Sam Barkley
Encyclopedia
Samuel E. Barkley was an American
Major League Baseball
second baseman
. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia
, he played for four different teams in six seasons from to .
of the Northwestern League
, and was a member of their championship team in . He was still with the team when they joined the American Association
for the season, and was the everyday second baseman. He batted
.306 that season and led the league in doubles
with 39. Following the season, Toledo and the St. Louis Browns
made an arrangement in the off-season for a trade involving several players, but the trade broke down after the waiting period and only Barkley and one other player actually played with St. Louis. After a lawsuit it was estimated that Barkley had been valued for $800. Chris von der Ahe
later claimed that Barkley's value was $1,000, but that may have been the asking price.
In March 1886
, Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe
offered Barkley for $1000 to the first team to pay the money. Billy Barnie
was able to have Barkley sign an undated contract with the Baltimore Orioles
and wired the asking price to Von der Ahe, but he had already secured a deal with owner of the Pittsburg Alleghenys
, Denny McKnight
, and Sam was convinced to play for the Allegheny club instead. The American Association suspended and fined Barkley for signing with Pittsburgh this action. Barkley sued the Association, but they settled out of court with suspension being lifted although the fine stayed in place. Baltimore was offered and accepted Milt Scott
as payment.
That first season with Pittsburgh, the season, he hit .266 with 31 doubles, and he also stole
22 bases, while playing in 122 games. He stats declined significantly in , only playing in 89 games, hitting only .224. After the season was over, Pittsburgh sold him to the Kansas City Cowboys
of the American Association
.
He was given good playing time in by the Cowboys, playing in 116 games, but his batting average slid further down, to .216, but the season was not uneventful. On June 13, he hit for the cycle, and he was given the managerial reins, which lasted 58 games and 21 wins.
maker. He died at the age of 53 in his hometown of Wheeling, and was buried in Peninsula Cemetery.
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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, he played for four different teams in six seasons from to .
Career
Barkley began his career with the Toledo Blue StockingsToledo Blue Stockings
The Toledo Blue Stockings formed as a minor league baseball team in Toledo, Ohio in 1883. They won the Northwestern League championship in 1883. Their home ballpark was League Park....
of the Northwestern League
Northwestern League
The Northwestern League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1883–1884, and again from 1886-1887. It was founded by Elias Matter in 1883.-1883-1884:...
, and was a member of their championship team in . He was still with the team when they joined 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...
for the season, and was the everyday second baseman. He batted
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 :...
.306 that season and led the league in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
with 39. Following the season, Toledo and 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...
made an arrangement in the off-season for a trade involving several players, but the trade broke down after the waiting period and only Barkley and one other player actually played with St. Louis. After a lawsuit it was estimated that Barkley had been valued for $800. Chris von der Ahe
Chris von der Ahe
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur, best known as the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association, now known as the St. Louis Cardinals....
later claimed that Barkley's value was $1,000, but that may have been the asking price.
In March 1886
1886 in baseball
-Champions:* World Series St. Louis Browns 4, Chicago White Stockings 2*National League: Chicago White Stockings*American Association: St. Louis Browns-National League final standings:-American Association final standings:...
, Browns owner Chris Von der Ahe
Chris von der Ahe
Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von der Ahe was a German-American entrepreneur, best known as the owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the American Association, now known as the St. Louis Cardinals....
offered Barkley for $1000 to the first team to pay the money. Billy Barnie
Billy Barnie
William Harrison Barnie , nicknamed "Bald Billy," was an American manager and catcher in Major League Baseball. Born in New York City, he played as a right fielder in the National Association in 1874-1875...
was able to have Barkley sign an undated contract with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
and wired the asking price to Von der Ahe, but he had already secured a deal with owner of the Pittsburg Alleghenys
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...
, Denny McKnight
Denny McKnight
Harmar Denny McKnight was the founding owner of the Allegheny Baseball Club of Pittsburgh in anticipation of playing in the new American Association. He founded the club on October 15, . The club then became known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys...
, and Sam was convinced to play for the Allegheny club instead. The American Association suspended and fined Barkley for signing with Pittsburgh this action. Barkley sued the Association, but they settled out of court with suspension being lifted although the fine stayed in place. Baltimore was offered and accepted Milt Scott
Milt Scott
Milton Parker Scott was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors between and . He is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.-External links:...
as payment.
That first season with Pittsburgh, the season, he hit .266 with 31 doubles, and he also stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
22 bases, while playing in 122 games. He stats declined significantly in , only playing in 89 games, hitting only .224. After the season was over, Pittsburgh sold him to 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...
.
He was given good playing time in by the Cowboys, playing in 116 games, but his batting average slid further down, to .216, but the season was not uneventful. On June 13, he hit for the cycle, and he was given the managerial reins, which lasted 58 games and 21 wins.
Post-career
After his career in baseball ended, Barkley became a cigarCigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
maker. He died at the age of 53 in his hometown of Wheeling, and was buried in Peninsula Cemetery.