Another Trivia Question.

[cammb]

The answer is Joe Gerhardt. In 1884, he turned down an offer of $1800. He then was offered $2000. Instead, he accepted the $1800 and demanded carte blanche at the bar in the Louisville stadium . The owners gladly accepted. Reading up on Gerhardt, He was not a good hitter but was considered the best second baseman defensively of his time.

[Kidnapped18]

George Wright, who had been the greatest player in the land for a decade, with the Red Stockings of Cincinnati and then Boston, in 1879 led the Providence Grays to the championship. On April 21, 1880, however, he declined the club’s final contract offer, perhaps preferring to stay in Boston and mind his sporting-goods business. As a reserved player, however, he was obligated to play for Providence and no other; he elected to sit out the season (although he did inexplicably play in a game for Boston on May 29).


From John Thorn's Baseball in the Garden of Eden

[cammb]

Originally Posted by Kidnapped18

George Wright, who had been the greatest player in the land for a decade, with the Red Stockings of Cincinnati and then Boston, in 1879 led the Providence Grays to the championship. On April 21, 1880, however, he declined the club’s final contract offer, perhaps preferring to stay in Boston and mind his sporting-goods business. As a reserved player, however, he was obligated to play for Providence and no other; he elected to sit out the season (although he did inexplicably play in a game for Boston on May 29).


From John Thorn's Baseball in the Garden of Eden

I think that Wright was a free agent at the time. While checking out George Wright, I discovered that he was the first National League Batter.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by cammb

The answer is Joe Gerhardt. In 1884, he turned down an offer of $1800. He then was offered $2000. Instead, he accepted the $1800 and demanded carte blanche at the bar in the Louisville stadium . The owners gladly accepted. Reading up on Gerhardt, He was not a good hitter but was considered the best second baseman defensively of his time.

That's funny! I know that Bid McPhee was/is widely regarded as the best defensive second basemen of the 19th century, but it looks like Joe's career preceded Bid's by a good 10 years or so. Thanks for that bit of history.