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From Banjos to Baseballs

This third baseman did not wear a glove!!

If the last quiz about one of the greatest banjo player's of all times Derby roots came as a surprise, the Derby connection of the last Major League position player to play his entire career without using a fielding glove will be equally surprising. The man pictured above achieved local notoriety as the manager of the Derby Angels in the Connecticut League which was a professional league in the early 1900's. He lived on Elizabeth Street. Baseball was a big deal in Derby back then. In 1895, Derby had built a baseball stadium that was considered the finest in the entire state.

However, before he arrived he had a great career in "major" league baseball, including hitting the only home run in the first post season matchup between the National League and American Association way back in 1884.

He really was quite an amazing player. When he first started playing, it was not unusual for players to go without gloves while in the field. However, he is considered to be the very last major leaguer to play his entire career without wearing a glove. On top of that he was ambidextrous - which would have been a lot easier without wearing a glove! He also holds another distinction which may still be a major league record. In 1882, he set a major league record for fielding chances by a third baseman in a game with 16. The game did go 18 innings, but 16 chances at third base by someone not wearing a glove would have been extraordinary no matter how long the game.

In an earlier quiz, we identified three other major league players with Derby connections, and when this quiz is over, we'll have to add this gloveless wonder to the list. However, for this quiz, we simply want the name of this major leaguer with Derby ties.

Our thanks to Randy Ritter who researched this tidbit of Derby history. Incidentally, he was the only one to guess the correct name for that Derby baseball stadium in a quiz that dates back more than a decade!

The "Gloveless" major league player is:

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Our last quiz featured a Derby native who achieved fame as one of the greatest banjo players of all time. Click here to learn who he was.

To see our earlier quizzes and learn more about Derby's unique history, click here.

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