Gene Derby

Eugene A. Derby

• Bats Left, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 7", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut September 3, 1885
• Final Game September 30, 1885
• Born February 3, 1860 in Fitchburg, MA USA
• Died September 13, 1917 in Waterbury, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

A Massachusetts native, Gene Derby first played in the minor leagues further south, with Lancaster, PA in 1884, and then had a terrific season for the 1885 Norfolk team in the Eastern League, playing catcher and hitting .373 in 48 games. He then came to the majors and played ten games that September with the Baltimore Orioles. While he didn't hit much, the team hit only .219 that year and the regular catcher, Bill Traffley, hit .154. Derby returned to the Eastern League in 1886 and again had the highest batting average on his team, the Waterbury Brassmen.

The red-headed catcher's final season as a regular in the minors was in 1890 with Troy in the New York State League, where he batted .265 and led the league in games caught for the pennant-winning club. He stayed in Troy afterwards, filling in for a few games in 1891 and becoming the team's groundskeeper in 1892. He was in the local news in 1893 when his son drowned in a boating accident. He lived at points afterwards in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut with his wife and daughter.