Farmer Steelman
Encyclopedia
Morris James "Farmer" Steelman (June 29, 1875 - September 16, 1944) was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Louisville Colonels
, Brooklyn Superbas
, and Philadelphia Athletics
from 1899 to 1902.
. He started his professional baseball career in 1895 with his hometown team, which played in the South New Jersey League. The following season, he moved to York of the Pennsylvania State League and batted .277 in 12 games. Steelman then played in the Atlantic League in 1897. In 1898, he started the season in the Southern League
, but when that circuit folded, he returned north to Norfolk.
For the next few seasons, Steelman split time between the Eastern League
and the majors. He hit well for the Syracuse Stars in 1899 and made his MLB debut in September with the Louisville Colonels. Steelman went just 1 for 15 at Louisville. In January 1900, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas. He apparently sat on the bench all season, appearing in just one game that October. He was the only rookie
to play for Brooklyn in 1900.
Steelman was released by the Superbas in May 1901. He joined the Eastern League's Hartford Indians and batted .292 for them in 90 games. In August, he jumped to the Philadelphia Athletics of the new American League
and batted .261 there. Steelman started off slow in 1902 and returned to the minors. He played his last major league game on May 22.
From 1902 to 1909, Steelman never batted above .244. He played in the Pacific Coast League for one year, 1904, and led the league's catchers in errors
. Steelman then went back east for 1905 and had stints in the Eastern League, New York State League, and Tri-State League
. After batting .167 in 1909, he retired from organized baseball.
In his 14-year career, Steelman never batted .300 over the course of a season. He had a career .218 batting average in the majors, with 0 home run
s; he also had a career .228 batting average in the minors, with exactly 4 home runs in 899 games.
Steelman died at the age of 69 in Merchantville, New Jersey
.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
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...
. He played for the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
, Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, and Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
from 1899 to 1902.
Career
Steelman was born in Millville, New JerseyMillville, New Jersey
Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
. He started his professional baseball career in 1895 with his hometown team, which played in the South New Jersey League. The following season, he moved to York of the Pennsylvania State League and batted .277 in 12 games. Steelman then played in the Atlantic League in 1897. In 1898, he started the season in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, but when that circuit folded, he returned north to Norfolk.
For the next few seasons, Steelman split time between the Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and the majors. He hit well for the Syracuse Stars in 1899 and made his MLB debut in September with the Louisville Colonels. Steelman went just 1 for 15 at Louisville. In January 1900, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas. He apparently sat on the bench all season, appearing in just one game that October. He was the only rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
to play for Brooklyn in 1900.
Steelman was released by the Superbas in May 1901. He joined the Eastern League's Hartford Indians and batted .292 for them in 90 games. In August, he jumped to the Philadelphia Athletics of the new American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and batted .261 there. Steelman started off slow in 1902 and returned to the minors. He played his last major league game on May 22.
From 1902 to 1909, Steelman never batted above .244. He played in the Pacific Coast League for one year, 1904, and led the league's catchers in errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
. Steelman then went back east for 1905 and had stints in the Eastern League, New York State League, and Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
. After batting .167 in 1909, he retired from organized baseball.
In his 14-year career, Steelman never batted .300 over the course of a season. He had a career .218 batting average in the majors, with 0 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s; he also had a career .228 batting average in the minors, with exactly 4 home runs in 899 games.
Steelman died at the age of 69 in Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville, New Jersey
Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 3,821....
.