Charlie Ganzel
Encyclopedia
Charles William Ganzel (June 18, 1862 - April 7, 1914) was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the St. Paul Saints (1884), Philadelphia Quakers
(1885-1886[start]), Detroit Wolverines
(1886[end]-1888) and Boston Beaneaters
(1889–1897). He batted and threw right-handed.
A native of Waterford, Wisconsin
, Ganzel came from a baseball family. His son, Babe
, was an outfielder
who played with the Senators
from 1927 to 1928, and his brother John
was a first baseman
for the Pirates
, Cubs
, Giants
, Highlanders
and Reds
from 1898–1908, and also managed
the Reds and the Tip-Tops
between 1908 and 1915. Two brothers and two sons also played in the minor leagues
.
Ganzel started his career in 1884 with the St. Paul team of the short lived Union Association
. In 1885 he signed with Philadelphia and made his debut in the National League
. Manager Harry Wright
engaged him as the everyday catcher as he remained with the team that season and part of 1886, when was purchased by the Detroit Wolverines.
In Detroit, Ganzel shared duties with Charlie Bennett
as he showed a significant improvement in his work, impressing many with his solid defense and strong throwing arm. At the end of 1888 he was sold to the Boston Beaneaters along with Hardy Richardson
, Dan Brouthers
, and Bennett for $25,000. That was the largest sum paid up to that time for four ball players and Boston obtained plenty of good advertising as well as four talented players who became headliners in the league.
When the Players League
took nearly all the star players from the National League in 1890, Ganzel remained with Boston as he refused to sign an agreement to go with the Brotherhood. During nine years he caught often filling in at first base, and was also a shore man in the outfield
. His most productive season came in 1894
, when he posted career-highs in batting average
(.278), runs
(51), triples
(six), home run
s (three) and runs batted in (56).
Ganzel played his final major league game in 1897. He continued playing and coaching
for strong teams around New England
.
In a 14-season career, Ganzel was a .259 hitter with 10 home runs and 412 RBI in 786 games. He also appeared in two World Championship Series
(1887
and 1892
).
Ganzel died in Quincy, Massachusetts
, at the age of 51.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
who played for the St. Paul Saints (1884), Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1885-1886[start]), Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
(1886[end]-1888) and Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1889–1897). He batted and threw right-handed.
A native of Waterford, Wisconsin
Waterford, Wisconsin
Waterford is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,048 at the 2000 census. The village is located mostly within the Town of Waterford...
, Ganzel came from a baseball family. His son, Babe
Babe Ganzel
Foster Pirie Ganzel was an outfielder who played baseball for the Washington Senators from 1927 to 1928. He batted and threw right-handed.A native of Malden, Massachusetts, Ganzel came from a family of baseball men...
, was an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played with the Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1927 to 1928, and his brother John
John Ganzel
John Henry Ganzel was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Ganzel batted and threw right-handed. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , New York Giants New York Highlanders and the Cincinnati Reds...
was a 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...
for the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from 1898–1908, and also managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the Reds and the Tip-Tops
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
between 1908 and 1915. Two brothers and two sons also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Ganzel started his career in 1884 with the St. Paul team of the short lived Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
. In 1885 he signed with Philadelphia and made his debut in 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...
. Manager Harry Wright
Harry Wright
William Henry "Harry" Wright was an English-born American professional baseball player, manager, and developer. He assembled, managed, and played center field for baseball's first fully professional team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings...
engaged him as the everyday catcher as he remained with the team that season and part of 1886, when was purchased by the Detroit Wolverines.
In Detroit, Ganzel shared duties with Charlie Bennett
Charlie Bennett
Charles Wesley Bennett was a catcher in Major League Baseball.-Career overview:Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Bennett played 15 seasons in the major leagues. He played in 1062 games, had a .340 on base percentage and collected 978 hits, 203 doubles, 67 triples, 55 home runs, and 533 RBIs...
as he showed a significant improvement in his work, impressing many with his solid defense and strong throwing arm. At the end of 1888 he was sold to the Boston Beaneaters along with Hardy Richardson
Hardy Richardson
Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson was a second basemen and outfielder mostly, who played in the Major Leagues for a number of teams throughout the 19th century. Most of Richardson's career was with the Buffalo Bisons...
, Dan Brouthers
Dan Brouthers
Dennis Joseph "Dan" Brouthers was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball whose career spanned the period from to , with a brief return in...
, and Bennett for $25,000. That was the largest sum paid up to that time for four ball players and Boston obtained plenty of good advertising as well as four talented players who became headliners in the league.
When the Players League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
took nearly all the star players from the National League in 1890, Ganzel remained with Boston as he refused to sign an agreement to go with the Brotherhood. During nine years he caught often filling in at first base, and was also a shore man in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
. His most productive season came in 1894
1894 in baseball
-Champions:*Temple Cup: New York Giants defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 0*National League: Baltimore Orioles-National League final standings:-Events:...
, when he posted career-highs in 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 :...
(.278), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(51), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(six), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (three) and runs batted in (56).
Ganzel played his final major league game in 1897. He continued playing and coaching
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for strong teams around New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
In a 14-season career, Ganzel was a .259 hitter with 10 home runs and 412 RBI in 786 games. He also appeared in two World Championship Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(1887
1887 in baseball
-National League final standings:-American Association final standings:-National League statistical leaders:-American Association statistical leaders:-January–March:...
and 1892
1892 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters defeated Cleveland Spiders, 5 games to 0 - First half of season :-Second half of season:-Overall record:-Events:...
).
Ganzel died in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, at the age of 51.
See also
- Second generation MLB players
- 1887 Detroit Wolverines season1887 Detroit Wolverines seasonThe 1887 Detroit Wolverines season was a season in American baseball. The team won the 1887 National League pennant, then defeated the St. Louis Browns in the 1887 World Series. The season was the team's 7th since it entered the National League in 1881...