Monte Pfeffer

Monte Pfeffer played one game at shortstop for the 1913 Philadelphia Athletics.

Montague Pfeiffer was born October 7, 1890, in New York City. He is often shown as having been born in 1891, but it seems that 1890 is correct; for most of his pro baseball career he was usually referred to as “Pfeffer,” but he doesn’t seem to have ever used that name outside of baseball.

Monte’s father Samuel Joseph Pfeiffer, AKA Shmuel Yosef, was a Polish Jew from Kalisz whose first language was Yiddish. He emigrated to the US as a young man. Monte’s mother, Fannie, also from Poland, seems to have been Samuel’s second wife. The two of them, who settled in Manhattan, had ten children between 1884 and 1898, two of whom died in infancy.

In the 1905 New York state census the family is living in a house at 70 E 104^th Street, at the corner of Park Avenue, near Central Park. Samuel’s occupation is given as “clothing;” son Alexander, from Samuel’s first marriage, is 24 and a lawyer; Abraham, 20, a bookkeeper; Mamie, 16, in business school; Montague, 14, an office boy; Sadie, 12, Isadore, 11, and Hannah, 7, are in school; plus there’s Emma Boley, 20, a servant from Hungary.

Fannie passed away in 1906, and in 1909 Samuel married widow Lena Davidowitz Klein, who, depending on which census you believe, was born in Hungary or Austria and spoke as a first language Yiddish, German, or Hungarian. The 1910 US census shows them at the same address as in 1905 and indicates that the house is mortgaged. Samuel is listed as a millinery store owner; Abraham, 24, is self-employed from home as a collector in the real estate field; Monte, listed as “Montefiore,” 18, a ball player; Sadie, 17, a saleslady in a millinery store, presumably her father’s; Isadore, 15, “errands,” for “store;” and Hannah, 11, is in school.

Monte (who is listed nowadays as having been 5-4, 147 pounds) was probably actually 19, and I don’t know where he was playing ball, as I found no information on him as a player before 1911. The 1911 stats show him playing 41 games for the Haverhill Hustlers in the Class B New England League, mainly at second base, and hitting .185.

In January 1912 it was reported that Monte had signed a new contract with Haverhill, but then in April he signed with the McKeesport Tubers of the Class D Ohio-Pennsylvania League. 

The league was very unstable; in June two of the eight teams dropped out, and a major shakeup at McKeesport included Monte being named manager and captain, at age 21. In mid-July two more teams dropped out and the McKeesport team moved to Salem, Ohio, then on August 6 one more team dropped out and the league dissolved. No final stats seem to have been published. Monte then made his way to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Class B New York State League, where he wasn’t around long enough to appear in the stats but did appear in the team photo.

Monte re-signed with Wilkes-Barre for 1913, playing for new Baron manager Joe McCarthy. The May 8 Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader reported:

Monte Pfeffer looks the goods. He played great ball again yesterday. He had three more bingles and his work in the field was all that could be desired.

While the same day the Wilkes-Barre Record said: “This department refuses to go along on that name Monte Pfeffer. Monte sounds like a real nice moniker, but it’s no name for a Dutchman.” “Dutchman” was a name often used for Germans, from “Deutsch” (like in Pennsylvania Dutch). This comment makes me suspect that Monte was hiding his Jewishness.

Monte was playing shortstop and batting second in the order for the Barons, and was getting a lot of attention for his fielding. From the May 30 Wilkes-Barre Evening News:

NEW YORK GIANTS SEND SCOUT HERE TO LOOK OVER SHORTSTOP PFEFFER

Dick Kinsella, the famous scout of the New York Giants arrived in Wilkes-Barre today and this morning witnessed the game between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre at Diamond Park for the purpose of looking over Shortstop Monte Pfeffer of the Barons, and Outfielder Finners Quinlan, of the Miners, both of whom the New Yorks are expected to grab up for a trial next spring. The work of this pair has attracted the attention of many big league scouts. Kinsella is the first to arrive here to look the two over. Several more will stroll along during the remainder of the season so that if Kinsella isn’t impressed, one of the others may be and Monte will get a deserved chance to make good with the major leaguers.

Pfeffer’s work for the Barons has been sensational. But a handful in bulk, he covers a surprising lot of ground. His stops are nothing short of remarkable while he is batting above the .300 mark. If Pfeffer continues his wonderful work, he will positively go higher next season…

Hitting over .300 was not something that lasted, and Monte got demoted to seventh in the order. But his fielding continued to earn raves. From the East Liverpool (Ohio) Evening Review, June 23:

Monte Pfeffer, or “Hassenpfeffer” as the Wilkesbarre fans call him, is touted to be the best short fielder in the New York State league. He is fielding in Wagnerian style and batting like a fiend. Monte played a classic game for McKeesport last season and should get into the big show next fall.

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, July 8:

Little Monte Pfeffer covers himself with glory at least once a game. The diminutive short gardener pulled off some fast stuff down his way yesterday, getting some that looked like sure hits.

Same newspaper, July 21:

Among the numerous features, the wonderful, almost uncanny fielding of Monte Pfeffer our diminutive short gardener, stood out preeminently. There is not a grain of doubt but what his brilliant stabbing and quick work saved the game for Wilkes-Barre…

But the next evening, in the Evening News:

PFEFFER, BASEBALL PLAYER QUITS TEAM BECAUSE OF ILL FEELING

Alleging that one of his fellow players passed a remark about him that put him in “Dutch” with a local girl he admired, Monte Pfeffer, the New York youngster, who has been starring for the local team, today told Manager Joe McCarthy that he was through with base ball and said that he would not report for this afternoon’s double-header with Albany.

Pfeffer was last seen at his boarding house, 65 North Washington street, this afternoon at 12:30 where, in the presence of Manager McCarthy, Secretary Harry McDonald, one of the players and The Evening News reporter, said that he would leave this afternoon for New York, where he conducts a small pool room. “I’m through with professional base ball,” he said.

Pfeffer’s head has been affected by the manner in which he has been boosted by local fandom and the press. He has become stubborn and surly and has yet not verified what he claims his teammate said about him. The player incriminated declares positively that he does not know the girl of whom Pfeffer speaks. Manager McCarthy has attempted to persuade the player to return to the club but he positively asserts that he will not only not return to the Wilkes-Barre club but will never again play professional base ball.

Pfeffer has threatened to quit the club on several occasions wanting to desert the team at Elmira and Albany, where he also had petty personal reasons. Only through coaxing has he been prevailed upon to continue in the services of the club. Recording [sic] to those who know he has been the most petted ball player that has ever come to Wilkes-Barre. No inducement could change his mind this afternoon. He gave Manager Joe McCarthy all the credit for his development. “You’ve treated me too fair,” he said to Joe before bidding him good-bye, “but I won’t play with the club any longer while they’re going around saying things about me.” He further said that he was ready to give up his promising career rather than continue here.

When the player whom he accused was taken to his boarding house this afternoon, Pfeffer struck him before he had a chance to say anything and was going to get a fine cleaning up had not the others interfered. The accused says that he will ask for his release. Although he has been in the big leagues and several minor leagues for the past few years he has never been in any trouble before and among the players is known as the quietest man on the team.

Manager McCarthy is unable to form any opinion on Pfeffer’s case. He has coached him for the past two years into the ball player he is now. He declared this afternoon that he would probably suspend him if he carried out his threat and Pfeffer stands in danger of being blacklisted from organized base ball. O’Rourke will play shortstop this afternoon.

A much shorter version of the story appeared in various newspapers across the country, under headlines like “DON’T FALL IN LOVE IF YOU PLAY BALL.” The Times-Leader had the conclusion of the episode on July 26:

PFEFFER RETURNS PRODIGAL REPENTS PLAYS WITH TEAM

“Monte” Pfeffer, the Barons’ short gardener, who left the team so suddenly Wednesday, is back. The club will lift his suspension and let the “kid” play this afternoon. After Pfeffer got to New York, he realized the errors of his ways and hence his return. It is real good of the local club to let him play again, and Pfeffer should remember it and not let anything happen again. The youngster is “solid” with the fans here, and no doubt they will rejoice at his return.

Monte’s going AWOL was blamed on homesickness. He went right back into the lineup at short, and was hitting .287 as of late July, but slumped after that and finished the season at .252. In 135 games he scored 88 runs, had 33 stolen bases and a .335 on-base percentage, and played shortstop in all 135 of those games, leading the league in putouts and assists. On September 16 the Evening News reported that he had been drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics, saying “Pfeffer’s ability to shine higher up is doubtful but with a manager like Connie Mack to look after him he may develop into a sensation.”

Rather than the following spring, Mack had Monte report to the Athletics, who would win the pennant and the World Series, immediately. He got into one game, on September 29 in Washington, as reported in the next day’s Wilkes-Barre Record:

PFEFFER PLAYS WITH ATHLETICS

Monte Pfeffer, the clever little shortstop for the Barons last season, who was drafted by the Athletics, played with that team yesterday, against Washington. He didn’t hit safely, but considering that he was up against Walter Johnson, there is a very good reason for him going hitless.

The Record added the following day:

Monte Pfeffer made a good impression on the critics by his work as an Athletic on Monday.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger says:

“The bright spot of the contest was the brilliant shortstopping of Pfeffer, the Wilkes-Barre recruit. He handled four of his five chances in great style, and his stop and throw of Milan’s grass cutter in the third inning brought the fans to their feet.”

Of course, fielding four out of five gave him a fielding percentage of .800. Monte batted sixth in the lineup, between George Brickley and Billy Orr, as the Athletics fielded a lineup of almost all prospects, the only regular being left fielder Jimmy Walsh. Still, pitcher Weldon Wyckoff allowed just three hits to Walter Johnson’s four, but his teammates made five errors and Johnson won 1-0 for his 36^th victory of the season. Monte was 0 for 3 with a strikeout, and was hit by a pitch.

For 1914 the Athletics sent Monte to the Kansas City Blues of the Class AA American Association. The fact that they sent him down after drafting him from Wilkes-Barre meant that the Barons could have him back for the waiver price of $1200, but they waived their claim. From the April 29 Ottawa (Kansas) Daily Republic:

BLUES WON IN THIRTEENTH       

KANSAS CITY, MO., April 29.—With the hassocks dripping with Blues in the last of the thirteenth round of the opening battle with William Hinchman’s Columbus Senators yesterday afternoon, “Midget” Monte Pfeffer waddled up to the platter and broke up the combat by sending a long spiral glide over Shelton’s dome in center, scoring “Bunny” Brief with the much needed count that gave Boss Armour’s athletes a 5 to 4 victory over the visiting statesmen.

On May 9 the Wilkes-Barre Record reported to its readers that Monte had been benched for light hitting, but that day he played shortstop and batted leadoff—though he may have wished he hadn’t, as told in the next day’s Indianapolis Star:

Tribe Does a Great Job in Missouri

PFEFFER IS BLAMED FOR INDIANS TYING THE SCORE

Monte Nestles the Ball in His Warm Hands so the Indianapolis Club Takes Advantage of Opening and Wins.

Indians, 13; Blues, 4.

(Special to The Indianapolis Star)

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 9.—When Pfeffer did a double whirl at second and didn’t even peg the ball with an easy double play in sight he paved the way for the Indians to count the tying run at 4 and 4 and Morgan, who has been hitting the rough places, hit them a little harder in the next round. His support also fell apart, so to speak, and the men of Hendrick scored eight tallies on three hits, winning the final game of the series 13 to 4…

Cole singled and Metz drove a fast bounder at Rath, whose throw to Pfeffer forced Cole.

Pfeffer had all the time needed to complete a double play but turned around twice for the motion pictures and then froze tightly to the pill. Possibly Monte feared the ball would rear up on its hind legs and walk away from him…

But that wasn’t all. McCarty opened the ninth with a double back of Pfeffer. Some day Monte is going to get his bean in the way of a short fly, accidentally of course, and get rightfully beaned…

In early June Monte broke his leg in a collision with a teammate. His replacement did such a good job that Monte was considered expendable, and when he returned from the injury in early July he was sent to the Topeka Jayhawks of the Class A Western League. However, the Jayhawks picked up another shortstop at the same time, and after playing just three games with them Monte was sent back to Kansas City. The Blues still couldn’t use him, though, and they gave him his release. I’m not sure how that worked when he was actually owned by Philadelphia—maybe it was actually the Athletics who released him. The Columbus Dispatch reported on August 4:

Monte Pfeffer also drew his release today. Marinette in the Wisconsin league is to get him but Pfeffer says he will not report there. He would like to join the Feds, but not having been asked, can’t do so.

Monte did not get asked to join the Federal League, and he did report to the Marinette-Menominee Twins of the Class C Wisconsin-Illinois League, where he finished the season, playing third base. For Kansas City he hit .177 in 32 games, but had a very respectable .336 on-base percentage due to having more walks than hits. With the Twins he hit .175 in 38 games, with a .298 OBP on an equal number of walks and hits. He appeared on the Marinette-Menominee reserve list in the off-season. Also in the off-season, on October 18, he married 18-year-old Rose Schachter in Manhattan; I have no idea whether she was the same young woman spoken of when Monte bolted from Wilkes-Barre in 1913.

In March 1915 it was reported that Monte had been placed on the suspended list by the Twins; whatever the reason, it didn’t make much difference since the Wisconsin-Illinois League folded before the season opened. On May 4 the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader reported that he had signed with Brantford of the Class B Canadian League, but if he played with them at all it wasn’t enough to appear in the official stats. On June 4 it was reported that he had signed with St. Boniface, Manitoba, of the Class C Northern League. He played 72 games there, all at shortstop, and batted .169. On August 11 Rose gave birth to daughter Frances; on August 27 Rose died.

I don’t know whether Monte and Rose had been living with Samuel and Lena during their ten months of marriage, but that’s where Monte lived afterwards, while Frances was brought up by Monte’s sister Mamie and her husband, Aaron Balzer, as their daughter.

I found nothing about Monte playing baseball during 1916—except that after the season he appeared on the reserve list of the Winnipeg Maroons of the Class C Northern League, with the notation “suspended.” If he did play with them during 1916 it wasn’t enough to appear in the stats; my guess would be that they had acquired his rights but he never reported, so they put him on the suspended list.

On May 8, 1917, Monte filled out his draft card. He gave his last name as Pfeiffer, his address as his father’s at 70 E 104th, his birth year as 1890, his occupation as signal and repair for Interborough Rapid Transit (the company that operated the subway), his marital status as single, his height as medium (a bit of a stretch), and his build as medium, with black eyes and brown hair. In the Brooklyn Standard Union of September 1, he is named as the new third baseman for a team called the American Nationals that would be playing the next day at Dexter Park against the Cypress Hills Club.

Monte was inducted into the infantry on May 26, 1918, and was honorably discharged four weeks later, as a private; he was reported as 60% disabled, but in what way I don’t know. On August 29, 1919, Samuel died. The 1920 census, taken on January 7, showed the family now as one of four renting at 54 E 118^th Street, still in Manhattan. Lena is 58; Monte, 29, is an electrician for Interborough Rapid Transit; Sadie, 26, is a millinery saleslady; Isadore, 25, is a wholesale clothing shipping clerk; and Hannah, 21, is a milliner.

In the 1925 New York state census Monte is the only stepchild left living with Lena, and they’re now at 660 W 179^th Street, along with 17 other households. Monte, now a switchman, has aged just two years in the last five while Lena has aged seven (and she had aged 12 between the 1910 and 1920 censuses). It appears that her true age in 1925 was 64.

In the 1930 census Lena and Monte have apparently moved across the street, to 661 W 179^th Street, where their rent was $55 a month and they were one of six households. Monte is now listed as a subway electrician, and he is designated as married, though if he had a wife she was not living with him.

Lena passed away in 1936. In the 1940 census Monte is living at 280 Fort Washington Avenue with sister Sadie, her husband Jacob Wolins, and their three teenage children. Monte is shown as a divorced railroad machinist with an eighth grade education and a yearly income of $2500.

On September 27, 1941, Monte died at home on Fort Washington Avenue, of hypertensive heart disease. He was 51. He was listed as a signal repairman, and Frances, identified as his daughter and not his niece, was the informant on the death certificate. His headstone reads, in Hebrew, “Moshe ben Shmuel Yosef” and, in English: Monte Pfeiffer Born October 7, 1890 Died September 27, 1941 Beloved Husband, Dear Father. I did not find an obituary for him.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/P/Ppeffm101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peffemo01.shtml

Fred Ostendorf

Fred Ostendorf pitched in one game for the 1914 Indianapolis Hoosiers of the Federal League.

Frederick K. Ostendorf was born August 5, 1892, in Baltimore to Frank, a police officer, and Katie, both children of German immigrants. (The first four censuses of his life all show him a year older, but his military records and death certificate have the 1892 date.) In the 1900 census the family lives at 1335 S. Charles Street in Baltimore; there are two children, Frank and sister Mamie, two and a half (or else one and a half) years older. In 1910 they are at the same address, Frank is a police sergeant, 20-year-old Mamie is a bookkeeper for a music store, and Fred, not yet 18, is a stenographer.

The first newspaper mention of Fred I found was in the Baltimore American of January 30, 1911:

Fred Ostendorf, 19-year-old lad of this city, has signed with the Danville team of the Virginia League. He stands 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 160 pounds. Last season Ostendorf pitched fine ball for the Western Athletic Club, Inc., losing only two games and having an average of ten strikeouts a game. He should have no trouble in making good.

Apparently nothing came of his contract with Danville. From the May 21 Baltimore Sun:

AH! COOL WAVE IS HERE

Temperature Drops And Baltimore Sighs Relief—Showers

…One heat prostration was reported. Frederick Ostendorf, 20 years old, son of Lieut. Frank Ostendorf, of the Eastern district, was overcome at 5:15 o’clock in the afternoon while playing baseball at Union League Park, South Baltimore. He was attended by Dr. J.F. Hawkins, 1618 Light street, and was later taken to his home, 1335 South Charles street. His condition is not considered serious.

From the Baltimore Sun of January 9, 1912:

BUSCH SIGNS SOUTHPAW

Fred Ostendorf, one of the best amateur pitchers in the city, has signed a contract with the Petersburg (Virginia League) Club. Part of last season he pitched for Western Athletic Club and Maryland Meter Athletic Association. His best game was against the Halethorpe Country Club, one of the strongest teams in the city, allowing one hit and striking out 11. While away with the Cherokee Indians he showed that he was equal to pitching professional ball. He is 20 years of age, stands 6 feet and weighs 162 pounds.

Meanwhile, Fred’s social club was getting regular writeups in the Sun. He was one of the listed attendees in this item from January 28:

Reception To Jesters.

The Jesters held a reception at the home of Miss Flora Durst, 1043 Riverside avenue, last Sunday. The rooms were beautifully decorated with flowers and palms and with the colors of the social. The evening was spent in singing and playing games. Songs were rendered by the Jesters’ quartet…

And February 4:

Miss Kelly Receives Jesters

The Jesters held a reception at the home of Miss Gertrude Kelly, 2531 Canton avenue, on Sunday….An enjoyable evening was spent in singing and playing leap year games…Jerry Teuteberg, Martin Stout and Fred Ostendorf gave selections on the piano…

On February 21 the Washington Evening Star mentioned Fred in an article on Petersburg’s pitching prospects, but it does not appear that he actually played in a game for them. Apparently he pitched in spring training for the AA International League Baltimore Orioles, one step below the majors, in between Jesters parties—an April 14 Sun story headlined “Jesters’ Easter Party” mentions that “Miss Maude Kaskell sang ‘That Hypnotizing Man,’ accompanied on the piano by Mr. Fred Ostendorf” and the April 28 edition has a story on their “last party of the season.” He then was sent to Henderson, Kentucky, and the Henderson Hens of the Class D Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee (Kitty) League, as told in the April 29 Paducah Sun-Democrat:

Fred Ostendorf, a southpaw twirler farmed to the Hens by the Baltimore International league club has arrived in Henderson. In an exhibition game this spring he twirled three innings against the Athletics and allowed only one hit.

Fred spent the Kitty League season in Henderson, pitching in 28 games with a 14-14 record. Then he got called up to Baltimore, where he made at least one September appearance; the IL stats merely list him as one of the players in fewer than ten games.

In January 1913 Fred was unconditionally released by Baltimore, and in February he signed with the Binghamton Bingoes of the Class B New York State League. In March Sporting Life reported that he had been signed by Keokuk of the Class D Central Association, but I don’t know what to make of that, as he appeared in a box score for Binghamton on May 10. The June 7 Sporting Life reported that Fred had been released, and the next week’s edition reported that he had been released to the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) Electrics of the Class B Eastern Association; however by June 9 he was back in the Kitty League with Henderson, combining with another pitcher to give up 12 runs and 18 hits.

By July 21 Fred had been released by Henderson and signed by the Harrisburg Coal Miners of the same league—on that date he allowed ten runs and 15 hits to Hopkinsville. On August 26 he was one of three pitchers who combined to allow 19 runs and 22 hits to Clarksville; on September 4 he pitched a two-hitter against Paducah, and on September 8 he was one of two pitchers giving up 14 runs and 20 hits to Vincennes—apparently it was feast or famine. The final Kitty League stats show him with a 9-23 record in 32 games.

The 1913 city directory lists Fred as a ball player, while in 1914 he is back to stenographer. The April 18, 1914, edition of Sporting Life reported that he had signed a contract with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class A Southern Association, which is a little surprising given that he had gone 9-23 in Class D; a week later they reported that he had been released. The May 9 issue mentioned his combining with one other pitcher to give up eight runs and 15 hits to Valdosta, pitching for the Cordele Ramblers of the Class D Georgia State League on April 27, but that was the only mention I found of his playing there; the stats show him with five games pitched.

From the June 13 Paducah Sun-Democrat:

“Lefty” Ostendorf, who was with Harrisburg last season and Henderson in 1912, is now pitching for the Bloomer Girls. “Ossie” is sure going down some.

The Bloomer Girls were barnstorming women’s baseball teams, which apparently would carry at least one male player. On July 16 Fred popped up in Kansas City, somehow getting into a game for the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the Federal League, then in its first of two seasons as a third major league. He entered the game in the middle of the seventh with the Hoosiers down 6-1 to the Kansas City Packers, and finished up what turned out to be an 11-6 loss, giving up five earned runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. Fred's teammates in this game included Benny Kauff and Bill McKechnie, while the best-known of the Packers was George Stovall.

That was Fred’s only major league appearance, giving him a lifetime ERA of 22.50. He did pitch in an exhibition game five days later, in Lima, Ohio, against the Lima city team, winning 10-6; the Lima Morning Star and Republican-Gazette reported the next day:

For the Feds Ostendorf was given the call by Manager Textor. Ossie is a new man to the club. He failed to show anything against the locals that would justify his staying in fast company. The Lima lads batted his deliveries for ten safeties and had it not been for the superb support that he received the visiting heaver might have ended the game a loser. He gave five passes and struck out 11 of the Lima players.

Fred then vanished until August 17, when he made his debut with the Marshalltown (Iowa) Ansons of the Class D Central Association, walking eight batters in four innings in a 7-4 victory. In his second start he pitched a one-hitter with another eight walks and won 3-2, then he lost 1-0 while walking nine. On August 26 he lost 7-3, only walking four; the Marshalltown Evening Times reported the next evening:

Ostendorf worked nicely until the boys’ industrial school band, which enlivened the afternoon’s exercises with instrumental music and song, started a triumphal march while he was operating in the box. “Lefty” lost his stride then and there and the luck of the game, which had favored the Ansons, thereafter broke for the visitors. Errors by the home team were numerous, but were in most cases excusable as the saliva-coated ball became unmanageable in the late innings. Ostendorf used the spitter constantly.

Fred had three more starts after that, finishing 1-4 in seven games, allowing just 38 hits in 55 innings but walking 43. I assume he is the only player ever to go, in the course of one season, from Class D to the Bloomer Girls to the majors to Class D again.

In the 1915 city directory Fred is again listed as a ball player, still living with his parents on S. Charles Street. He made his way to the Macon Peaches of the Class C Sally League, but appeared in fewer than five games before moving on. He also spent brief stays with Griffin of the Georgia-Alabama League and Thomasville of the Florida-Louisiana-Alabama-Georgia League, both Class D.

In the spring of 1916 Fred signed a contract with the Norfolk Tars of the Class C Virginia League, but was released at the beginning of the season and picked up by the Newport News Shipbuilders of the same league. Again, he was in the “less than ten games” list at the bottom of the official stats.

In the 1917 city directory Fred is back to being a stenographer, still living on S. Charles. On June 17 he filled out his draft registration card, listing his occupation as ball player for the Chattanooga Ball Club, though he does not appear in the Southern Association stats for the year, even under “less than ten games.” He also lists himself as single, and tall and slender with blue eyes and light hair. I don’t have a date, but it seems as though it must have been soon after this that he got married, to Barbara Kucera.

I don’t know whether he was drafted or if he volunteered, but on September 27 he was inducted into the Army as a private in the 313^th Infantry. In October he made corporal, and then sergeant, and was listed as one of the Duty Sergeants at Camp Meade. In the 1918 Baltimore directory his employer is given as “USA,” and his address as 101 N. Streeper. He got his honorable discharge in January 1919, by which time daughter Helen had been born. In April it was reported that he would be going to spring training with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, but he didn’t make it to the regular season with them and that was apparently the end of his pro baseball career.

In the 1920 census Fred, a salesman for a bookbindery, Barbara, and one-year-old Helen are living in a rented house at 2706 Orleans Street in Baltimore, though the 1920 and 1921 city directories still show him as a stenographer. In 1922 they have moved to 225 N. Linwood Avenue. In 1924, the year daughter Evelyn was born, they have moved to 422 N. Highland Avenue. In 1928 Barbara starts being listed as a hairdresser, operating out of their home.

Apparently by 1930 things were not going so well for Fred. The census shows them living at the Highland Avenue address, a home they own and which is worth $4850; Fred has “none” for his occupation, while Barbara is listed as proprietress of her hairdressing business. Helen and Evelyn are 11 and five. The city directory lists Barbara as a hairdresser with no mention of Fred. And, on August 12, Fred was admitted to the Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia. On admission his disabilities were noted as “1727 under obs for mental disease” and “202 knee right-loose patellar ligament.” It seems like a safe assumption that the reason he was put in the facility was the mental disease and not the right kneecap.

Fred was discharged on July 10, 1931, but readmitted a few weeks later on August 18. He was discharged again on December 30, admitted again on June 9, 1932, discharged June 21, 1933, and admitted, for good, on August 3.

By 1936 the Baltimore directory shows Barbara at 4809 Hamilton Avenue, and in 1937 her occupation changes to factory worker. In the 1940 census she and her daughters are living back at 225 N. Linwood Avenue and she is indicated as the owner; perhaps this had been her parents’ house. She apparently told the census taker that she was a widow. Her occupation is cigar maker, while 21-year-old Helen has followed in her father’s footsteps as a stenographer. 15-year-old Evelyn is in school. Fred was counted at Company No. 4 (Dormicillary Barracks) at the VA facility.

In 1942 Fred had to fill out another draft registration card, which listed him as unemployed and the “person who will always know your address” as Mrs. Charles W. Duvall of 505 E. 41^st Street in Baltimore; this was sister Mamie. The 1942 Baltimore directory was the last one where I found a listing for Barbara, as a roller for the Amorita Cigar Company, living on N. Linwood. In 1951 Fred made an appearance in the city directory for Newport News, which included Hampton; he was listed as a janitor for the Veterans’ Hospital, residence ditto. He also appeared there in 1956, listed as a laborer.

Barbara passed away on December 6, 1961, just short of her 67^th birthday, in Baltimore. On March 8, 1965, Fred died at the Veterans’ Hospital of granulocytic leukemia. His permanent address was given on the death certificate as 305 E. 41^st Street in Baltimore, which was almost the same as the one for Mrs. Charles W. Duvall on his 1942 draft card; I assume one or the other was a typo. The Sporting News of March 27 ran a brief obituary:

Frederick Ostendorf, former pitcher in the old Federal League, died in Hampton, Va., March 8. He was 73.

Ostendorf, who played sandlot ball in his native Baltimore, pitched with Indianapolis of the Federal League in 1914.

Survivors include two daughters and a sister.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/O/Postef102.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ostenfr01.shtml

Tommy Toms

Tommy Toms was a relief pitcher for the 1975-77 Giants.

Thomas Howard Toms was born October 15, 1951, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He lettered in baseball and basketball at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, and graduated in 1970. He then attended East Carolina University, where he made honorable mention, as a pitcher, on the All-Southern Conference team in 1972, then made the first team in 1973, his junior year. In June of 1973 he was chosen by the Giants in the sixth round of the free agent draft.

The Giants sent Tommy to Great Falls of the Rookie Class Pioneer League, where he had a 2.38 ERA in 21 relief appearances, with 41 strikeouts and nine walks in 34 innings. Then he was bumped up to Fresno of the Class A California League and had a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings in four games, two of them starts. On July 18 he filled out a questionnaire in which he gave his off-season occupation as student and his hobby as golf.

Tommy started 1974 with Amarillo of the Class AA Texas League. He pitched well and got moved up to AAA Phoenix in August; between the two teams he had a 2.83 ERA in 108 innings in 46 games, with a 10-5 record and five saves. He returned to Phoenix for 1975, but on May 2 he was called up to San Francisco when Tom Bradley was sent down.

He made his major league debut at home against the Astros on May 4, coming in for Charlie Williams with nobody out in the top of the fifth, Cesar Cedeno on second, a run in, and the Giants behind 10-4. Cedeno stole third, then Tommy struck out Cliff Johnson and intentionally walked Jose Cruz. After Cruz stole second Tommy intentionally walked Milt May and then balked in a run; he then retired Ken Boswell, walked Rob Andrews, and struck out J.R. Richard. He got Houston 1-2-3 in the sixth, including a strikeout of Cedeno, then was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the inning by Glenn Adams, also making his debut.

Tommy then missed some games with elbow soreness, not making his second appearance until May 17, when he pitched the last three innings in a 17-2 home loss to St. Louis, allowing the last two runs. After a few more outings he got some space in Bob Eger’s column in the Arizona Republic:

Toms’ first break this spring was a very bad one. Late in spring training, the people who make such decisions decided he should pitch for Lafayette, La., in the Class AA Texas League despite an impressive showing at Phoenix late in 1974.

Needless to say, Mr. Toms was an extremely depressed young man.

His depression lasted exactly one day. At their nightly staff meeting at Francisco Grande, the Giants’ personnel manipulators decided they had made a mistake and quickly returned him to the Phoenix roster.

Given new life, he started spectacularly with Phoenix and was the first local player promoted this spring when the parent club needed help. He’s been struggling in San Francisco, and he may be back in Phoenix yet, but even that beats the heck out of Lafayette…

Tommy pitched one more game, on the 10^th, and then was returned to Phoenix. He didn’t get there too quickly, though, as reported in the Sporting News July 5:

General Manager Ethan Blackaby of Phoenix, a former professional player himself, said June 16 he would recommend a fine for relief pitcher Tommy Toms, sent down by the parent Giants three days earlier, but not on hand as Phoenix fell to Salt Lake City, 11-7. “It shouldn’t take him three days to find his way down here,” said Blackaby, “and he might have made the difference.” The Gulls jumped on Rob Dressler, who had pitched a four-hit shutout two days earlier, for four runs in the final inning after the Giants were forced to press him into relief duty.

Tommy did find his way to Phoenix and finished the season there. With San Francisco he had a 6.10 ERA in 10 1/3 innings in seven games, while with Phoenix he had a 2.07 mark in 74 innings in 40 games, with 11 saves. He was voted a 2/5 share of the Giants’ share of the World Series money, which got him $115.60.

In 1976 Tommy went to spring training with San Francisco, but was sent to the minor league camp on April 4, and opened the season back at Phoenix. From the May 23 Arizona Republic:

T.T. tough twice in Giants’ sweep

SPOKANE—When Phoenix pitcher Tommy Toms gets back home, don’t be too surprised if his Giant teammates have tagged him “T.T.” for reasons other than the obvious.

“Two-Way Trouble,” which is just what he gave Spokane Saturday afternoon at the plate and on the mound while leading the Arizonans to 4-3 and 5-3 victories over the hometown Indians.

The sidearming North Carolinian with the southern twang recorded his second save of the season in the first game, then hit for himself and delivered a key single before coming around to score the winning run to earn the second-game win.

Not too bad a day—a save, a win, his first hit in years, and the game-winning tally before 3,279 fans at Fairgrounds Park. And in the tradition of all pitchers, his biggest thrill in pacing his club to their third and fourth consecutive victories was easily the last-inning single.

“The hit was something else,” he enthused, “especially because it was so important. The last time I hit was about three years ago in Fresno (California League).”

TSN, June 5:

Salt Lake City third baseman Ike Hampton ignited a wrestling match on May 16 when he rushed Phoenix pitcher Tommy Toms, who had dusted Hampton before a seventh-inning single in the Gulls’ 9-2 triumph. Hampton waited until the inning had ended before he grappled with Toms, leading to a bench-clearing shoving match. Said Hampton: “I told him that the next time he throws at me he had better make it worthwhile by hitting me. All the teams in the league have been throwing at us this year and we are getting tired of it. I waited until the inning was over and saw we had a safe lead before saying something. He started to pop off and I went after him.”

Despite not getting his second save until May 22, Tommy set a new PCL record with 21. Along the way, Art Rosenbaum wrote in his San Francisco Chronicle column on July 12, in an assessment of some of the Phoenix players:

Another who has the ability, in his own way, is reliever Tommy Toms. He is leading the Pacific Coast League in saves, and he is doing it with cute stuff. He is a cross between Stu Miller and Randy Jones. His speeds are slow, slower and slowest, but he gets ‘em out.

Tommy had a 2.13 ERA in 72 innings in 51 games, then was called up to San Francisco when the PCL season ended. He got his first major league save in his first game, on September 7; he relieved Jim Barr with a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-3 game, and retired Braves Cito Gaston and Jerry Royster. His 1976 San Francisco stint was very similar to 1975: seven games, a 0-1 record, and a 6.23 ERA (vs. 1975’s 6.10). He did strike out Tony Perez and Johnny Bench on consecutive days.

In 1977 Tommy went to spring training with San Francisco but was sent to the minor league complex on March 22 and opened the season with Phoenix again. From Bart Ripp’s “Ripp’s Rap” column in the April 20 Albuquerque Journal, about the Phoenix Giants and their manager, Rocky Bridges:

…The Phoenix bunch enjoys playing for Rocky because he has no dress code on the road and only this year, because of front office pressure, do Giants players have to have some neck showing beneath their hair.

“Look at a guy like (Tommy) Toms. He’s not gonna be a matinee idol, so what are you gonna do about his hair?” Bridges jokes. “He’d rather wear tennis shoes than Florsheim’s. You never know when you’re going to be walking down the street some day and you want to stuff a basket…”

The next day, Ripp did a column on Tommy:

Fireman Toms Yearns To Be Carpenter

Many major league baseball general managers nurture the nitwit notion that a ballplayer’s value correlates with his off-the-field appearance and demeanor.

These taskmasters think that unless a guy has a Kingston Trio haircut, a $40 clinging polyester shirt with smoky houris [no idea what this means] across the back, double-tight double-knit pants with the Superfly waistband and shiny red patent leather and suede shoes, he just can’t cut it in the show.

Almost any general manager who saw Tommy Toms would do what San Francisco’s Spec Richardson did: send the 25-year-old pitcher back to Phoenix for another season.

A menacing master of a relief pitcher, Toms looks like a roadie for the Grateful Dead who wandered into what he thought was an herb shop and walked out with a haircut. The Giants made Toms cut his hair this spring, but this was like messing with Sampson; Tommy was only the Pacific Coast League’s best reliever last season, compiling a 4-6 record, with a 2.13 ERA and a league record 21 saves.

“He is tough,” Dukes catcher Kevin Pasley says. “He comes from the right side and the ball moves into you. That hard slider away is tough.”

So is Toms’ snaky motion, which Phoenix manager Rocky Bridges describes as “an overgrown centipede throwing the ball home.”

The shorn centipede didn’t take to having his hair cut. “It bleeped me off,” Toms says. “Here’s a jerk weighing 300 pounds in double knits and all and I got my blue jeans on and he thinks I’M weird.”

Toms, who holds B.S. degrees from East Carolina University in physical education and—get this—driver’s education, would fit in perfectly in a jewelry class at UNM. His shirts range from loose-hanging cowboy shirts to tees proclaiming “Greenville’s second annual Halloween riot.” His jeans and red Converse high-tops are also fashionable for this spacey, sensible sort.

Tommy didn’t spend his winter at the Halloween riot, but did live in Greenville, N.C., building houses and learning to snow ski and hang glide.

“Me and my two best friends built this three-story house on the beach,” Tommy recalls, turning up the volume on The Beatles’ “Octopus Garden.” “One night, it was so still, I was laying around thinking, ‘God, I wish the wind would blow.’

“The next day we were out there and the wind was blowing 85 bleeping mph. Trees blowing over and hurricane stuff like that. It blew the house down on top of us.”

Tommy also took up hang gliding in Jockey’s Ridge, N.C., where those old space cadets Orville and Wilbur Wright used to fly.

Asked if he’d like to take off from Sandia Crest and land on the Sports Stadium mound for a game, Toms said, “I want to glide where it’s pretty, not over the Dukes or Giants stadium. I took to the hang gliding pretty good.

“The Giants don’t know about it, but what do I care?”

Tommy does care that San Francisco is wasting his talent. “They think my fastball’s not good enough,” Toms says. “I think it’s damn good. They’ll get rid of me somehow. If somebody wants me, I’m available.”

Bridges enjoys having Tommy around. “Anything I’ve asked, Tommy’s done it,” Rocky says. “When the bell rings, he’s always able to answer the door.

“It’s always a safe out to use him because I can say I’ve used my best.”

Toms, who admits he knocks down hitters who crowd the plate, is the Coast League’s answer to Mark Fidrych, only Tommy has yet to speak with the baseballs or mind the mound. Tommy’s sinker is just as low and hard to hit as Fidrych’s, he also doesn’t seem to care what the Establishment thinks of him, but he has yet to be appreciated by baseball fans and executives.

“If it wasn’t for the money in baseball, I’d love to be a carpenter,” Toms says. “I could work a little, goof off a little.

“I’m not out to make a million dollars. I just want to enjoy life.”

TSN, June 11:

TOMS IS BASKETBALL FAN

Perhaps not typical, but certainly worth noting are the sentiments of Phoenix reliever Tommy Toms on the chances of Arizona State University signing prep basketball phenom Albert King of New York City. “I’ve already talked it over with the wife,” revealed Toms, a Virginia native who closely follows the Atlantic Coast Conference cage race each winter. “If ASU gets King, we’re seriously considering staying here next winter. If he goes to Maryland, we’ll go back to Virginia.”

On June 22 Tommy was called up to San Francisco when Lynn McGlothen was put on the disabled list; he was leading the league in wins (7) and saves (8). He got into four games in the next two weeks, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings, but since only one run was earned his ERA was just 2.08. He had his third straight 0-1 record. He then went back to Phoenix, where he ended the season with a 10-3 record and a league-leading 19 saves (second-best was nine), with a 2.81 ERA in 77 innings in 53 games. He was named Phoenix’s most valuable pitcher, and he was returned to the San Francisco roster in mid-September, though told to report in spring training rather than immediately.

During spring training 1978, on April 3, Tommy was sold to the Springfield Redbirds of the American Association, the Cardinals’ AAA affiliate. From Larry Harnly’s column in the May 2 Springfield State Journal-Register:

Summing up pitching at Lanphier Park

Your assignment, Tommy Toms, is to sum up pitching at Lanphier Park in five words or less.

“Do they have to be a printable five words?” Toms asked with a smile…

Pitching at Lanphier Park, with its friendly (for hitters) power alleys, has been hazardous to the mental well-being of Springfield pitchers.

Toms, an easy-going type, could have been critical of the short dimensions, but he was not. “I like this park,” he said. “The grass is super. The fences could be longer and higher. If you put some height on the fences, they would be OK. But you can’t have everything.”

…How does Toms cope with the feeling that goes with giving up a late home run that beats his team?

“Coping with it is not as much of a problem as it probably should be,” Toms replied. “I wish it would bother me more.

“I was involved in a great pennant race this winter in Puerto Rico. Things seem less magnified here so far.”

One year ago, Toms was outstanding for Phoenix of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He was 10-3 with 19 saves and a 2.81 earned run average. He enjoyed life in the Coast League.

“My second goal is to get back in the Coast League,” said Toms, coming up with a rather unique goal.

His first goal is obvious—pitching in the majors. He was still the property of the Giants when they put together a package to obtain Vida Blue from the A’s.

“I was sick I wasn’t in that deal,” Toms said. “I would have been back with Jack McKeon (Oakland coach who managed him this winter). I think I would have made that team.”

Instead, Toms was traded—at least he thinks so—to the Cardinal organization during spring training. “I feel I belong to St. Louis and I think I do, but nothing would surprise me,” Toms said…

“I’m not surprised I was traded. I hoped I would go to Oakland or Seattle.”

Toms said he thinks he’s part of an excellent Springfield pitching staff. “I’ve never seen a (minor league) team as deep in pitching as this one,” he added.

“There are no scrubbinis in the bullpen—unless I’m a scrubbini.”

Toms’ quotes are better than most. At 26, he knows it’s about time to make his move toward the major league scene.

“I could go from prospect to suspect,” he said. “All they’d have to do is put the p there and take the s out.”

Toms, a Greenwood, Va., product, said he likes Springfield. “I like country living,” said Toms, the father of a 4-month-old daughter.

If you’re wondering what players do here during their free time, consider what Toms would like to do. “I hope to plant a garden,” he said.

TSN, July 1:

Reliever Toms Suffers After Sterling Seasons

SPRINGFIELD—The past two years, reliever Tommy Toms totaled 40 saves and a 14-9 record while being named the most valuable player for Phoenix (Pacific Coast) both seasons.

Peddled by the San Francisco Giants’ organization to Springfield just before the start of the current season, Toms suffered four straight losses and had a 6.35 ERA before claiming his first win June 15.

What had gone wrong for Toms?

“I’ve gotten some pitches up, and I’ve gotten burned on them,” responded Toms. “I’ve had good velocity for me. But my slider has not been good. That’s usually my out pitch.

“I don’t lack confidence, and I don’t have a negative attitude,” added Toms. “I’ve been pitching terrible, and I am disappointed. When I pitch more, I think I’ll get better.”

Said Redbird Manager Jimy Williams: “Location is his problem. He’s up too much with his pitches.”

Tommy’s ERA was down to 5.09 when on July 12 he was loaned to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, the Orioles’ AAA affiliate, to make room for a pitcher called up to Springfield from AA. He pitched 27 innings in ten games for them, one a start, and had a 6.00 ERA. In August the Red Wings returned him to Springfield, who turned around and loaned him to the Tucson Toros of the PCL, a Texas Rangers affiliate; sounds like Tommy was no longer valued in Springfield. For Tucson he had an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings in eight games.

In February 1979 Tommy made a few appearances in the Wilson (NC) Daily Times; he participated in a baseball clinic at a high school in Snow Hill, and was the high scorer in a couple of church league basketball games. Also that month Springfield traded him to the Rangers organization for outfielder Keith Smith. I didn’t find anything more about him until the PCL report in the May 12 Sporting News, which reported: “Free agent Tommy Toms, one of the league’s foremost relievers from 1975 through 1977 with Phoenix, was working himself into shape for a possible spot in Tucson’s bullpen.” Apparently that didn’t pan out, and Tommy’s pro career was over.

In 1982 Tommy’s name started popping up in the Wilson Daily Times again, playing church league basketball and mixed doubles tennis and, as youth leader, driving the van for a group of church puppeteers. 

From October 14, 1985:

Former Major Leaguer Now A People Person

By Jim Fitzgerald

Daily Times Staff Writer

It is appropriate that kids are one of the most important aspects of Tommy Toms’ life because he thinks he is really just a kid himself.

“In the three most important areas of my life, I deal with kids,” he said. “In my family, in my job and in my church, I’m surrounded by kids, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He is a health and physical education teacher in the Wilson County school system, he is one of the youth directors at the First Baptist Church and he is the father of three children of his own.

Toms is a contradiction. While he has a sharp wit and is quick with a joke, there is always an underlying sense of seriousness and concern. While he appears carefree and casual, he can also be extremely compassionate.

He said he took the “Los Angeles Raider” approach to life by reaching out and taking what he wants. He said his life’s motto was taken from a song by Ricky Nelson, “You can’t please everyone so you got to please yourself.”

That is on the surface. Once past that, there is another side, a side that had not always been there. In short, Toms has become more of a people person.

As a former professional baseball player, he said one of the main reasons he made it to the major leagues was his ability to not care about other people.

“When I was pitching, I wasn’t afraid to stick that ball right in someone’s ear. To me, it was win at any cost, and the hitters knew that.”

Toms said he was not a great athlete. He made it because of his desire to win and his ability to intimidate other players.

“Now I wouldn’t trade the relationships I have here in Wilson for anything,” he said. “I’ve care [sic] about people now.”

As an example, from 1980 to 1982, he and his wife, the former Susan Bussey, worked as houseparents for 17 girls at the Oxford Orphanage.

“The girls were mostly between 7 and 11 years old and most of them really weren’t orphans,” said Toms. “They were just unwanted.”

The courts had taken most of the children away from their parents because of neglect or abuse, he said. “I think it is easier to be an orphan than it is to be unwanted,” he said. “That was a tough job. We had to be the mom and dad for those kids 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Toms is also a Sunday School teacher and youth worker for the First Baptist Church—something he says he does because he wants to and not because he happened to marry the daughter of the Rev. William Bussey, the church’s pastor…

Toms’ job supplies the third contact he has with youth. He teaches health and physical education to fourth through seventh graders at Darden-Vick and Elvie elementary schools…

Toms said he enjoyed playing Class AAA ball as much, if not more, than playing in the major league.

One of the reasons, he said, was because of some of the towns the team played—Salt Lake City, San Jose, Calif., and Albuquerque, N.M. “I used to go camping and fishing between games,” he said. “That’s not something you can do in the majors.”

…He left baseball with no regrets.

“I’ve learned from everything I’ve done in life. Baseball was a great vehicle for me to see the country, to see things I’ll probably never get to see again,” he said. “I really don’t have any regrets about anything I’ve done in my life…

“Everyone’s life has its highs and lows. If I had my life to live over, all of the valleys and all of the peaks, I wouldn’t remove the valleys. That is where I’ve learned the most. Without the valleys, you don’t appreciate the peaks.”

In the years that followed, Tommy continued to pop up in the Wilson Daily Times, coaching Boys Club baseball, basketball, and football, coaching high school baseball, coaching Babe Ruth baseball, playing church basketball, playing tennis, and teaching English as a second language. 

The last I found of him was a picture of him at the end of the Appalachian Trail from August 2003. As I post this he is about a week away from his 70^th birthday.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/Ptomst101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tomsto01.shtml