Billy Geer
Encyclopedia
William Henry Harrison Geer, born as George Harrison Geer, (August 13, 1859 – After 1885), was an American
Major League Baseball
player who played most of his career as a shortstop
for five seasons and a total of seven teams. He is most notable for his status as possibly the youngest player in major league history.
, Geer made his professional baseball debut for the New York Mutuals
of the National Association
. The following season, while playing for the New Haven Elm Citys
, he was arrested along with his roommate, Henry Luff
, for burglary
of several hotel rooms.
of the National League
in . Currently, there is no known facts of his whereabouts after his retirement from baseball, including when and where he died.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who played most of his career as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for five seasons and a total of seven teams. He is most notable for his status as possibly the youngest player in major league history.
Career
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Geer made his professional baseball debut for the New York Mutuals
New York Mutuals
The Mutual Base Ball Club of New York was a leading American baseball club almost throughout its 20-year history. It was established during 1857, the year of the first baseball convention, just too late to be a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players. It was a charter...
of the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
. The following season, while playing for the New Haven Elm Citys
New Haven Elm Citys
The New Haven Elm Citys was a professional baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. The existed for one season, in the National Association in . The Elm City played 47 games during their existence, and had a win–loss record of 7–40. They played their home games at the Howard Avenue Grounds...
, he was arrested along with his roommate, Henry Luff
Henry Luff
Henry T. Luff was a Major League Baseball player. In four seasons, he played for six different teams in four different leagues. While he played in a total of just 117 games, he managed to play at least 10 games at four different positions, including pitcher, and at least one game at every position...
, for burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
of several hotel rooms.
Age controversy
At age 15 years 63 days, he is credited as the youngest player to ever appear in a Major League Baseball game. There is controversy about his age, or the fact that the National Association has not been officially credited as a "major league". If you accept his birthday, then he didn't actually make his major league debut until the age of 18 years, 3 months, when he played for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds (1876-1880)
The Cincinnati Reds, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, were a professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio that played from 1876–1880. The Reds were a charter member of the National League.-History:...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in . Currently, there is no known facts of his whereabouts after his retirement from baseball, including when and where he died.