Fred Odwell
From BR Bullpen
Frederick William Odwell (Fritz)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- 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 1904 Cincinnati Reds. 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 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.
