Fatty Briody
Encyclopedia
Charles F. "Fatty" Briody (August 13, 1858 – June 22, 1903), nicknamed "Alderman," was a Major League Baseball
catcher
who played eight seasons in the early days of baseball. Briody was born in Lansingburgh, New York
, 4 miles outside of Troy, New York
, where the Troy Haymakers
began playing in in the first professional baseball league. One biography of Briody indicates that he watched Haymakers games as a boy.
at age 21 in . Briody played only one game with the Trojans, going 0-for-4 batting and committing 3 errors as catcher.
Briody made it back to the major leagues in as the catcher
for the Cleveland Blues
. He played the 1882, , and part of the season with Cleveland. Briody had a career batting average
of only .228, but he proved to be a solid defensive catcher, with 437 putout
s, 112 assists
, and 6 double play
s in 1884. In the middle of the 1884 season, Briody jumped leagues, joining the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds
of the Union Association
. He played in 22 games with the Outlaw Reds, batting .337 in 89 at bat
s.
In , Briody joined the St. Louis Maroons
of the National League
. On switching from the Union Association
to the National League
, Briody's batting average dropped .337 to .195. The Maroons granted him to the league after the season and he was subsequently obtained by the Kansas City Cowboys
of the National League
for the season. Briody played in 56 games for the Cowboys, batting .237.
Before the season, Briody was again granted to the league, this time when the Cowboys folded. He was then obtained by Detroit Wolverines
, a team loaded with talent, including Hall of Famers Dan Brouthers
, Sam Thompson
, and Ned Hanlon. Briody played in 37 games, serving as the back-up catcher to Charlie Ganzel
. The Wolverines won the National League pennant
that year, and went on to defeat the St. Louis Browns
in the 1887 World Series
. In , Briody played his final season in the major leagues with the Kansas City Cowboys
of the American Association
.
, where he became a Committeeman
for the Seventeenth Ward
. He also conducted a trucking business, doing work for various companies. He died in 1903 at age 44 of dilation of the heart, and was returned to Troy, New York
and interred in St. John's Cemetery.
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...
catcher
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...
who played eight seasons in the early days of baseball. Briody was born in Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
, 4 miles outside of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, where the Troy Haymakers
Troy Haymakers
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball team.-History:Established in 1860 as the Union base ball club of neighboring Lansingburgh, New York, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant race of 1869 and joined the first professional league, the 1871 National...
began playing in in the first professional baseball league. One biography of Briody indicates that he watched Haymakers games as a boy.
Career
Briody made his major league debut with the Troy Trojans of the National LeagueNational 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...
at age 21 in . Briody played only one game with the Trojans, going 0-for-4 batting and committing 3 errors as catcher.
Briody made it back to the major leagues in as the catcher
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...
for the Cleveland Blues
Cleveland Blues (NL)
The Cleveland Blues were a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that operated in the National League from 1879 to 1884. In six seasons their best finish was third place in 1880. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on Sept. 13, 1883. Besides Daily, notable Blues players...
. He played the 1882, , and part of the season with Cleveland. Briody had a career 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 :...
of only .228, but he proved to be a solid defensive catcher, with 437 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, 112 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, and 6 double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in 1884. In the middle of the 1884 season, Briody jumped leagues, joining the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds
Cincinnati Outlaw Reds
The Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of 1884, also called the Cincinnati Unions, were a member of the short-lived Union Association. One of the league's best teams, they finished third with a record of 69-36. The team was owned by former Cincinnati Red Stockings owner Justus Thorner and John McLean, and...
of the 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...
. He played in 22 games with the Outlaw Reds, batting .337 in 89 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
In , Briody joined the St. Louis Maroons
St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers
300px|thumb|right|1888 Indianapolis HoosiersThe St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1884-1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due...
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...
. On switching from the 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...
to 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...
, Briody's batting average dropped .337 to .195. The Maroons granted him to the league after the season and he was subsequently obtained by the Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (National League)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a National League that played one season, . They played at Association Park and finished with a 30-91 record. They finished in seventh place, ahead of another new team, the Washington Nationals. They were not connected to the Union Association Cowboys.The Cowboys were...
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...
for the season. Briody played in 56 games for the Cowboys, batting .237.
Before the season, Briody was again granted to the league, this time when the Cowboys folded. He was then obtained by 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...
, a team loaded with talent, including Hall of Famers 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...
, Sam Thompson
Sam Thompson
Samuel Luther Thompson was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. "Big Sam" was known for his offensive production and was second on the career home runs list at the time of his retirement...
, and Ned Hanlon. Briody played in 37 games, serving as the back-up catcher to Charlie Ganzel
Charlie Ganzel
Charles William Ganzel was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Paul Saints , Philadelphia Quakers , Detroit Wolverines and Boston Beaneaters . He batted and threw right-handed.A native of Waterford, Wisconsin, Ganzel came from a baseball family...
. The Wolverines won the National League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
that year, and went on to defeat the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 1887 World Series
1887 Detroit Wolverines season
The 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...
. In , Briody played his final season in the major leagues with the Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (American Association)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri for two seasons from to in the American Association. They were the third, and last incarnation of this franchise name, following the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association in and the Kansas City...
of 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...
.
Post-career
After his plaing career was over, Briody settled in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he became a Committeeman
Committeemen and Committeewomen
Committeemen and Committeewomen are functionaries within the apparatus of political parties in the United States.Committeemen and Committeewomen are typically chosen by voters in a primary election at the local level, such as a ward or township. They serve as members of their party's central...
for the Seventeenth Ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
. He also conducted a trucking business, doing work for various companies. He died in 1903 at age 44 of dilation of the heart, and was returned to Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and interred in St. John's Cemetery.