Scrappy Carroll
Encyclopedia
John E. "Scrappy" Carroll (August 27, 1860 – November 14, 1942) was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the St. Paul White Caps, Buffalo Bisons, and Cleveland Blues
during the 1880s. Carroll stood 5 in 7 in (1.7 m).
, in 1860. He was nicknamed "Scrappy", likely due to him having a "pugnacious disposition", and he may have been the first player to have had that nickname.
Carroll started his professional baseball career in 1884. He played for the St. Paul Apostles of the Northwestern League
during that season and made his major league debut with the Union Association
's St. Paul White Caps on September 27. The White Caps played a total of nine games, and Carroll appeared in all of them, mostly as a right fielder
. He went 3 for 31 at the plate for a .097 batting average
and made five errors
in the field.
The Union Association disbanded after the 1884 season, and in 1885, Carroll played for three different teams: the Western League's Cleveland Forest Cities, the Southern League's Memphis Reds, and the National League
's Buffalo Bisons. In his second major league trial, he played 13 games for the Bisons and went 3 for 40 (.075).
In 1886, Carroll played for the Utica Pent Ups of the International League. The following season, he received his final major league shot, with the American Association
's Cleveland Blues. Carroll appeared in 57 games for the Blues and batted a career-high .199 with 19 runs batted in
. He started in right field on August 3, which was Cleveland's first major league Sunday game. While playing for Cleveland, Carroll may have been the first major league player to wear sunglasses. According to an account of Cleveland's 1887 season, Carroll "caught the attention of the kranks at the ball park one sunny afternoon," when he wore "a pair of colored spectacles." Carroll played in his final major league game on October 3 and finished his MLB career with a .171 batting average in 79 games.
Carroll played for the Western Association
's St. Paul Apostles in 1888 and 1889. In 1888, he batted .251 and led the team in at bat
s (494), runs
(106), and total bases (205). He also hit 16 home run
s, which led not only his team, but the entire league. Carroll also had 85 stolen base
s in 1888.
In 1890, Carroll played for the Western Association
's Minneapolis Millers
. The following season, he split his time between six different teams in the Western Association
, New England League
, and Eastern Association
. Carroll's last year in professional baseball was 1892. That season, he played 42 games for the Western League's Minneapolis Minnies, batting .237 with a team-leading 14 stolen bases.
Carroll died in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, in 1942. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
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...
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...
. He played for the St. Paul White Caps, Buffalo Bisons, and Cleveland Blues
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
during the 1880s. Carroll stood 5 in 7 in (1.7 m).
Career
John E. Carroll was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in 1860. He was nicknamed "Scrappy", likely due to him having a "pugnacious disposition", and he may have been the first player to have had that nickname.
Carroll started his professional baseball career in 1884. He played for the St. Paul Apostles of the Northwestern League
Northwestern League
The Northwestern League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1883–1884, and again from 1886-1887. It was founded by Elias Matter in 1883.-1883-1884:...
during that season and made his major league debut with the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
's St. Paul White Caps on September 27. The White Caps played a total of nine games, and Carroll appeared in all of them, mostly as a 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...
. He went 3 for 31 at the plate for a .097 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 made five errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in the field.
The Union Association disbanded after the 1884 season, and in 1885, Carroll played for three different teams: the Western League's Cleveland Forest Cities, the Southern League's Memphis Reds, and 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...
's Buffalo Bisons. In his second major league trial, he played 13 games for the Bisons and went 3 for 40 (.075).
In 1886, Carroll played for the Utica Pent Ups of the International League. The following season, he received his final major league shot, with 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...
's Cleveland Blues. Carroll appeared in 57 games for the Blues and batted a career-high .199 with 19 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. He started in right field on August 3, which was Cleveland's first major league Sunday game. While playing for Cleveland, Carroll may have been the first major league player to wear sunglasses. According to an account of Cleveland's 1887 season, Carroll "caught the attention of the kranks at the ball park one sunny afternoon," when he wore "a pair of colored spectacles." Carroll played in his final major league game on October 3 and finished his MLB career with a .171 batting average in 79 games.
Carroll played for the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
's St. Paul Apostles in 1888 and 1889. In 1888, he batted .251 and led the team in 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 (494), 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...
(106), and total bases (205). He also hit 16 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, which led not only his team, but the entire league. Carroll also had 85 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 in 1888.
In 1890, Carroll played for the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
's Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
. The following season, he split his time between six different teams in the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
, and Eastern Association
Eastern Association (baseball)
The Eastern Association was a minor league baseball league. The first version of the league appeared in 1882, followed by similar one season leagues in 1891 and 1909. The league was primarily a "Class-B" league in Minor League Baseball in the 1913-1914 seasons....
. Carroll's last year in professional baseball was 1892. That season, he played 42 games for the Western League's Minneapolis Minnies, batting .237 with a team-leading 14 stolen bases.
Carroll died in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, in 1942. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
External links
- Scrappy Carroll at Find a Grave