Brooklyn Gladiators
Encyclopedia
The Brooklyn Gladiators were a Major League Baseball
team in the American Association
during the 1890 season. They finished ninth and last in the league with a 26-73 record.
The Gladiators were managed by Jim Kennedy
and played their home games at Ridgewood Park
. Their top-hitting regular was first baseman
Billy O'Brien
, who had a .278 batting average
, a .415 slugging percentage, and led the club by far in RBI
with 67. Their best pitcher
was Ed Daily
(10-15, 4.05), who was also their starting right fielder
when he was not pitching.
The Gladiators lasted for one season only, a year when Brooklyn boasted three professional ballclubs: Also competing for local fans' interest were the National League
's first-place Bridegrooms, who had been Brooklyn's American Association club from 1884 to 1889, and the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
of the Players' League, managed by future Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward
. By August, there were rumors that club management, frustrated by a lack of public interest, would move the struggling team to Washington, D.C. That midseason move never came to pass, and while 1891 did see the addition of the Washington Statesmen to the American Association's final season, neither Kennedy nor any Gladiator players were on the squad.
Of the 23 men who played for the Gladiators, only three—Daily, second baseman Joe Gerhardt
, and third baseman Jumbo Davis
—played professionally beyond the 1890 season. None played past July 1891.
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...
team in the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
during the 1890 season. They finished ninth and last in the league with a 26-73 record.
The Gladiators were managed by Jim Kennedy
Jim Kennedy (manager)
James C. Kennedy was a 19th century Major League Baseball manager. He was the manager of the Brooklyn Gladiators of the American Association during the 1890 season. He managed the Gladiators to a record of 26-73, a winning percentage of .263. The team was unable to finish the season,...
and played their home games at Ridgewood Park
Ridgewood Park
Ridgewood Park, also known as Grauer's Ridgewood Park or Wallace's Ridgewood Park , was a baseball ground located in Ridgewood, in the New York City borough of Queens...
. Their top-hitting regular was first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Billy O'Brien
Billy O'Brien
William Smith O'Brien was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He was a native of Albany, New York.O'Brien played for the St. Paul Saints and Kansas City Cowboys, both of the Union Association, in 1884. He also played for the National League Washington Senators and the Brooklyn Gladiators...
, who had a .278 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, a .415 slugging percentage, and led the club by far in RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
with 67. Their best pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
was Ed Daily
Ed Daily
Edward M. Daily , was a Major League Baseball player. He played seven seasons in the majors, from until , for the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Columbus Solons, Brooklyn Gladiators, New York Giants, Louisville Colonels, and Washington StatesmenDaily began his major league career as a...
(10-15, 4.05), who was also their starting right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
when he was not pitching.
The Gladiators lasted for one season only, a year when Brooklyn boasted three professional ballclubs: Also competing for local fans' interest were 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...
's first-place Bridegrooms, who had been Brooklyn's American Association club from 1884 to 1889, and the Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
Brooklyn Ward's Wonders
The Brooklyn Ward's Wonders was a team who played in the Players' League in 1890. The team's nickname derived from its superstar shortstop, hall of famer John Montgomery Ward. The team finished with a 76-56 record, good enough to finish in second place. Other notable players for Brooklyn that...
of the Players' League, managed by future Hall of Famer John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
. By August, there were rumors that club management, frustrated by a lack of public interest, would move the struggling team to Washington, D.C. That midseason move never came to pass, and while 1891 did see the addition of the Washington Statesmen to the American Association's final season, neither Kennedy nor any Gladiator players were on the squad.
Of the 23 men who played for the Gladiators, only three—Daily, second baseman Joe Gerhardt
Joe Gerhardt
John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt , also known as "Move Up Joe", was an American Major League Baseball player from Washington, D.C. who played mainly as a second baseman over a 15 season career that spanned from 1873 to 1891...
, and third baseman Jumbo Davis
Jumbo Davis
James J. "Jumbo" Davis , is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, between 1884 and 1891, for the Brooklyn Gladiators, St...
—played professionally beyond the 1890 season. None played past July 1891.