Nealy Phelps
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Carmen "Nealy" Phelps (November 19, 1840 – February 12, 1885) was an American
Major League Baseball
right fielder
who played for a total of five seasons, four in the National Association
, and one in the National League
.
He made his debut with the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
of the National Association, and played in one game, at first base
. In that game, he went hitless
in three official at bat
s, but did draw one base on balls
. The next time he appeared in the league, he played one game for the New York Mutuals
in 1873. In that game, he went hitless in six at bats. He made his most significant playing contribution for the Mutuals in 1874, when played in six games, and collected three hits in 24 at bats for a .125 batting average
, and scored five runs
. In 1875, he played in two games for the Mutuals, and had two hits in six at bats, scored one run, and hit one double
. On October 12, 1875, a benefit game was played between the Mutuals against the Brooklyn Atlantics
, with the proceeds going to Nealy, who also performed as time-keeper for the game.
When the Mutuals transferred their team to the National League in 1876, Phelps played in one game for them, playing in center field
, and then he was loaned to the Philadelphia Athletics in a game against the Mutuals on August 10, playing catcher
when they were short a player. This was the last game he played in the Majors Leagues.
Phelps died at the age of 44 in New York City
, and is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery
in Brooklyn
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
who played for a total of five seasons, four 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...
, and one in 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...
.
He made his debut with the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
Fort Wayne Kekiongas
The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...
of the National Association, and played in one game, at first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. In that game, he went hitless
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 three official 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, but did draw one base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. The next time he appeared in the league, he played one game for the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
in 1873. In that game, he went hitless in six at bats. He made his most significant playing contribution for the Mutuals in 1874, when played in six games, and collected three hits in 24 at bats for a .125 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 :...
, and scored five runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. In 1875, he played in two games for the Mutuals, and had two hits in six at bats, scored one run, and hit one double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. On October 12, 1875, a benefit game was played between the Mutuals against the 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...
, with the proceeds going to Nealy, who also performed as time-keeper for the game.
When the Mutuals transferred their team to the National League in 1876, Phelps played in one game for them, playing in 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...
, and then he was loaned to the Philadelphia Athletics in a game against the Mutuals on August 10, playing 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...
when they were short a player. This was the last game he played in the Majors Leagues.
Phelps died at the age of 44 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.