Ned Cuthbert
Encyclopedia
Edgar Edward "Ned" Cuthbert (June 20, 1845 – February 6, 1905) was an American professional baseball player.
Cuthbert's baseball career began in 1865 with the Keystone Club of Philadelphia. After two seasons as a second baseman and outfielder with the Keystones, he moved across town to the West Philadelphia club, playing only four games for them before joining Philadelphia Athletics. With Cuthbert, the Athletics won national championships in 1867 and 1868. A solid batsman and outfielder, Ned jumped to the Chicago White Stockings
in 1870.
Cuthbert was with a number of teams in the National Association
and its successor, the National League
, playing in Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis before retiring as a player after the 1877 season. In 1882, he came out of retirement to act as player/manager for St. Louis team of the newly formed American Association
. The following year, Cuthbert relinquished the managerial duties but continued with Brown Stockings as a player before jumping to the Baltimore franchise of the ill-fated Union Association
in 1884, his final season.
Reportedly, Ned stole
the first base in organized baseball in 1865 while playing for the Philadelphia Keystones, simply by waiting for the pitcher
to be distracted and running from first to second base. However, according to Peter Morris' "A Game Of Inches", base-stealing was part of baseball well before 1865; the earliest explicit account of stealing a base goes back to 1856.
Ned Cuthbert died of endocarditis
in St. Louis, Missouri
, and was laid to rest at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Cuthbert's baseball career began in 1865 with the Keystone Club of Philadelphia. After two seasons as a second baseman and outfielder with the Keystones, he moved across town to the West Philadelphia club, playing only four games for them before joining Philadelphia Athletics. With Cuthbert, the Athletics won national championships in 1867 and 1868. A solid batsman and outfielder, Ned jumped to the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1870.
Cuthbert was with a number of teams in the National Association
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...
and its successor, 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...
, playing in Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis before retiring as a player after the 1877 season. In 1882, he came out of retirement to act as player/manager for St. Louis team of the newly formed American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
. The following year, Cuthbert relinquished the managerial duties but continued with Brown Stockings as a player before jumping to the Baltimore franchise of the ill-fated 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...
in 1884, his final season.
Reportedly, Ned stole
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...
the first base in organized baseball in 1865 while playing for the Philadelphia Keystones, simply by waiting for the 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...
to be distracted and running from first to second base. However, according to Peter Morris' "A Game Of Inches", base-stealing was part of baseball well before 1865; the earliest explicit account of stealing a base goes back to 1856.
Ned Cuthbert died of endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and was laid to rest at Bellefontaine Cemetery.