Cub Stricker

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Cub Stricker
Cub Stricker
Second baseman
Born: June 8, 1859
Died: November 19, 1937 (aged 78)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 2, 1882
for the Philadelphia Athletics
Final game
September 29, 1893
for the Washington Senators
Career statistics
Batting average     .239
Hits     1,106
Runs     790
Teams

As Player

As Manager
Career highlights and awards

John A. "Cub" Stricker, born John A. Streaker (June 8, 1859 - November 19, 1937), was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for seven different teams during his 11-season career, the bulk of his playing time being with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Blues/Spiders.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stricker was signed by the Athletics as a free agent in 1882 and played four seasons with moderate success. He would get his most playing time while with the Cleveland Blues though, and did well with the opportunity, especially his first season with them in 1887, when he batted .264 in 131 games, scored 122 runs scored, and stole 86 bases. He stole 60 bases the following year, and finished his career with a respectable 278, along with 1,106 base hits and a .239 batting average.[1]

In 1892, he was signed by the St. Louis Browns to be the team's player-manager. His time was cut short when after 23 games, the team had only won six of them. The final straw came after a home loss, and Stricker jumped into the stands and punched a fan who had been heckling the team.[2] He was traded soon after to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Pud Galvin.[1] Cub did not play a game for the Pirates, as he was traded again, three days later to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Adonis Terry.[1]

Though his career was unremarkable, it was marred by an incident in his final season, while playing with the Washington Senators. During the sixth inning of a game on August 5, 1893 in Philadelphia, the crowd was jeering the Senators relentlessly when, after making the third out, Stricker walked over near the crowd and feigned throwing the ball at them a couple times until he finally did release the ball. The ball struck the ground before the fence that divided the crowd and the baseball field and bounded over the fence and struck a young man in the face, breaking his nose. Stricker was arrested, and held until a hearing could be conducted. He apologized, explaining that he meant to only throw it into the fence and that it was an accident.[3]

[edit] Post-career

He died at the age of 78 in his hometown of Philadelphia, and was interred at West Laurel Hills Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Cub Striker's Stats. retrosheet.org. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
  2. ^ The Cardinals Encyclopedia, pg. 361. By Mike Eisenbath. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  3. ^ "Cub" Stricker Arrested. The New York Times, Aug. 6, 1893. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Jack Glasscock		 St. Louis Browns Manager
1892		 Succeeded by
Jack Crooks
v • d • e
St. Louis Cardinals managers
St. Louis Brown Stockings (1882)

Cuthbert

St. Louis Browns (1882 – 1898)
Sullivan • Comiskey • Williams • Comiskey • McCarthy • Kerins • Roseman • Campau • Gerhardt • Comiskey • Glasscock • Stricker • Crooks • Gore • Caruthers • Watkins • Miller • Buckenberger • Von der Ahe • Quinn • Phelan • Diddlebock • Latham • Von der Ahe • Connor • Dowd • Nicol • Hallman • Von der Ahe • Hurst

St. Louis Perfectos (1899)
Tebeau

St. Louis Cardinals (1900 – present)

Heilbroner • Donovan • Nichols • Burke • Robison • McCloskey • Bresnahan • Huggins • Hendricks • Rickey • Hornsby • O'Farrell • McKechnie • Southworth • Street • Frisch • Gonzalez • Blades • Dyer • Marion • Stanky • Walker • Hutchinson • Hack • Hemus • Keane • Schoendienst • Rapp • Krol • Boyer • Herzog • Torre • Jorgensen • La Russa