- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Michael J. Slattery (1866-1904) was an outfielder for five teams over five seasons, including the 1888 Champion NY Giants. He debuted for the Union Association’s Boston entry (the Reds) in 1884 during that league’s only season. Slattery returned to MLB in 1888 with the NL’s Giants for two years before jumping to the NY Player’s League team in 1890. He closed his career with the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Statesmen in ’91.
- Averaged .251 at the plate over his ML tenure
- Best year was in the PL, with a .307 BA, 126 hits, 5 HRs and 18 steals
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
William A. Sharsig (1855-1902) was the esteemed GM and field manager for the Philadelphia Athletics in both their incarnations from 1886-1891. As the founder and co-owner of the original Athletics franchise, Sharsig named himself field general several times. When the Players’ League folded in 1891, he continued in baseball with the Western League’s Indianapolis club.
- His prestige in MLB prompted the NL to invite him to consult on the decision to move the mound to 60’6” in 1893
- A Philadelphian born and bred, Sharsig died there at age 46 on the eve of accepting Connie Mack’s offer to return as business manager
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
Edward William Seward (nee Sourhardt) (1867-1947) was just 20 years old when he teamed with Gus Weyhing on the mound as the Athletics’ formidable starting duo, combining for 51 of the team’s 63 wins. “Kid” Seward had begun in the minors at 16 so was something of a veteran when Philadelphia made him their ace. Ed started and finished 110 games in ’87 and ’88, winning 60. He was on fire in 1888, leading the American Association in strikeouts and shutouts while hurling a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Red Stockings on July 25. He went 35-19 with a 2.01 ERA. The phenom began to burn out the following year but still posted a strong 21-15 season. His final year with the A’s, 1890, saw the Kid fall off to 6-12. A brief look with the Cleveland Spiders the following year was his last, starting a mere three games and winning two. His mound-mate Weyhing matched his no-hitter a week after Ed’s. Nicknamed “Rubber Arm,” Weyhing indeed proved the more durable, going on to a 14-year career. Nevertheless, for a couple of seasons, these two strong-armed youngsters really lit it up in the city of brotherly love.
- Seward’s overall record was 89-72 with a 3.40 ERA and 589 strikeouts
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Red Stockings (AA)
- League: American Association
William I. Serad (1863-1925) pitched for two major-league teams, the Buffalo Bisons and Cincinnati Reds, from 1884-88. His entire time in pro ball included seven teams over eight years. His performance in the minors was consistently better, earning him chances where he failed to rise above mediocrity, attested by his ML 35-55, 4.13 ERA record. Billy surrendered 34 HRs and was particularly victimized by Anson’s White Stockings who jumped on 15 of his offerings. He appears to have been plagued by nerves, in evidence during his debut when he walked 3 and scored 2 on wild pitches in the first inning. As a weak hitter, the manager had nowhere else to put him until he could settle down. Unlike better-hitting pitchers, Billy had to make it solely on his mound prowess which didn’t quite measure up.
- Billy wasn’t a total failure by any means. In his rookie year he won 16 of the Bisons’ 62 victories en route to a third-place finish
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
John Emmett Seery (1861-1930) played the outfield for and with some of the game’s most colorful characters in the early era of baseball. He debuted with the Baltimore Monumentals in 1884 Seery led his Union League team in batting with a .311 BA. Played under John Montgomery Ward (Ward’s Wonders of Brooklyn) and Mike “King” Kelly (Kelly’s Killers of Cincinnati) during a tumultuous age as teams and leagues were starting and folding abruptly.
- In ’86 with the St Louis Maroons, led the league in games played with 126
- Followed the team’s owner, Henry Lucas, to Indianapolis with the Hoosiers for 3 years
- Demonstrating a good eye, consistently ranked in the top 10 in walks
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