Buttercup Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Lewis Pessano Dickerson (October 11, 1858 - July 23, 1920) was a 19th century Major League Baseball
outfielder
. Born in Tyaskin, Maryland
, he played a total of seven seasons in the majors, splitting time between eight teams in three different leagues. He is credited as becoming the first Italian-American to play in the majors.
in the outfield, but did not find himself a regular starting position until the following year. In 1879, he took over the regular left field
job replacing Charley Jones
, who had departed for the Boston Red Caps
. That season proved to be his best season in the majors; he batted
.294, drove in 57 runs, and his 14 triples led the league.
Dickerson departed the team the next season, moving on to the Troy Trojans, where he played mainly in center field
. He then relocated to the Worcester Ruby Legs later that same season and split time in center with Harry Stovey
. In , he moved over to left field and had a very productive season, batting .316. He wouldn't play in the majors again until , when he changed teams once again, playing 85 games with the Pittsburg Alleghenys
. His production went down significantly, and he hit just .249.
The next two seasons, he spent travelling from team to team, four in total. Three of those team in the season alone. His best showing was with the St. Louis Maroons
of the Union Association
when he hit .365 in 46 games. In , he played in 5 games for the Buffalo Bisons before his career came to an end.
. In 1979, he was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. Born in Tyaskin, Maryland
Tyaskin, Maryland
Tyaskin is an unincorporated community in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
, he played a total of seven seasons in the majors, splitting time between eight teams in three different leagues. He is credited as becoming the first Italian-American to play in the majors.
Career
Dickerson began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in at the age of 19, and played 29 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
in the outfield, but did not find himself a regular starting position until the following year. In 1879, he took over the regular left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
job replacing Charley Jones
Charley Jones
Charles Wesley Jones was an American left fielder in the National Association and Major League Baseball who hit 56 home runs and batted .298 during his twelve-year career...
, who had departed for the Boston Red Caps
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. That season proved to be his best season in the majors; he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.294, drove in 57 runs, and his 14 triples led the league.
Dickerson departed the team the next season, moving on to the Troy Trojans, where he played mainly in center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. He then relocated to the Worcester Ruby Legs later that same season and split time in center with Harry Stovey
Harry Stovey
Harry Duffield Stovey, born Harry Duffield Stowe was a 19th century Major League Baseball player and the first player in major league history to hit 100 home runs...
. In , he moved over to left field and had a very productive season, batting .316. He wouldn't play in the majors again until , when he changed teams once again, playing 85 games with the Pittsburg Alleghenys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. His production went down significantly, and he hit just .249.
The next two seasons, he spent travelling from team to team, four in total. Three of those team in the season alone. His best showing was with the St. Louis Maroons
St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers
300px|thumb|right|1888 Indianapolis HoosiersThe St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1884-1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due...
of the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
when he hit .365 in 46 games. In , he played in 5 games for the Buffalo Bisons before his career came to an end.
Post-career
Dickerson died at the age of 61 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was interred at Loudon Park CemeteryLoudon Park Cemetery
Loudon Park Cemetery a subsidiary of Stewart Enterprises, Inc., the second largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States, is a cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. It was incorporated in 1853 on the site of the "Loudon" estate, previously owned by a local merchant and politician...
. In 1979, he was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame is a nonprofit institution honoring exceptional U.S. athletes of Italian descent. Since its founding in 1977, more than 200 Italian Americans have been inducted into this hall of fame....
.