- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
John Wesley Glasscock (1857-1947) was the premier shortstop of the 19th century. Some of his records (fielding % & assists) stood until Ozzie Smith a century later. No slouch at the plate, Glasscock averaged .290 and led the NL in ’90 for the Giants.
- In ’89, discovered the young Amos Rusie and signed him for the Hoosiers’ final season
- Went 6 for 6 on 9/27/90 to secure the batting title over Billy Hamilton
- One of the toughest to strikeout of his era, averaging one every 33 ABs
- Was selected as SABR's Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend for 2016
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
Jeremiah Dennis Denny (1859-1927) was a rare ambidextrous third baseman who played professionally for over 20 years, 14 in the majors. He was the last position player to play his entire career without a glove. Denny led the ’84 Providence Grays to the first inter-league post-season tournament championship as the NL beat the AA in 1884.
- Holds the MLB record for chances by a third baseman in a game: 16 on 8/17/82
- Denny’s remarkable ability to throw with either hand led him to forego the glove
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
William Byron Burdick (1859-1949) came to professional baseball relatively late in life. His first known appearance for a minor league team, the Eau Claire Lumbermen of the Northwestern League, was at age 26 in 1886. Perhaps because of his “advanced” age, he didn’t waste time getting a shot in the big leagues. 1887 saw him pitching for Oshkosh before he climbed to the Western Association’s Omaha Omahogs in ‘88, the same year he debuted with the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League. The rookie started with a bang, edging Cap Anson’s first-place White Stockings 2-1 on July 23. He would win ten that season with only a .500 record but a fine 2.81 ERA. Burdick came back in ‘89 with the Hoosiers but saw little action, going 2-4 in ten games and seeing his ERA soar to 4.53.
- His MLB tenure ended, Burdick returned to the WA’s Sioux City Corn Huskers in 1889 and ‘90
- The Austin MN native closed his pro ball adventure near home with the Minneapolis Millers in 1891 where he started three games with a 1-0 record
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
Henry J. Boyle (1860-1932) was known to his adoring fans as “Handsome Henry” during his ML career with the St. Louis Maroons & Indianapolis Hoosiers from 1884-89. His managers may have focused more on his mediocre performance than his comely appearance. The sturdy right-hander compiled an 89-111 record on the mound over his six seasons with a respectable lifetime 3.06 ERA. In an 1886 New York World article titled “How Men Pitch Base-Ball” it was noted that Boyle “depends chiefly upon the effectiveness of the ‘up-in-shoot’ and the terrific speed with which he drives in the straight pitch.” In an 1884 contest with the Washington club, Boyle was the center of controversy as the game was forfeited to the Maroons after losing the argument that Boyle’s foul ball was now too lopsided to be used.
- Boyle’s last season in St. Louis was the team’s finale as well. He was the NL ERA champ that year for the hapless Maroons with a sterling 1.76 ERA and a dismal 9-15 record
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