Buttercup Dickerson

Infobox MLB retired
name=Buttercup Dickerson
position=Outfielder


bgcolor1=#000066
bgcolor2=#000066
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=October 11, 1858
city-state|Tyaskin|Maryland
deathdate=death date and age|1920|7|23|1858|6|1
city-state|Baltimore|Maryland
bats=Left
throws=Right
debutdate=July 15
debutyear=1878
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=June 1
finalyear=1885
finalteam=Buffalo Bisons
stat1label=Batting average
stat2label=Hits
stat3label=Runs scored
stat1value=.284
stat2value=500
stat3value=302
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (1878-1879)
* Troy Trojans (1880)
* Worcester Ruby Legs (1880-1881)
* Pittsburg Alleghenys (1883)
* St. Louis Maroons (1884)
* Baltimore Orioles (1884)
* Louisville Eclipse (1884)
* Buffalo Bisons (1885)
highlights=
*Led the National League in triples in 1879.

Lewis Pessano Dickerson (October 11, 1858 - July 23, 1920) was a 19th century major league baseball outfielder. Born in Tyaskin, Maryland, he played a total of seven seasons in the majors, splitting time between eight teams in three different leagues.cite web| title = Buttercup Dickerson career statistics | work = baseball-reference.com | url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dickebu01.shtml | accessdate = 2007-08-07 ] He is credited as becoming the first Italian-American to play in the majors.cite web| title = Biography | work = niasf.com | url=http://www.niashf.org/index.cfm?ContentID=58&InducteeID=73 | accessdate = 2007-08-07 ]

Career

Dickerson began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1878 at the age of 19, and played 29 games in the outfield, but did not find himself a regular starting position until the following year. In 1879, he took over the regular left field job replacing Charley Jones, who had departed for the Boston Red Caps. That season proved to be his best season in the majors; he batted .294, drove in 57, and his 14 triples led the league.

He departed the team the next season, he moved on to the Troy Trojans, playing mainly in center field, then relocated to the Worcester Ruby Legs later that same season, and split time in center with Harry Stovey. In 1881, he moved over to left field and had a very productive season, batting .316. He wouldn't play in the majors again until 1883, he changed teams once again, playing 85 games with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. His production went down significantly, hitting only .249.

The next two seasons, he spent travelling from team to team, four in total. Three of those team in the 1884 season alone. His best showing was with the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association when he hit .365 in 46 games. In 1885, he played in 5 games for the Buffalo Bisons before his career came to an end.

Post-career

Dickerson died at the age of 61 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was interred at Loudon Park Cemetery.cite web| title = Career statistics | work = retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/D/Pdickb102.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-07 ] In 1979, he was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball triples champions

References

Persondata
NAME = Dickerson, Lewis Pessano
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Dickerson, Buttercup
SHORT DESCRIPTION = 19th century Italian-American baseball player
DATE OF BIRTH = October 11, 1858
PLACE OF BIRTH = Tyaskin, Maryland, United States
DATE OF DEATH = July 23, 1920
PLACE OF DEATH = Baltimore, Maryland