- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
Elmer Ellsworth Sutcliffe (1862-1893) asked the famed Cap Anson for a tryout as a catcher. The Wheaton, IL native impressed “Uncle” Cap but wasn’t going to be a pushover. When Anson asked what he’d want to be paid, he is said to have replied “Well, Cap, I’ve been getting a dollar a day working out in Wheaton and I can’t afford to play ball for any less!” The 22-year-old signed on with the White Stockings for 2 years. Then, typical for the era, bounced from team to team: the Maroons, Wolverines, Spiders, Infants, Senators & finally, the Orioles in 1892. His lifetime BA of .288 was a composite of highs & lows. Sy’s best years were with Cleveland’s Infants (.329 in ’90) & .353 for the Senators in ’91 (the franchise’s 1st year, known then as the Statesmen).
- Although signed as a catcher, Sutcliffe had the versatility to play 1B, SS, and the outfield
- Sadly, the strapping 6’2” left-hander’s health gave out and he died at age 30, just months after his final game with Baltimore
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
John F. O’Brien (1867-1892) pitched four seasons in the majors, changing leagues every year. He played in the AA, the NL, & the Players’ League – all for Cleveland teams, and moved to the Boston Reds in the AA for the 1891 season, his last due to his untimely death from pneumonia the next year.
- Had signed with Cincinnati to play in ’92 but passed away at his home in Troy, NY
- Was 18-13 for the pennant-winning Boston club in ‘91
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
Edwin John McKean (1864-1919) was Cleveland’s shortstop throughout their major league existence in the 19th century. He began with the Blues (Forest Cities) in 1887 and remained with the club as it became the Spiders. The Robisons transferred their players to their St Louis team in 1899 where McKean finished his MLB tenure as a Perfecto. Baseball’s official guides list Ed’s year of birth as 1864 but biographer Rich Blevins makes the case that McKean may have been but a callow youth when he debuted with American Association Blues. Blevins presents evidence that McKean was born in 1869, making him a mere 17 as a big-league rookie. He had come up with the Youngstowns in 1884 and got his first professional hit off Cannon Ball Bill Stemmyer. He and “Stem” would be teammates with the Spiders in ‘88. McKean was a fine hitter, compiling a .302 BA over his 13 years in the majors. His career OBP was .364.
- Career offensive stats rank McKean with the greats of his era: he is one of only four 19th century players to have 2000 hits, 1000 runs, 1000 RBI, and 300 stolen bases
- Steady and durable, he always had 500+ at-bats
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Blues (AA)
- League: American Association
Thomas Joseph Loftus (1856-1910) played only 9 MLB games, as an outfielder, before moving on to his true calling: managing. He piloted six clubs in four leagues: the Union Assoc’s Brewers, the Cleveland Blues of the AA, Cleveland Spiders of the NL, the Reds in their first NL year, the Chicago Orphans also of the NL, and Washington Senators of the AL. In each managerial stint, Loftus had an ownership stake in the team.
- Managed over 1000 ML games with a record of 454-580
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Blues (AA)
- League: American Association
Robert James Gilks (1864-1944) was an outfielder and pitcher for the Cleveland Blues, Spiders and Baltimore Orioles from 1887-1893. In the OF, Gilks was credited with piloting the strategy of trapping fly balls in order to get force-outs. He was said to have been the first OF to get an unassisted double-play.
- Another first: two bases-loaded doubles in the same inning, Aug. 5, 1890
- Played on the famed Orioles squad with McGraw, Keeler, Kelley, and Wilbert Robinson in ’92-3
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