Buttercup Dickerson

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Buttercup Dickerson
Buttercup Dickerson
Outfielder
Born: October 11, 1858
Tyaskin, Maryland
Died: July 23, 1920 (aged 62)
Baltimore, Maryland
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 15, 1878
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
June 1, 1885
for the Buffalo Bisons
Career statistics
Batting average     .284
Hits     500
Runs scored     302
Teams
Career highlights and awards

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.[1] He is credited as becoming the first Italian-American to play in the majors.[2]

Contents

[edit] 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.[1]

He departed the team the next season, he moved on to the Troy Trojans, playing mainly in center field, then relocated to the Worcesters 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.[1]

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.[1]

[edit] Post-career

Dickerson died at the age of 61 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was interred at Loudon Park Cemetery.[3] In 1979, he was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Buttercup Dickerson career statistics. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  2. ^ a b Biography. niasf.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  3. ^ Career statistics. retrosheet.org. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
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