- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
George J. Smith (1863-1927). A shortstop for 5 teams over 15 seasons, Germany once committed 7 intentional errors in a game to undermine the boasting of his pitcher that day, Phenomenal Smith. 14 errors were committed that day, the Bridegrooms lost 18-5, Germany and others were each fined $500, and Phenomenal was released. A below average hitter, Germany was an excellent defender and routinely finished in the league’s top five in many defensive categories for shortstops.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
William D. O’Brien (1863-1893) was an outfielder for the NY Metropolitans in his rookie year, 1887, and then played five years with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. A speedster, O’Brien stole 321 bases in his illness-shortened career, hitting .282 with an OBP of .344. One of those with the distinction of playing for Brooklyn’s pennant winners in the AA in ’89 and NL in 1890.
- Ill when he reported for spring training in ’93, team raised money and sent him to CO to heal
- The weakened O’Brien succumbed to typhoid fever at the age of 29
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
William Henry McGunnigle (1855-1899) was a most beloved field general, piloting his Brooklyn Bridegrooms to consecutive pennants in two leagues, the only man to accomplish that feat. The splendidly arrayed Irishman in his patent leather spikes and lavender trousers cut an unmistakeable figure on the diamond from his days in Buffalo in 1879 and ’80 to the rough-and-tumble National League of the 1890s. Always creative and sometimes diabolical, “Mac” pioneered signals from the dugout, sign-stealing, and may have invented the catcher’s glove along with his aforementioned removable-spike shiny shoes. Caught in the turmoil of the early 90s, Bill lost his post at the helm of the Bridegrooms as the Players’ League was reabsorbed into the NL and John Ward replaced him in Brooklyn. As a result, the manager with the highest winning percentage in franchise history never lasted long enough for Hall of Fame recognition.
- Nicknamed “Gunner” for his strong arm and, possibly, the hunting rifle he carried onto the field answering a call to replace an injured catcher for Brockton in 1873
- Died of injuries suffered when he was struck by a trolley back in Brockton
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
Michael J. Hughes (1866-1931) got 25 of his three-year career total 39 wins for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in his rookie season, 1888. That performance earned Hughes the opening day start for Brooklyn in 1889, but he fell to a lackluster 9-8 record that year. Hughes was traded to the Athletics in 1890, finishing his brief ML tenure going 1-3 in six games.
- In Brooklyn’s final year in the American Association, Hughes went 1-0 in the 1889 Series against the NY Giants, won by NY 6 games to 3
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
William Henry Holbert (1855-1935). Holbert was a catcher for 6 teams over 12 seasons and is perhaps best known as the player with the most career at bats without a home run (2,335). While a good defender, Bill was a weak hitter compiling a career BA of .208, with .228 OBP, .232 SLG, and an OPS+ of 47.
- One of the original umpires of the Player’s League in 1890
- Of his 486 hits, only 48 were for extra bases
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