Scott Hastings (baseball)

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Winfield Scott Hastings (August 10, 1847 - August 14, 1907) was a major league baseball player and manager in the late 19th century. Primarily a catcher and outfielder, Hastings also appeared at 2nd base, 1st base and shortstop over the course of his career.

Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, Hastings made his major league debut on May 6, 1871 for the Rockford Forest Citys of the National Association as the starting catcher and manager of the team. The team disbanded after the 1871 season and Hastings moved to the Cleveland Forest Citys for the 1872 campaign as a player-manager again. Rotating between catcher, 2nd base and outfield, Hastings was batting .391 when the team folded on August 19th. Hastings then moved to the Baltimore Canaries to finish out the season, primarily catching and hitting a respectable .306.

Hastings remained with the Canaries for the 1873 season, batting .281 and rotating with 2 other players at the catching position as well as filling in as a 4th outfielder. He moved to the Hartford Dark Blues in 1874, once again platooning at catcher and playing in the outfield when not behind the plate. Hastings had a good year, hitting .325 and leading the team in runs scored.

Hastings was on the move again for 1875, joining the Chicago White Stockings. Hastings was the regular catcher for Chicago but his average fell to .254. White Stockings owner William Hulbert found Hastings expendable as he signed Deacon White from the Boston Red Stockings to replace him. Hastings caught on with the Louisville Grays for the 1876 season in the new National League. Hastings was the every day centerfielder for the Grays, and although leading the team in runs scored Hastings' average was only .258 and was looking for a new team again after the season.

In 1877, Hastings played for the Cincinnati Reds and was one of 6 players who caught 5 games or more. The job was Hastings to lose and he did, batting only .141 for the season, his last in the majors. Hastings passed away in Sawtelle, California, only 4 days after his 60th birthday.