Herman Dehlman
Encyclopedia
Herman J. Dehlman nicknamed "Dutch", was an American
Major League Baseball
first baseman
who played a total of six seasons at the top level of professional baseball, four in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
(National Association), and two in the National League
, a "Major League".
of the National Association on May 2, 1872. While playing in all 37 of the team's games that season, 36 of them as the starting first baseman, he batted
.220 and scored 30 runs.
In 1873, Dehlman established career highs in several offensive categories, such as runs scored (50), batting average (.235), and on-base percentage (.265). He, additionally, led all first basemen in games played with 54, and led the league in a couple of defensive categories such as putouts and double plays. He played one more season in Brooklyn, in 1874, and he batted .225 in 53 games.
Dehlman joined the St. Louis Brown Stockings
for the 1875 season, again as the starting first baseman. Despite a low batting average of .224, it was his most productive season offensively. He played in a career high 67 games, while also establishing career highs in hits
(57), doubles
(12), triples
, and slugging percentage (.285). He was among the leaders with career highs in stolen base
s (23), and led the league with 11 bases on balls
.
The National Association folded following the 1875 season, which was replaced by the National League, the first "Major" league in baseball history. Dehlman continued to play with the Brown Stockings when they made the move to the new league. According to official resources, Dehlman never managed
, known in the day as a "Team Captain", but he is credited as being a player-captain-manager for the Brown Stockings in 1876 (manager referring to a similar capacity to what a General Manager
does in the modern game). Records indicate the on-field managers for that season as Mase Graffen
and George McManus
. In 64 games that season, he batted a career low .184, but did lead the league in putouts for the third time in his career. His playing career lasted one more season with the Brown Stockings, but his hitting did not improve, so consequently, Dehlman's position at first base was taken over by Art Croft
during the 1877 season as St. Louis slipped to fourth place. He finished 307 game career with a .214 batting average, scored 226 runs, and had 83 RBIs
.
. Before the 1885 season began, the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
professional baseball club hired him as their team manager. Shortly after arriving in town, he contracted typhoid fever
and died a few days later at the age of 33. He was survived by his wife and his six year old son, and is interred at City Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who played a total of six seasons at the top level of professional baseball, four in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(National Association), and two in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, a "Major League".
Career
He began his professional career with the Chelsea, New York base ball club, before making his debut with the Brooklyn AtlanticsBrooklyn Atlantics
The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
of the National Association on May 2, 1872. While playing in all 37 of the team's games that season, 36 of them as the starting first baseman, 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 :...
.220 and scored 30 runs.
In 1873, Dehlman established career highs in several offensive categories, such as runs scored (50), batting average (.235), and on-base percentage (.265). He, additionally, led all first basemen in games played with 54, and led the league in a couple of defensive categories such as putouts and double plays. He played one more season in Brooklyn, in 1874, and he batted .225 in 53 games.
Dehlman joined the St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
for the 1875 season, again as the starting first baseman. Despite a low batting average of .224, it was his most productive season offensively. He played in a career high 67 games, while also establishing career highs in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(57), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(12), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and slugging percentage (.285). He was among the leaders with career highs in stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (23), and led the league with 11 bases on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
.
The National Association folded following the 1875 season, which was replaced by the National League, the first "Major" league in baseball history. Dehlman continued to play with the Brown Stockings when they made the move to the new league. According to official resources, Dehlman never managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, known in the day as a "Team Captain", but he is credited as being a player-captain-manager for the Brown Stockings in 1876 (manager referring to a similar capacity to what a General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
does in the modern game). Records indicate the on-field managers for that season as Mase Graffen
Mase Graffen
S. Mason Graffen was a Manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League for part of the 1876 season.His career managerial record was 39-17 in 56 games.-External links:*...
and George McManus
George McManus (baseball)
George McManus was a manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League for part of the 1876 season and all of the 1877 season....
. In 64 games that season, he batted a career low .184, but did lead the league in putouts for the third time in his career. His playing career lasted one more season with the Brown Stockings, but his hitting did not improve, so consequently, Dehlman's position at first base was taken over by Art Croft
Art Croft
Arthur F. "Art" Croft was an American Major League Baseball player. He played for three teams during three year professional and Major League career.-Career:...
during the 1877 season as St. Louis slipped to fourth place. He finished 307 game career with a .214 batting average, scored 226 runs, and had 83 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
Post-career
After his playing days were over, Dehlman became the manager for the professional baseball team in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. Before the 1885 season began, the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
professional baseball club hired him as their team manager. Shortly after arriving in town, he contracted typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
and died a few days later at the age of 33. He was survived by his wife and his six year old son, and is interred at City Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre.