Bill Lennon

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bill Lennon
position=Catcher


bats=Unknown
throws=Unknown
birthdate=January, 1845
city-state|Brooklyn|New York
deathdate=death date and age|1910|8|19|1845|1|00
city-state|Philadelphia|Pennsylvania
debutdate= May 4
debutyear= by|1871
debutteam= Fort Wayne Kekiongas
finaldate= July 11
finalyear= by|1873
finalteam= Baltimore Marylands
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=28
stat2label=Batting average
stat2value=.223
stat3label=Runs
stat3value=18
teams=As Player
* Fort Wayne Kekiongas (by|1871)
* Washington Nationals (by|1872)
* Baltimore Marylands (by|1873)As Manager
* Fort Wayne Kekiongas (by|1871)

William H. "Bill" Lennon (January, 1845 – August 19 1910)cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Plennb101.htm Retrosheet|title=Bill Lennon's career statistics|publisher=retrosheet.org|accessdate=2008-08-16] was an American Major League Baseball player born in Brooklyn, New York. He played catcher for three seasons in the National Association from by|1871 to by|1873, and managed 14 games for the 1871 Fort Wayne Kekiongas.

During the 1870 National Association of Base Ball Players, Lennon, along with Bobby Mathews and Tom Carey all deserted the Maryland team to join the Kekiongas, who joined the new all professional National Association in 1871. [cite book|last=Ryczek|first=William J.|title=When Johnny Came Sliding Home: The Post-Civil War Baseball Boom, 1865-1870|publisher=McFarland|date=1998|pages=218|isbn=0786405147|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EjSpGTxITgMC&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=%22Bill+Lennon%22+baseball&source=web&ots=5z1OkY3p_H&sig=Da46vn5YTGhfDDwcI2kshmtVCLo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA218,M1|accessdate=2008-08-16] On May 4, 1871, Bill scored one the two runs scored by the Kekiongas in the first professional game ever played, when they defeated the visiting Cleveland Forest Citys.cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/05041871.shtml|title=Boxscore of First Professional Ballgame|publisher=baseball-almanac.com|accessdate=2008-08-16] Also that day, he became the first catcher to throw out a baserunner attempting to steal a base.cite web|url=http://sox1fan.com/?p=526|title=This Day in Baseball History: May 4th|last=Administrator|date=May 4, 2006|publisher=sox1fan.com|accessdate=2008-08-16] A known drinker during his playing days, he deserted the Kekiongas in mid June of the 1871 season.cite book|last=Schiff|first=Andrew J.|title=The Father of Baseball: A Biography of Henry Chadwick|publisher=McFarland|date=2008|pages=138|isbn=0786432160|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yamGHf0fkuMC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=%22Bill+Lennon%22+baseball&source=web&ots=Eb4geue72D&sig=UuEpdSOsXdE1JmfLWgoTRXNCyXw&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result|accessdate=2008-08-16] Harry Deane was promoted to manage the team for the rest of the season.cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1871/TFW101871.htm|title=The 1871 Ft. Wayne Kekiongas|publisher=retrosheet.org|accessdate=2008-08-16]

He died at the age of 65 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery.

References

External links

*Baseballstats | br=l/lennobi01

Persondata
NAME = Lennon, Bill
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Lennon, William H.
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Major League Baseball player, manager
DATE OF BIRTH = 1845
PLACE OF BIRTH = Brooklyn, New York
DATE OF DEATH = August 19, 1910
PLACE OF DEATH = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania