Andy Ridley

Andrew J. Ridley

• Born March 30, 1857 in Manhattan, NY USA
• Died February 18, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY USA

BR Register page (1886-1889)
BR Register page (1890)

Biographical Information

Andy Ridley was a long-time amateur player in the New York City area, who had a few stints in professional leagues from 1886 to 1890. Primarily an outfielder, he was small in height, but was a hard hitter who was called the "Home Run King" of Brooklyn's Arctic Park in 1880s, and he periodically worked as a pitcher later in his career.

While Ridley likely was playing amateur ball in the 1870s, his first league experience came with the Long Island A's of Maspeth, NY in the 1886 Eastern League, though that stint only lasted for a few weeks that May. In the spring of 1888 he spent some time with Norwalk, CT in the Connecticut State League. In April 1889 it was reported that he was one of several New Yorkers who signed to play with Birmingham, AL in the Southern League, though there is no evidence that he actually played with the club. Instead he returned to Norwalk, where he remained throughout the season, as the club competed in first the Middle States League and then the Atlantic Association.

In 1890, Ridley played with the Albany Senators in the New York State League, playing right field and leading the team in most offensive categories, despite leaving the team in mid-August. Ridley played with numerous teams around New York during these years, including the Acmes, Jersey Blues, and clubs representing Paterson, NJ, and Flushing, NY. Census records and city directories list Ridley as a clerk in the years prior to his death in 1930.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Andrew Ridley