs when outfielder Conny Doyle
was unable to find balls they hit into a deep section of grass in the left field corner.
Richardson was involved in another unusual circumstance in a game against the Chicago White Stockings
on August 13, 1884. Chicago's George Gore
singled to lead off the game, and Chicago manager Cap Anson
instructed him to avoid the double play
at all costs. Accordingly, when King Kelly
followed with a ground ball, Gore tackled Richardson at second base before he could complete the relay throw. The umpire called both the batter and the runner out, and Anson protested the ruling so strenuously and stridently that the umpire forfeited the game to Buffalo. This ruling was met with disapproval by the Chicago crowd of approximately 2,000, and after extensive discussions, the two teams agreed to resume a game which had been postponed earlier in the season, as a way of placating the dissatisfied fans. In this second game, Anson decided to give his players a personal demonstration of the right way to break up the double play. He reached first base, and when the next batter hit a ground ball to Richardson, Anson shouted and waved his arms while running to second in an effort to interfere with Richardson's throw. Possibly flustered by this display, Richardson in turn struck Anson square in the head with his throw, which was delivered hard enough that it bounced all the way into the grandstands. A woozy Anson was forced to leave the game.
In a 14-season career, Richardson compiled a .299 batting average
with 70 home run
s and 822 RBIs in 1331 games. He had 205 career stolen base
s and 1120 runs scored. Richardson had 1688 career hits
in 5642 at bat
s.
After Richardson's retirement as a player, he operated a hotel in Utica, New York
, and later worked at the Remington
typewriter
plant in Ilion, New York
.
Baseball historian Bill James
ranked Richardson as the 39th-best second baseman in the history of baseball in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
mostly, who played in the Major Leagues
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...
for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
(1879–85). He batted and threw right-handed.
Biography
Richardson played every position at some point, but was known for his play at second base with Buffalo when he was a member of the "Big Four," a star infield that consisted of Richardson and his teammates Dan BrouthersDan Brouthers
Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
, Jack Rowe
Jack Rowe
John Charles "Jack" Rowe was an American baseball player.Rowe was born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, in 1911. He first played baseball under Tom Loftus with the Peoria Reds in 1878. In 1879, Rowe and his brother, Dave Rowe, signed with the Rockford team in the newly formed Northwestern League...
, and Deacon White
Deacon White
James Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
. It was a desire to secure the services of the "Big Four" that led the Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
to purchase the Bisons franchise for $7,000 in 1885. They won Detroit 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...
pennant and the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1887.
Richardson's best season probably came in 1890 with the Boston Reds of the Players' League, when he had 181 hits in 555 turns at bat, a .326 batting average, while also compiling a career-high 13 home runs and 146 RBIs. He also picked up 42 stolen bases and score 126 runs.
In a game against Philadelphia on July 20, 1883, both Richardson and Rowe were memorably credited with home runs when outfielder Conny Doyle
Conny Doyle
Cornelius J. Doyle was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played in the Majors in 1883 & 1884 for the Philadelphia Quakers and Pittsburg Alleghenys. He continued to play professionally in the minor leagues through 1893.-External links:*...
was unable to find balls they hit into a deep section of grass in the left field corner.
Richardson was involved in another unusual circumstance in a game against the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on August 13, 1884. Chicago's George Gore
George Gore
George F. Gore , nicknamed "Piano Legs", was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for fourteen seasons, eight for the Chicago White Stockings, five for the New York Giants, one for the St. Louis Browns of the National League , and the New York Giants of the Players League...
singled to lead off the game, and Chicago manager Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
instructed him to avoid the double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
at all costs. Accordingly, when King Kelly
King Kelly
Michael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
followed with a ground ball, Gore tackled Richardson at second base before he could complete the relay throw. The umpire called both the batter and the runner out, and Anson protested the ruling so strenuously and stridently that the umpire forfeited the game to Buffalo. This ruling was met with disapproval by the Chicago crowd of approximately 2,000, and after extensive discussions, the two teams agreed to resume a game which had been postponed earlier in the season, as a way of placating the dissatisfied fans. In this second game, Anson decided to give his players a personal demonstration of the right way to break up the double play. He reached first base, and when the next batter hit a ground ball to Richardson, Anson shouted and waved his arms while running to second in an effort to interfere with Richardson's throw. Possibly flustered by this display, Richardson in turn struck Anson square in the head with his throw, which was delivered hard enough that it bounced all the way into the grandstands. A woozy Anson was forced to leave the game.
In a 14-season career, Richardson compiled a .299 batting average
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 :...
with 70 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 822 RBIs in 1331 games. He had 205 career stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s and 1120 runs scored. Richardson had 1688 career 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....
in 5642 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
After Richardson's retirement as a player, he operated a hotel in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, and later worked at the Remington
E. Remington and Sons
E. Remington and Sons was a manufacturer of firearms and typewriters. Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, on March 1, 1873 it started manufacturing the first commercial typewriter.-Becoming "E. Remington & Sons":...
typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
plant in Ilion, New York
Ilion, New York
Ilion is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Ilion is a name for the ancient city of Troy.The Village of Ilion is at the north town line of the Town of German Flatts...
.
Baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
ranked Richardson as the 39th-best second baseman in the history of baseball in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.
Highlights
- Led the league in hits in 1886 (189)
- Led the league in home runs in 1886 (11)
- Top 10 in the league in triplesTriple (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....
7 times in his career (1879, 80, 81, 85, 86, 87, 89) - Led the league in RBIs in 1890 (146)
In Popular Culture
- Richardson was referenced in the October 31, 2010 episode of Boardwalk Empire by the fictional character Nucky Thompson as having an autographed catcher's mitt signed by Richardson when he was a child. It was stolen from him by other older, bigger kids. After his father made him fight two older boys to get it back Nucky was beaten unconscious and spent 11 days in the hospital.
See also
- 1887 Detroit Wolverines season1887 Detroit Wolverines seasonThe 1887 Detroit Wolverines season was a season in American baseball. The team won the 1887 National League pennant, then defeated the St. Louis Browns in the 1887 World Series. The season was the team's 7th since it entered the National League in 1881...
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions