Josh Bunce
Encyclopedia
Joshua Bunce was an American
left fielder
and umpire
in Major League Baseball
who played in one game for the Brooklyn Hartfords
in and was hitless
in four at bat
s.
Born in Brooklyn
, New York
, Bunce had been a member of several amateur baseball clubs in the New York area, such as the Nassau Club and the Brooklyn Baseball Club. He served as captain of the Nassau Club. Bunce also served as an umpire
in the National League
for seven games in 1877 – four of them prior to his sole appearance as a player and three after – and was umpiring amateur baseball games in the New York area as late as 1897. Bunce also worked for the Brooklyn Fire Department. He died of heart disease
in his home on Bedford Avenue at age 64.
in Brooklyn. According to The New York Times
, "The Hartfords were short the services of three of their best players—York
, Holdsworth, and Ferguson. Their places, however, were very acceptably filled by Pike
and Bunce, two players, and Habridge
, the regular substitute of the club." The Hartfords beat the Cincinnati Red Stockings 5 to 1. Terry Larkin
was the winning pitcher and Amos Booth
was the loser. Bunce played left field and made one putout
. The reporter for the Times summarized, "The game was tedious and uninteresting, and was witnessed by about 200 persons."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left fielder
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...
and umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
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...
who played in one game for the Brooklyn Hartfords
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
in and was hitless
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....
in four at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Bunce had been a member of several amateur baseball clubs in the New York area, such as the Nassau Club and the Brooklyn Baseball Club. He served as captain of the Nassau Club. Bunce also served as an umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
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...
for seven games in 1877 – four of them prior to his sole appearance as a player and three after – and was umpiring amateur baseball games in the New York area as late as 1897. Bunce also worked for the Brooklyn Fire Department. He died of heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
in his home on Bedford Avenue at age 64.
Major league game
Bunce played one game for the National League Hartfords on August 27, ; the game was played at Union GroundsUnion Grounds
Union Grounds was a baseball park located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. The grounds opened in 1862 and was the first baseball park enclosed entirely by a fence, thereby allowing proprietor William Cammeyer or his tenant to charge admission, permitting only paying customers to...
in Brooklyn. According to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, "The Hartfords were short the services of three of their best players—York
Tom York (baseball)
Thomas Jefferson "Tom" York was a 19th century Major League Baseball left fielder. Over the course of York's 15-season career, he racked up 1095 hits in 4002 at bats, for a .274 batting average...
, Holdsworth, and Ferguson. Their places, however, were very acceptably filled by Pike
Jay Pike
Jacob Emanuel Pike was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball during the 1877 season.-Baseball career:Pike batted and threw left-handed. He is credited as the first ballplayer named Jay to appear in a major league game...
and Bunce, two players, and Habridge
Bill Harbridge
William Arthur "Bill" Harbridge , also known as "Yaller Bill", was a Major League Baseball player who split his playing time between catcher and in the outfield for five different teams during his nine season career that lasted from through .-Career:He began his career in the last year of the...
, the regular substitute of the club." The Hartfords beat the Cincinnati Red Stockings 5 to 1. Terry Larkin
Terry Larkin
Frank S. "Terry" Larkin was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five teams during a six-season career.-Career:...
was the winning pitcher and Amos Booth
Amos Booth
Amos Smith Booth was a professional baseball player in the 1870s and 1880s. Booth's primary playing years were in 1876 and 1877 with the Cincinnati Reds. He had a .261 batting average his first year, and a .171 in 1877. Booth took a leave of absence from baseball until 1880 when he appeared in one...
was the loser. Bunce played left field and made one putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
. The reporter for the Times summarized, "The game was tedious and uninteresting, and was witnessed by about 200 persons."