Harry Wright
From BR Bullpen
William Henry Wright
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Weight 157 lb.
- Debut May 5, 1871
- Born January 10, 1835 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
- Died October 3, 1895 in Atlantic City, NJ USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1953
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[edit] Biographical Information
"(He was) the most widely known, best respected, and most popular of the exponents and representatives of professional baseball, of which he was virtually the founder." - Henry Chadwick, the father of baseball, about Harry Wright
Harry Wright was one of baseball's great pioneers. In addition to playing and managing in the National Association and in the National League, he organized the first truly professional baseball team - the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. Wright managed the club, played center field and, according to The Relief Pitcher, also served as the team's "change pitcher" or relief pitcher.
Wright, born in 1835, was already the second-oldest player in the league when the National Association formed in 1871.
He had 3 saves to lead the National Association in its first year of extistence, 1871.
Wright managed for 23 years in the National Association and in the National League. His last team was the 1893 Philadelphia Phillies, which featured, among other players, the 25-year-old Ed Delahanty.
Brother of George Wright and Sam Wright.
SABR has a biography of Wright, which says that Wright's father was a cricket star. Harry dropped out of school, worked as a jeweler and then as a cricket player, and turned to baseball. He joined the Knickerbockers in 1857. Wright went temporarily blind as a result of an eye illness in 1890, but recovered part of his sight later. He died from a lung illness in 1895.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time NA Saves Leader (1871, 1872 & 1874)
- NA Pennants: 4 (1872-1875)
- NL Pennants: 2 (1877 & 1878)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1953
| Preceded by None | Boston Red Caps Manager 1876-1881 | Succeeded by John Morrill |
| Preceded by Blondie Purcell | Philadelphia Quakers/Phillies Manager 1884-1893 | Succeeded by Arthur Irwin |
[edit] Further Reading
- Christopher Devine: "Harry Wright: The Most Important Figure of the 19th Century?", in The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Number 31, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2003, pp. 35-38.
