Fred Odwell
From BR Bullpen
Frederick William Odwell (Fritz)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9½", Weight 160 lb.
- Debut April 16, 1904
- Final Game September 12, 1907
- Born September 25, 1872 in Downsville, NY USA
- Died August 19, 1948 in Downsville, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Fred Odwell was past the age of thirty when he came to the majors as a regular for the Cincinnati Reds in 1904. It was an old team, however, with five of the eight regular position players at least 31 years old. He was a regular for three of his four years in the majors.
He is remembered for leading the National League in homers in 1905, and then never hitting another major league home run. Dave Brain would do the same a couple of years later. Odwell, by hitting a home run in his last at-bat in 1905, deprived his teammate Cy Seymour of a Triple Crown.
Odwell lost his regular job to Frank Jude in 1906, but the Sporting Life, at least, was rooting for him, calling him a "hustler", "earnest", and "fleet-footed". Odwell got the job back in 1907.
In 1903 he played for Louisville, leading the league in triples. In the minors he also played for Toledo and Columbus.
The Catskill Mountain News of November 12, 1937, described the efforts of a Fred Odwell of Downsville, NY, in trying to establish the Shinhopple Game Refuge.
"Fred Odwell . . . has a vast following who believe that under Hanlon he will loom up the same brilliant he was when he outfooted and outbatted Dan Kerwin and won his Red spurs in the face of the prophecy that he was the one who would be ticketed back to the land of the Bourbons. . . while he often expressed a desire to escape from Redland last season it was merely because he thought he might have better luck elsewhere." - Sporting Life's Cincinnati correspondent, March 24, 1906
"FRED ODWELL'S FAREWELL. Fred Odwell's departure will be regretted by more than one enthusiast and no matter where he goes the good wishes of all who admire pluck and faithfulness will follow him. In official family it was believed that Odwell was not quite strong enough to 'fill in' as a regular and the policy is to get a youngster who will improve immeasurably for the role of extra man." - Sporting Life, December 28, 1907, lamenting the end of Odwell's tenure with the Reds, before the start of four seasons he would spend with Columbus
