Tom Oran
Encyclopedia
Thomas Oran also known as "Lusher Tom" and "Indian Tom", was an American outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. After playing amateur baseball for a few years, he played for the St. Louis Red Stockings
in 1875 and was the first Native American
in the major leagues.
. He played baseball for several amateur baseball teams in St. Louis, Missouri
, in the late 1860s, including the Olympics and Unions, and in 1869 he joined the Empire Club as a catcher
. During this time, he also worked as a city firefighter
.
Oran switched from the catcher position to third base
in early 1871. The Empires held the local championship until 1873, and Oran remained on the team during this time. In 1874, he jumped to another team, the Red Stockings. The Red Stockings joined the National Association
– now regarded as the first major league – in February of the following year, and Oran played in all 19 of his team's games from May 4 to July 4. His fielding percentage
as an outfielder and shortstop
was just .636, but he led the Red Stockings with 10 runs batted in
and 1 triple
, while batting
.185 and stealing
3 bases. Oran was the first Native American in Major League Baseball. The National Association folded after the 1875 season, and he never played professional baseball again.
Oran was married with one son, also named Thomas. He died in 1886 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Four years later, The Sporting News wrote that, "Oran was a half-breed Indian and died from the effects of fire water."
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...
. After playing amateur baseball for a few years, he played for the St. Louis Red Stockings
St. Louis (NA)
In the standard short format for identifying professional baseball clubs in the U.S., St. Louis means the "St. Louis" club in the "NA" league...
in 1875 and was the first Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in the major leagues.
Biography
Oran was born in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He played baseball for several amateur baseball teams in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, in the late 1860s, including the Olympics and Unions, and in 1869 he joined the Empire Club as a 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...
. During this time, he also worked as a city firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
.
Oran switched from the catcher position to third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in early 1871. The Empires held the local championship until 1873, and Oran remained on the team during this time. In 1874, he jumped to another team, the Red Stockings. The Red Stockings joined 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...
– now regarded as the first major league – in February of the following year, and Oran played in all 19 of his team's games from May 4 to July 4. His fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
as an outfielder and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
was just .636, but he led the Red Stockings with 10 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...
and 1 triple
Triple (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....
, while batting
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 :...
.185 and stealing
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...
3 bases. Oran was the first Native American in Major League Baseball. The National Association folded after the 1875 season, and he never played professional baseball again.
Oran was married with one son, also named Thomas. He died in 1886 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis. Four years later, The Sporting News wrote that, "Oran was a half-breed Indian and died from the effects of fire water."