John Haldeman
Encyclopedia
John Avery Haldeman was a journalist
who played one game for Major League Baseball
's Louisville Grays
in the 1877
season.
. He was the son of Louisville Times (later Louisville Courier-Journal) owner and Louisville Grays
president Walter Newman Haldeman
. He attended Washington and Lee University
and took an active part in athletics there. After graduation, he became the business manager for his father's newspaper. He also played first baseman
for the Eagle Juniors, an amateur baseball team in Louisville
.
Bill Craver
was unable to play in the game, and Grays manager Jack Chapman
decided to move second baseman
Joe Gerhardt
to shortstop and ask Haldeman to play second base. Haldeman did not manage a hit in four at bats against Cincinnati Red Stockings pitcher
Candy Cummings
, but he did sacrifice
teammate Orator Shafer to third base in the sixth inning; Shafer scored later in the inning. Haldeman also committed three errors in the field. The game marked the only time in baseball history that a reporter covering a team played in the game they were covering.
The Grays were having an excellent season until a seven-game losing streak in late August, prompting Haldeman to write a column in the Courier-Journal questioning the reason for the team's slide. The poor play continued on a road trip later in the season, causing the team to fall out of first place in the league and lose the pennant race
. This prompted Haldeman to question the performance of players such as pitcher Jim Devlin
, who he claimed had not used his best pitch during the entire road trip. He also openly questioned whether the team had deliberately thrown the pennant race. Haldeman's accusations eventually gained traction, and four players – Devlin, Craver, Al Nichols
, and George Hall – were found to have thrown games.
. The couple had three daughters: Jean Bruce (Haldeman) Wendling, Bessie Avery Haldeman, and Isabel Brown Haldeman. Haldeman died in Louisville, Kentucky
on September 17, 1899 and was buried in Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who played one game for 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...
's Louisville Grays
Louisville Grays
The Louisville Grays were a 19th century U.S. baseball team and charter member of the National League, based in Louisville, Kentucky. They played two seasons, 1876 and 1877, and compiled a record of 65–61. Their home games were at the Louisville Baseball Park. The Grays were owned by...
in the 1877
1877 in baseball
-Champions:*National League: Boston Red Caps*International Association: London‚ Ontario‚ Canada Tecumsehs*League Alliance: Indianapolis Hoosiers & Lowell Ladies' Men *New England Association: Lowell Ladies' Men...
season.
Early life
Haldeman was born on December 2, 1855 in Pewee Valley, KentuckyPewee Valley, Kentucky
Pewee Valley is a city in Oldham County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,436 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pewee Valley is located at ....
. He was the son of Louisville Times (later Louisville Courier-Journal) owner and Louisville Grays
Louisville Grays
The Louisville Grays were a 19th century U.S. baseball team and charter member of the National League, based in Louisville, Kentucky. They played two seasons, 1876 and 1877, and compiled a record of 65–61. Their home games were at the Louisville Baseball Park. The Grays were owned by...
president Walter Newman Haldeman
Walter Newman Haldeman
Walter N Haldeman Walter N Haldeman Walter N Haldeman (April 27, 1821 in Maysville, KY – May 13, 1902 in Louisville, Kentucky was an American newspaper publisher, owner, and businessman from Louisville, KY in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mr. Haldeman founded the Louisville Courier-Journal...
. He attended Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
and took an active part in athletics there. After graduation, he became the business manager for his father's newspaper. He also played 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...
for the Eagle Juniors, an amateur baseball team in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
1877 baseball season
On July 3, 1877, while Haldeman was reporting on the Louisville Grays baseball team, he made his only appearance in a Major League game. Louisville shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Bill Craver
Bill Craver
William H. Craver was an American Major League Baseball player from Troy, New York who played mainly as an infielder, but did play many games at catcher as well during his seven year career. He played for seven different teams, in two leagues...
was unable to play in the game, and Grays manager Jack Chapman
Jack Chapman
John Curtis "Jack" Chapman was an American Major League Baseball player and manager who was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing in the National Association when he played for the Brooklyn Atlantics and the St. Louis Brown Stockings. In , when the National League formed, he became the...
decided to move second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Joe Gerhardt
Joe Gerhardt
John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt , also known as "Move Up Joe", was an American Major League Baseball player from Washington, D.C. who played mainly as a second baseman over a 15 season career that spanned from 1873 to 1891...
to shortstop and ask Haldeman to play second base. Haldeman did not manage a hit in four at bats against Cincinnati Red Stockings pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Candy Cummings
Candy Cummings
William Arthur "Candy" Cummings was a professional baseball pitcher in the National Association and National League who was credited with inventing the curveball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.-Career:...
, but he did sacrifice
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
teammate Orator Shafer to third base in the sixth inning; Shafer scored later in the inning. Haldeman also committed three errors in the field. The game marked the only time in baseball history that a reporter covering a team played in the game they were covering.
The Grays were having an excellent season until a seven-game losing streak in late August, prompting Haldeman to write a column in the Courier-Journal questioning the reason for the team's slide. The poor play continued on a road trip later in the season, causing the team to fall out of first place in the league and lose the pennant race
Major League Baseball postseason
The Major League Baseball postseason is an elimination tournament held after the conclusion of Major League Baseball's regular season. It consists of one best-of-five series and two best-of-seven series...
. This prompted Haldeman to question the performance of players such as pitcher Jim Devlin
Jim Devlin
James Alexander Devlin was an American Major League Baseball player who played mainly as a first baseman early in his career, then as a pitcher in the latter part...
, who he claimed had not used his best pitch during the entire road trip. He also openly questioned whether the team had deliberately thrown the pennant race. Haldeman's accusations eventually gained traction, and four players – Devlin, Craver, Al Nichols
Al Nichols
Alfred Henry Nichols was an English Major League Baseball player for three seasons. Born in Worcester, England, he played for three different teams, and mainly played as a third baseman...
, and George Hall – were found to have thrown games.
Later life and death
On September 7, 1887, Haldeman married Anna Buchanan, who was the great-great-granddaughter of Kentucky pioneer William WhitleyWilliam Whitley
William Whitley , was an American pioneer born in what was then Augusta County, Virginia, the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Whitley...
. The couple had three daughters: Jean Bruce (Haldeman) Wendling, Bessie Avery Haldeman, and Isabel Brown Haldeman. Haldeman died in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
on September 17, 1899 and was buried in Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery.