Lou Bierbauer
Encyclopedia
Louis W. Bierbauer was a German-American professional baseball player who was a second baseman
in Major League Baseball
during the late 1880s and 1890s. Over that period of time, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics
of the American Association
before joining many other major leaguers in jumping to the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
in the newly formed Players' League for the 1890 season, a league which folded after just one year of play. Once the League folded in 1891, pretty much every player that left the National League
or the American Association for the Players League was allowed to return to their original team. However Bierbauer never signed back with the Athletics. The National League's Pittsburgh Alleghenys realizing Bierbauer's absence in the Athletics line-up became determined to sign him.
Alfred Spink, the founder of the Sporting News, wrote about the incident in 1910 for a journal called The Pirates Reader. According to Spink, Allegheny's manager Ned Hanlon traveled to Presque Isle
in the dead of winter to sign him, crossing the ice on the harbor during a snow storm. He finally reached Bierbauer's home and got him to sign a contract with Allegheny.
The Athletics, upon learning of this deal, objected to Bierbauer’s signing and stated that he should return to the A’s, since that was the team that employed him before his defection. An official for the American Association also objected to Bierbauer signing with Allegheny and called the act "piratical." However the Alleghenies contended that because “the [American Association] did not reserve Bierbauer, he was a free agent". An arbitrator agreed, and soon players and fans alike were calling the team the "Pittsburgh Pirates
."
Bierbauer played for the Pirates for six seasons before moving on to the St. Louis Browns
from 1897 to 1898. He finished his professional baseball career in the minor leagues
.
Alred Spink would go on to call Bierbauer the "one-time king of second basemen," a great "all-around player" who dominated both the National League and the American Association. In a 1955 story also reprinted in The Pirates Reader, a friend of Bierbauer's told the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph that "Louie loved the Pirates and rooted for them until the day of his death in 1926."
Bierbauer died in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania at the age of 60, and is interred at Erie Cemetery
.
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...
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...
during the late 1880s and 1890s. Over that period of time, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association, a 19th-century major league, which began play in 1882 as a rival to the National League. The other teams were the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Red Stockings, Eclipse of...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
before joining many other major leaguers in jumping to the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
The Brooklyn Ward's Wonders was a team who played in the Players' League in 1890. The team's nickname derived from its superstar shortstop, hall of famer John Montgomery Ward. The team finished with a 76-56 record, good enough to finish in second place. Other notable players for Brooklyn that...
in the newly formed Players' League for the 1890 season, a league which folded after just one year of play. Once the League folded in 1891, pretty much every player that left 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...
or the American Association for the Players League was allowed to return to their original team. However Bierbauer never signed back with the Athletics. The National League's Pittsburgh Alleghenys realizing Bierbauer's absence in the Athletics line-up became determined to sign him.
Alfred Spink, the founder of the Sporting News, wrote about the incident in 1910 for a journal called The Pirates Reader. According to Spink, Allegheny's manager Ned Hanlon traveled to Presque Isle
Presque Isle
Presque Isle may refer to:Administrative subdivisions* Presque Isle County, Michigan* Presque Isle Township, Michigan* Presque Isle, Maine, a city** Presque Isle Air Force Base, former base* Presque Isle, Wisconsin, a town...
in the dead of winter to sign him, crossing the ice on the harbor during a snow storm. He finally reached Bierbauer's home and got him to sign a contract with Allegheny.
The Athletics, upon learning of this deal, objected to Bierbauer’s signing and stated that he should return to the A’s, since that was the team that employed him before his defection. An official for the American Association also objected to Bierbauer signing with Allegheny and called the act "piratical." However the Alleghenies contended that because “the [American Association] did not reserve Bierbauer, he was a free agent". An arbitrator agreed, and soon players and fans alike were calling the team the "Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
."
Bierbauer played for the Pirates for six seasons before moving on to the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
from 1897 to 1898. He finished his professional baseball career 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...
.
Alred Spink would go on to call Bierbauer the "one-time king of second basemen," a great "all-around player" who dominated both the National League and the American Association. In a 1955 story also reprinted in The Pirates Reader, a friend of Bierbauer's told the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph that "Louie loved the Pirates and rooted for them until the day of his death in 1926."
Bierbauer died in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania at the age of 60, and is interred at Erie Cemetery
Erie Cemetery
Erie Cemetery is a prominent cemetery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is situated on of land bordered on the east by Chestnut Street, the west by Cherry Street, the north by 19th Street, and the south by 26th Street.- History :...
.