John Campana

John Campana

• Height Unknown, Weight 185 lb.

• Born c. 1860 in Connecticut USA
• Died April 3, 1929 in Bridgeport, CT USA

BR Minors page (1883-1889)
BR Minors page (1890)

Biographical Information

John Campana played in the Minor Leagues for eight seasons from 1883 to 1890. He was mostly as a third baseman, but he was considered a strong all-around player who also was used frequently as a pitcher. He began his professional career in 1883, playing for both the Wilmington Quicksteps and the Brooklyn Grays of the Interstate Association. In 1884 he played with the Meriden club of the Connecticut State League, where he was a teammate of Connie Mack. He split 1885 between the Bridgeport Giants and Waterbury (which played in three different leagues that year), hitting a combined .283/?/.345 and going 4-1 as a pitcher. The next year, he was with Waterbury (.205/?/.264 in 60 G; 2-3, 2.20) and Brockton. In 1887, "Camp" hit .363/.393/.504 for the Lawrence/Salem team, with 104 runs and 38 doubles in 93 games. He led the New England League in doubles but did not make the top 10 in other departments in a high-scoring circuit. On the mound, he was 5-2.

Now with a wider profile outside of Connecticut, Campana was recruited to play with Omaha, NE for 1888, but was sold before he reported to the team. Campana spent most of 1888 between the Manchester Maroons (.283/?/.426, 71 R in 80 G) before spending September with the Hazleton Pugilists. He was 10th in the New England League in runs and tied for 6th with 8 home runs (even with former or future major leaguers Jim Cudworth, Ed Flanagan and John Kelty). In June, when he was among New England's top hitters, he was considered to be signed by Boston, but terms were not agreed on. That offseason he again signed with Omaha, but would not agree to a lower salary when the Western Association set a salary limit. He instead played in 1889 with the London Tecumsehs (.252/?/.361 in 31 G) and St. Joseph Clay Eaters (5 for 18).

After beginning 1890 playing with the independent Meriden Resolutes, Campana had his final minor league stop in the New York State League with the Utica Pent-Ups. He was primarily a pitcher for the club, posting a 6-7 record during the months of June and July. He did not play in 1891 due to a sore arm and was not able to come back to league ball afterwards.