Doc Bushong
From BR Bullpen
Albert John Bushong
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
- School University of Pennsylvania
- Debut July 19, 1875
- Final Game September 9, 1890
- Born September 15, 1856 in Philadelphia, PA USA
- Died August 19, 1908 in Brooklyn, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Doc Bushong was the first player from the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania to come to the major leagues. He did not play baseball at the university however, but earned a degree in dentistry, and after his major league days, he was a practicing dentist.
The town of Bushong, Kansas was named in Bushong's honor.
Bushong played catcher at a time when catchers took a beating from pitched balls. Nevertheless, he had a long career (for the times) in the majors.
He started at age 18 with one game in the National Association in its last season in 1875, and then played five games in the first year of the new National League. He didn't come back to the National League until 1880.
In the latter part of his career he played on quite a few pennant winners and was in post-season play five times, perhaps most notably when his 1886 St. Louis Browns of the American Association beat Cap Anson's 1886 Chicago White Stockings of the National League.
The book The Beer and Whisky League has a photo of him along with an explanation of why he wore a moustache - he claimed that shaving caused his eyes to tear up, which affected his vision during games.
Both he and Henry Chadwick died in Brooklyn, NY during the 1908 season.
