Chuck Wolfe

Chuck Wolfe pitched in three games for the 1923 Philadelphia Athletics.

Charles Hunt Wolfe was born February 15, 1897, in Wolfsburg, in south-central Pennsylvania, the youngest of six children of blacksmith Albert Wolfe and Sarah Whetstone Wolfe. Albert and Sarah were both from Pennsylvania and they started their family there, but their second and third children were born in North Dakota before the Wolfes returned to Pennsylvania.

The 1900 census finds the Wolfes living in Mann’s Choice Borough in Bedford County. Oldest child George is already a schoolteacher at age 18; Glenn is 15, Annie 11, Grace 9, and Charley 3. 13-year-old Pearl has been shipped off to be a servant for Sarah’s brother George Whetstone and his family.

In the 1910 census the family lives on Market Street in Napier Township, still in Bedford County. Albert is still a blacksmith at 57, Sarah is 56, George is 27, still teaching and still living at home. Annie, now shown as Anna, is 21, Grace is 19, and Charley is 13; Glenn and Pearl are both married and living elsewhere.

Albert passed away in 1913. I didn’t find anything about Chuck between the 1910 census and June 5, 1918, when he filled out his draft registration card. He gives his name as Charley Hunt Wolfe, his address as Schellsburg (in Bedford County), his employer as the State Highway Department, near Schellsburg, his nearest relative as his mother, also of Schellsburg, and his appearance as light brown eyes, light brown hair, medium height and medium build.

In 1922, at age 25, Chuck was mentioned in the March 9 Sporting News as being one of the pitchers at the Philadelphia Athletics’ training camp. But the March 16 issue reported:

At this writing everybody on the roster had reported excepting Pitcher Ed Rommel, First Baseman Joe Hauser and Pitcher Wolfe. The last named has permission to finish his studies at college and will not report until June.

However, by late April Chuck was pitching for the House of David barnstorming baseball team. The House of David was a religious sect from Michigan, and it had a baseball team that traveled the country playing against local teams. They were known for their long hair and beards; when they hired ringers, such as Chuck Wolfe or an aging Grover Cleveland Alexander, sometimes the players grew out their hair and sometimes they wore wigs.

The first mention of Chuck with the House of David that I found was in the April 30, 1922, Evansville Courier:

The Evas defeated the House of David team yesterday in the first of two exhibition games, 4 to 2…

Wolfe, the House of David twirler, was in rare form and served up some mighty sweet curves for the local boys to glance over. This was the first real chance the Evas have had to hit curve pitching and they did well…

Chuck spent the year with the House of David. In the games that I found where he was mentioned as pitching the team was 1-5 with two ties; a 1924 article says that he won 42 and lost 9 for them, which seems unlikely.

On August 2, 1923, Chuck made his major league debut with the Athletics. I found no mentions of his pitching for anyone earlier in the season than that; it’s possible that he was being carried on the Philadelphia roster but not being allowed to pitch in any league games. On this day, at home against the Tigers, he relieved Rollie Naylor to begin the sixth, down 3-1. In his first inning he retired Bob Jones, Ty Cobb, and Harry Heilmann around a walk to Heinie Manush, but in the seventh he allowed three runs; the Athletics scored four in the eighth and ninth and lost 6-5. Chuck singled in his only plate appearance.

Chuck next pitched on the 13^th, at home against Cleveland in the second game of a doubleheader. He relieved starter Slim Harriss with two out in the fourth, following a three-run homer by Tris Speaker that put the Indians up 7-2. The first batter he faced, Joe Sewell, hit his third and final home run of the season, but Chuck finished the game without giving up another run and the Athletics made it close, losing 8-6. The next day’s Cleveland Plain Dealer, in their story on the game, called Chuck “an ambitious youngster who has been with the Quakers only a short time.”

On the 18^th in Cleveland, Chuck pitched to one batter, replacing Curly Ogden with two out in the bottom of the eighth and the bases loaded and retiring Rube Lutzke for the final Indian out in a 16-3 Athletic loss. This was his final major league appearance, though he remained on the Philadelphia roster and pitched for them in some exhibition games, including August 21 vs. Milwaukee of the American Association and August 29 vs. Worcester of the Eastern League. In his three official games he had a 3.72 ERA in 9 2/3 innings, allowing six hits while walking eight and striking out one.

On October 8 Chuck was sold to the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. The next day’s Oregon Journal described him as “a six-footer,” and the January 15, 1924, Oregonian called him a “strapping young fellow,” but the same paper on March 4 got it right, once they actually saw him:

Wolfe is short and almost squat in appearance, due to the tremendous breadth of his shoulders and depth of chest.

He weighs 175 pounds normally and is five feet 7 inches tall, but few would guess him to be more than five feet five, so close to the ground is he built. He comes with a reputation for great speed, and he looks the part.

Chuck impressed in spring training, which was at Stockton, California. From the March 14 Oregon Journal:

In speaking of the pitching squad, Turner declares that Charles Wolfe is the best looking pitcher of the new comers and concedes the former House of David hurler a place on the regular staff. Wolfe is a pitcher built along the lines of the late Gene Krapp, although somewhat bigger and heavier than “Rubber.”

(If you’re thinking, “Gee, I’d sure like to read a biography of Gene ‘Rubber’ Krapp,” see here:

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Gene-Krapp/)

The March 24 Los Angeles Daily News ran a report on the Portland team that touted two newcomers: Mickey Cochrane and Chuck. Chuck had a rough time in an intrasquad game on April 5, allowing 12 runs in five innings; the report in the next day’s Oregon Journal included the following tidbit:

The weather was almost perfect, the sun shining down with midsummer intensity. The game was stopped in the fifth inning to permit the Ku Klux Klan to rehearse a ritual that they are going to stage at an initiation at Oak Park tonight.

Despite this performance, Chuck was still well thought of, the Portland News saying on the 9^th that he “looks the class of the young right handers. He will no doubt be kept.” 

The season had opened the day before, but Chuck didn’t get into a game until the 15^th, when he pitched the last two innings of a 12-3 loss in Sacramento, giving up the final run. It doesn’t sound like a particularly bad outing, but the Beavers had seen enough of him, as seen in the May 14 Oregon Journal:

Pitcher Wolfe Is Sold to Bridgeport

President Klepper of the Portland Baseball club announced Tuesday night [13^th] that Pitcher Charley Wolfe had been sold by Scout Tom Turner to Bridgeport, Conn., in the Eastern league. Klepper received a wire from Turner asking Wolfe to leave for the East at once, and the latter will pack his bag and begin the transcontinental journey this morning.

Wolfe, who came to the Beavers this season, was in one game for a few innings during the opening series in the South, but his showing was not up to expectations and he was left behind when the Beavers left for Seattle last week.

This was a step down, from AA to A. Chuck pitched for Bridgeport the rest of the season. The June 28 Springfield Republican mentioned that he had won four games in the previous week, but his record for the season was 11-12, with a 3.55 ERA in 208 innings in 32 games. He was on the Bridgeport reserve list the following off-season.

Chuck returned to Bridgeport for 1925, and was their opening day starter, pitching a complete game but losing 2-1. He had a 2-1 record and 2.12 ERA in 34 innings in five games when, on May 13, as reported in the next day’s Bridgeport Telegram, this happened:

CHUCK WOLFE HURT AS LOCALS TRIUMPH, 4-1

Fractures Kneecap While Attempting to Score in Fifth—Eddie Burke Features.

…Chuck Wolfe, who started on the mound for Bridgeport, fractured his knee in the fifth inning when he attempted to score from third base on a delayed double steal with Henzes. He had to be carried off the field and will be out of the game for several weeks. Wolfe was pitching steady ball, having held the visitors to five scattered hits. He did not allow a pass and had retired four men on strikes.

The prognosis was not so good on June 5:

Chuck Wolfe will be out of the hospital this week. His leg is still in a cast and will be so for three weeks. He will probably be on crutches for a month following this. It is certain that he will not play ball again this year.

It was certain, and he did not. Chuck returned to the team for spring training 1926. The Bridgeport Telegram reported on March 16:

With Chuck Wolfe in none too good condition; Frank Wotell not wanted; Joe Burns about all done; and Bob Caffrey nursing a bad injury received in football, the prospects of the local team are exceedingly poor.

Chuck started the regular season with Bridgeport but, with a 5.21 ERA in 19 innings in six games, he was released on May 19. He hooked on with the Manchester Blue Sox of the Class B New England League, where he finished the season, going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA in 202 innings in 29 games as the Blue Sox won the league championship.

Chuck returned to Manchester in 1927. From the Lynn Daily Item, April 14:

JEAN DUBUC IS STILL THE BLUE SOX CLUB PILOT

MANCHESTER, N.H., April 14, 1927.—Replying yesterday to reports from Worcester that he had been signed as manager of the East Douglas club of the Blackstone Valley League, Jean Dubuc made emphatic denial that he is to leave Manchester this season…

In the course of the conversation with Dubuc, he announced that Chuck Wolfe, star pitcher of the club last season and the ranking right-hander of the league, and Jake Wimer, veteran shortstop, have been sold to East Douglas. It was a cash proposition but no price was mentioned. Both will be placed on the voluntarily retired list, thereby remaining the property of the local club.

The Blackstone Valley League was a semi-pro league comprised of textile mill teams, which explains how the Blue Sox would retain ownership of Chuck and Jake while they played for another team, but does not explain why they would be sending their best pitcher to play semi-pro ball. But since the New England League season didn’t begin until mid-May, I suppose it was an alternative to spring training for getting them into shape, plus the team made a few bucks.

Chuck pitched for the Blue Sox on opening day, May 17, and threw a three-hit shutout while striking out ten. He stayed with them all season, though he and a teammate missed the Labor Day weekend due to having been loaned to East Douglas. Chuck finished with a 15-10 record, same as in 1926, though his ERA dropped from 3.56 to 2.61.

In 1928 Chuck returned to Manchester, but in mid-July he somehow made his way to Lewiston of the same league. Between the two teams he was 12-13 with a 2.70 ERA in 193 innings in 27 games.

Chuck was back with Lewiston for 1929. From the June 12 Boston Herald:

Chuck Wolfe, married today [the 11^th], made a honeymoon out of the game with Lowell and the Twins won, 6 to 2. Wolfe held the Millers scoreless until the ninth, fanned six and walked only one man.

Chuck’s bride was Anna Catharine (known as Catharine) Horne of Bedford County; they were married in Lewiston. From the July 25 Springfield Republican:

HURLERS SUSPENDED

Lewiston, Me., July 24—(AP) William (Windy) Diehl and Charles (Chuck) Wolfe, pitchers on the Lewiston-Auburn club of the New England League, have been suspended, according to a statement issued today by Manager Jesse Burkett. Burkett said the two hurlers would have to tell the reason for the suspension. Richard Hunnewell, president of the club, said the two men had ordered [sic] to go to New York for examination by physicians, but had refused to comment further.

I didn’t find anything more about this, and both players were back in action by mid-August. Chuck had a 7-4 record and 4.05 ERA in 131 innings in 22 games.

In the 1930 census, taken April 24, Chuck and Catharine are living in Schellsburg, Bedford County, in a rented house. Chuck is a 33-year-old ball player; Catharine is 35.

Chuck returned to Lewiston, where he was again part of the starting rotation. From the June 20 Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: "York last night obtained a new pitcher, Charley Wolfe, who came here from the New England League, which circuit gives signs of breaking up."

The New England League did break up, two days later, and apparently nobody ever compiled the final statistics. I only found one game that Chuck pitched for York, of the Class B New York-Pennsylvania League, in relief on June 25. He didn’t appear in the NY-Penn stats, which means he didn’t appear in ten games and didn’t pitch 45 innings. His Sporting News obituary suggests that he went from there to the Johnstown Johnnies of the Class C Middle Atlantic League, but I didn’t find any details on that. This seems to have been the end of his professional baseball career, though in 1932 he was pitching for the Schellsburg town team, as reported in the June 3 Bedford Gazette:

SCHELLSBURG NINE BEATS SCALP LEVEL TEAM

As a part of the Memorial Day celebration, the Schellsburg baseball club, showing a tremendous batting power, swamped the Scalp Level team to the tune of 15-4.

Chuck Wolfe, a former pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, held Scalp Level to 7 scattered hits, most of the 4 runs being scored on errors of which Schellsburg had 6.

The 1940 census shows Chuck, Catharine, and six-year-old son Clive living in Schellsburg, in a house they own, valued at $1600. They lived in the same house in 1935. Chuck has an eighth grade education, is a laborer for a private estate, worked 18 hours in the last week of March, worked 32 weeks in 1939, for which he earned $470. Catharine is 45 and has two years of college.

The 1950 census shows them living on Pitt Street in Schellsburg, in the “last house before bank.” Chuck is 53 and unable to work, Anna is 55 and keeping house, and Clive is 16.

On November 27, 1957, Chuck passed away in Schellsburg, at age 60. His death certificate gives his occupation as school custodian, and the cause of death as carcinoma of left lung, which had been diagnosed four months previously. The Associated Press reported on his death on November 28, shown here as it appeared in the Washington Evening Star a day later:

Ex-A’s Hurler Dies

BEDFORD, Pa., Nov. 29 (AP)—Charles H. Wolfe, 60, of nearby Schellsburg, died yesterday at his home. He pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1923 season.

His obituary from the December 11 Sporting News:

Charles H. (Chuck) Wolfe, 60, who was signed as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics by Connie Mack in 1923, died at his home in Schellsburg, Pa., November 27.

Wolfe appeared in three games with no decisions for the A’s. He was sent to Portland, Ore., in 1924, but was released to Bridgeport and subsequently performed with Manchester, Lewiston-Auburn, York and Johnstown before ending his career in 1930. His wife and a son survive.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/Pwolfc101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wolfech01.shtml

John Radcliff

John Radcliff played for four teams in the National Association of 1871-75.

John Young (or Yardell) Radcliff (or Radcliffe) was born June 29, 1848 (or 1846), in Philadelphia to John and Mary Radcliff. The 1850 census shows the family in Philadelphia County; John Sr. is a 32-year-old trunk maker, Mary is 29, Samuel 7, Catherine 6, John is listed as 4, and Mary 1.

In the 1860 census the family lives in Camden, New Jersey. John Sr. is still a trunk maker but has only aged 7 years; Mary has aged 9, Samuel 11, Catherine (now Kate) 10, John 10, and Mary 11, plus there is now 10-year-old Sallie.

At some point John started playing baseball, which in the 1860s was very different from today, or even from the 1890s, and not just in terms of the rules. There were no professional leagues, and ostensibly no professional teams, though many upper-level teams paid some of their players. In 1867 he made his way to the Athletic club of Philadelphia, one of the country’s top teams, as reported in the June 9 New York Dispatch:

We understand that the Athletics intend taking Radcliffe, a member of the Camden and Keystone clubs, on to Boston to catch for them. This is in direct violation of the rules, which say that a player must be a member of a club thirty days before playing in match games with them. Mr. Radcliffe is now a member of three clubs, and we advise the Eastern clubs to look out for him and enforce the rules. This borrowing men from other clubs won’t do.

“The rules” were the rules of the National Association of Base Ball Players, the governing body of “amateur” baseball. Despite the warning, John played right field for the Athletics against Lowell in Boston on June 13, and hit two of the team’s eight home runs as they won 53-8. He continued to play for the Athletic club, mostly catching. That year’s Camden city directory shows John Radcliff as a produce dealer, living at 420 Hamilton Street with Samuel; the Philadelphia city directory shows John Radcliffe with a butcher shop at 274 5^th Street Market, but living in Camden. The 1870 census will show both Johns as produce dealers, but our John will go into meat and poultry after his father’s death, so perhaps he is the butcher.

On March 29, 1868, the New York Dispatch reported:

They had a good time on the Camden grounds, Camden, on the 17^th inst. Al. Reach, Sensenderfer, Radcliff, Fisler, Kahmer, McMullin, D. Carter, Albertson, Borquin, Clarke, A. Howard, and several other well-known ball-tossers were upon the field, and sides were chosen, and a sharp game of six innings was played, resulting in favor of Radcliff’s side by a score of 21 to 15.

Philadelphia Inquirer, May 11:

The Athletic nine this season, will be composed of the following players: J.D. McBride, A.J. Reach, John Radcliff, Isaac Wilkins, Weston Fisler, Thomas Berry, John Sensenderfer, Edward Cuthbert, and their new player, Schaefer.

The Athletics made a tour of the western states, or what were the western states at the time, and on June 6 they defeated the famous Cincinnati Red Stockings, 20-13. The Cincinnati Daily Gazette reported on the 8^th:

There was a good deal of excitement over the matter in the evening, at the hotels, in the saloons, and elsewhere. It is generally conceded that, on the whole, the game was the best that has ever been played in the West.

On June 18 John scored 12 runs as the Athletics defeated the Forest City club of Rockford, Illinois, 94-18. On July 25 the Camden New Republic reported:

BASE BALL—The Athletic Base Ball Club has lost the services of its catcher, Mr. John Radcliffe, of this city, he having sent in his resignation last Tuesday morning. On the previous evening he left for New York, where he has joined the Mutual Club and is expected to play in the game with the Atlantic on the 30^th inst.

But five days later, in the New York Tribune:

Radcliffe has returned to Philadelphia, and rejoined the Athletics. It may be remembered that Radcliffe joined the Mutual Club of this city a week ago.

John finished the year with the Athletics, usually catching and batting third. He was recognized as a star, as suggested by this item from the Dodgeville (WI) Chronicle of January 22, 1869:

The gold medals offered by the New York Clipper to the nine base ball players making the best average during the season of 1868, have been awarded to Messrs. Radcliffe, McBride, Foster, Reach and Sensenderfer of the Philadelphia Athletics, Waterman and Johnson of the Cincinnatis and Wright of the Unions of Morrisania.

By this time it was being reported that John would be joining the Cincinnati Red Stockings, but it doesn’t seem to have actually happened, and instead he wound up back with the Keystone club of Philadelphia, one of the teams he had left for the Athletics in 1867. At the end of May it was reported that he had left the club, and on June 6 the New York Dispatch relayed the story:

Mr. H.R. Hellier, corresponding secretary of the Keystone Club of Philadelphia, in a letter to the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury, which we publish below, explains the rumors, and gives the facts in regard to the resignation of Radcliff from the Keystones.

Base Ball Editor Sunday Mercury: In the issue of the City Item, dated May 19, appears the following:

“Radcliffe, we hear, has resigned from the Keystone. A great loss. He wanted regular pay, as promised, and he should have had it. They’ll miss him.”

Radcliffe signed an agreement to play with the Keystones for the season of 1869, for $10 per week, which was paid him, viz: April 30, $10. He then said $10 per week was not enough to pay him for his time, so the club agreed to give him $15 per week. They paid him $15 on the 8^th of May, and $15 on the 15^th of May. On the 22^nd of May Mr. Radcliffe called on me and said he had called at the Treasurer’s house and could not find him in. I asked him if he wanted any money, or would wait till Tuesday, when he would see the Treasurer on the ground. He replied that he would like some money then. I gave him $10—all the money I had in my pocket—and he went away perfectly satisfied. On Monday, the 24^th, I received the following communication through the post:

                                                                                                                CAMDEN, May 22d, 1869.

To the officers and members of the Keystone Base Ball Club:--

I offer this as my resignation, for reasons to devote myself to the business duties of life. Wishing success to the club, I am very respectfully yours,

                                                                                JOHN RADCLIFFE, JR.

These are the facts of the case,

HENRY R. HELLIER, Cor. Sec. Keystone B.B.C.

John made his way back to the Athletics, with whom he traveled to Brooklyn for a game against the Atlantic club on July 5. The New York Dispatch reported on the 11^th:

When the two nines finally presented themselves in attitude for play, much disappointment was felt at seeing Radcliffe in the Athletic nine, as his presence (not being entitled to play) made it evident to all that the game was to be a social one instead of a regular match game, as had been anticipated; and we were informed by a Philadelphia reporter who accompanied the Athletics that the intention all along had been to make the two first games mere contests for gate money, the regular matches to be played in the Fall. All this would have been overlooked, however, had a fine display of science and skill been afforded; but such was not the case, the fielding being the poorest shown by either club this season, four hours being occupied in getting the twenty-seven hands out on each side. The batting was the only redeeming feature, the display in this respect being certainly very fine, every man striking as though his sole aim and desire was to make a home run. Every player in both nines fielded miserably, dropping fly balls, muffing grounders, throwing wildly, in fact, conducting themselves like the veriest muffins, the few good points that were made being entirely lost in the avalanche of bad play.

John played the rest of the year with the Athletics, generally catching and batting eighth.

The 1870 census shows the family living in Camden. John Sr. is a 52-year-old produce dealer, with real estate valued at $1500 and personal estate of $1000. Mary is 48. Samuel is a 27-year-old produce dealer with $2200 in real estate, John is a 22-year-old produce dealer, Mary Jr. is 20, and Sallie is now Sarah and is 17. On March 14 the Cleveland Daily Herald reported in its “Base Ball Items” column:

…In other cities throughout the country the “busy notes of preparation” admonish us that the season of 1870 will be one of unusual activity. The Athletic Club of Philadelphia, the Champions of Pennsylvania, and long contestants for the higher title of “Champions of America,” have completed their nine as follows: …John Radcliffe, short stop…

That spring the Cincinnati Semi-Weekly Gazette ran position-by-position reports on the top teams in the country, covering the Athletics in their April 5 issue:

BASE BALL.

Leading Clubs of the United States

ATHLETIC, OF PHILADELPHIA

The Athletics, the pet club of Philadelphia, will make a determined struggle, this year; for the honor of being considered the best club in the United States, and also for the possession of the whip pennant, the emblem of the championship. They mean business, and present one of the strongest nines in the country with which to wrestle for the supremacy in our national game…

SHORT STOP.

Johnny Radcliffe, the “little Jerseyman,” will play short stop in the Athletic Nine, and will undoubtedly maintain his well earned reputation as one of the best players we have. “Red” joined the Philadelphia Club in 1867 as catcher, which position he filled during 1867 and 1868 in a style that has never been surpassed by any catcher, with the exception of Allison, of the Cincinnati club. Radcliffe is a splendid general player also, and a good change pitcher. He combines all the requisites of a first-class shortstop—pluckiness in facing all kinds of hot balls, agility and good throwing qualities. As a batsman he is one of the top lights of the fraternity, and although a very small man [5-6, 140], he can bat a ball a tremendous distance, and is also a very safe hitter and a good base runner.

He was engaged for the Red Stocking Nine in the early part of last season, but owing to the troubles he became involved in with his old club, he was released from his engagement to the Cincinnatis, and returned to Philadelphia. The Athletics will do well to retain him…

John did play shortstop, usually batting seventh. On June 22 the Red Stockings came to Philadelphia, and the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer reported:

To-day the Red Stockings achieved the greatest victory of their brilliant record, defeating the undoubted second best nine in the country, the best nine the famous Athletics ever presented on a ball-field, and the so-called champions of the United States, in the face of the partially unfriendly crowd of over 20,000 people, after a hard up-hill fight. The game, too, was played with an elastic ball, the choice of the Athletics, and therefore favoring batting rather than fielding, and long hits being in order, of course the Philadelphia players were the gainers when the ball was knocked into the crowd friendly to them…

John hit three singles and a homer, scoring four runs, as the Red Stockings won 27-25. On July 26 the New York World reported:

The Athletics appeared in their new uniform, consisting of light gray and blue plaid stockings, white flannel trowsers, with a white bow at the knees, a flesh colored silk shirt, with a short white flannel jacket, and a flat topped cap of the same material.

In October it was again reported that John would be joining the Red Stockings, but the team disbanded and he wound up back with the Athletics, now part of the newly formed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the first professional league, often considered retroactively to have been the first major league. The first game was played on May 4, though the Athletics didn’t play their first league game until the 20^th.

John played shortstop and batted third in the order that season. The Athletics won the pennant with a 21-7 record; most games the teams played were not official league games. John hit .303 (the league average was .287), tied for third in runs scored with 47, and was second in fielding percentage among shortstops at .804.

After the season John signed with Baltimore for 1872. They finished in second place with a 35-19 record, while John led the league with 297 at-bats—and also with 74 errors, most of them at shortstop—hitting .290. As an indication of how much the game centered around putting the ball in play, he had two strikeouts and no walks.

John returned to Baltimore in 1873 and split time between shortstop and third base. He hit .287 but his extra base hits were down considerably.

The 1874 Camden city directory shows John Radcliff as a poultry dealer, Samuel Radcliff as a poultry dealer, and John Y. Radcliff as a gentleman, all at 556 Berkley Street. Maybe John Sr. had retired, or maybe our John was doing so well with the baseball thing that he didn’t need to work.

Early in 1874 John signed with a new team to the National Association, a second team for Philadelphia. Baseball Reference calls them the Philadelphia Whites, but at the time they were generally just referred to as the Philadelphia Club, as opposed to the Athletic Club of Philadelphia. In February it was reported that John’s contract was for $1200. From the Philadelphia Dispatch, March 22:

The Philadelphia nine, although new in composition and association, will be comprised of as strong players as the country can produce…At second base either Craver or Radcliff will probably flourish…Radcliff is also one of the most available infielders in the country, and will render great service to the Quakers during the season…

John played every position except pitcher and catcher for the Philadelphia Club, but most often in the outfield. In July he was accused of trying to enlist Umpire William McLean to help him and some teammates to throw a game to the Chicago White Stockings in Chicago. From the Chicago Tribune, September 4:

THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA CLUB.

Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3.—Several reports have been given of the investigation into the actions of certain men of the Philadelphia and Chicago clubs. The affidavits made have all been carefully kept under lock and key, and none but the Investigating Committee were allowed to know their contents. Despite all this secret working, your correspondent got hold of the following affidavit, which tells the whole tale, and is strictly a verbatim copy:

William McLean, residing at 197 Grand avenue, being sworn, doth depose and say: I was in Chicago at the time the Philadelphia Base-Ball Club arrived in that city to play the Chicago Club, and it was understood between the two clubs that I was to umpire all three games to be played in that city. Previous to the first game being played, and on the same day, I was approached by John Radcliffe, one of the players of the Philadelphia Base-Ball Club. He took me to one side, in the hotel (the Clifton) where they were stopping, and told me that he had $350 which he gave to his brother to bet in Philadelphia on the result of this game, stating at the same time that it was all the money he had, and that he would give me one-half if I gave my decision in favor of the White Stockings. He also stated that there were four others in with him. He named them as Cummings, Hicks, Craver, and Mack, and himself, and wanted the game to result in favor of the Whites. When he offered me one-half of the $350, I told him I would have nothing to do with it, and I said I would umpire the game the same as I had done all the other games. He said they were all together, and that Cummings was to put the balls right on the bat. During the game, I saw Craver go to Zettlein at the end of one of the innings. He raised his hand to his mouth and said, “If you cannot win this game you cannot win any, as you have got it all your own way.” I also saw Craver at second base pick up a ball, drop it, fumble it, and instead of throwing it to first, having plenty of time, he threw backwards over his head. He also picked up a ball close to Mack and threw hard and wide to first base to prevent the runner from being put out. Cummings, Hicks, Craver, Mack, and Radcliffe did not play, in my opinion, as they ought to play. Cummings pitched during the game nice for the batter. I mean to say that he pitched the ball as if he wanted the batters to hit it. Hicks did not throw to second base as he can do and ought to have done, the players stealing second base with impunity. What confirms me in my opinion was a remark that I heard Hicks make to Cuthbert, “If you can show me any man that is wrong, I will give you $25.” Sworn and subscribed to this 20^th day of August, A.D, 1874.

                                                                                                    WILLIAM MCLEAN.

J.P. DELANEY, Alderman.

Radcliffe and his brother deny the truth of the charges. The Committee have rendered a report to-night recommending J.T. [sic] Radcliffe’s immediate expulsion, and reprimanding the Directors for a lack of discipline; also for negligence in the performance of their duties.

On September 9 the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on a meeting of the club members the previous night, in which the five-man committee presented their reports. Two members concluded that John had been proven guilty while his teammates had not; two members felt that the evidence had failed to show that anyone was guilty; and one member said that he had originally signed the statement of the first two but had reconsidered, now feeling that he had no idea whether John was guilty but believing that his teammates were not. Another meeting was held on the 9^th, and the Cleveland Leader of the 12^th shared the New York Times’ report on it:

BASE BALL.

The Charges Against the Philadelphia Nine—Radcliffe Ejected From the Club, and the Other Players Censured.

Correspondent to the New York Times.

PHILADELPHIA, September 9, 1874.

The investigation into the charges of selling out by members of the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, of which mention has heretofore been made in the Times, concluded this evening. Radcliffe, the accused party, presented to the club this afternoon a document reflecting seriously on McLean’s character, but the allegations had, it is said, but little weight among the members of the club. McLean, on the other hand, submitted a letter to the club, in which he offered to withdraw the charges made against Radcliffe, assigning as his reason the fact that he thought it was decidedly unfair to have “Johnny” thrown overboard and made to bear all the blame, when his companions would be exonerated. In offering to withdraw the charges, however, McLean said he did not mean to back water, but that he still held Radcliffe and the others to be guilty. The club then voted by 26 to 15 to eject Radcliffe from the club, and a vote of censure was passed on the other players for the loose manner in which they had been playing, Radcliffe signified his intention of carrying the matter before the judiciary committee to have his character vindicated, and failing to secure satisfaction there, he will take the case to the courts, and commence suit against his accusers for conspiracy. The club authorized a reward of $300 to be paid to any person, producing testimony to convict any other player of the nine of dishonest practice. The action of the meeting debars Radcliffe playing in any professional club in the country until his character is cleared.

As a clarification, it was the members of the athletic club who voted 26 to 15, not specifically the members of the club’s baseball team. While with the team John played in 23 games (the team played 58 for the season) and hit .243 in 103 at-bats.

John continued to fight for reinstatement. From the Philadelphia Dispatch, March 7, 1875:

Base Ball.

THE ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL CONVENTION—MEETING OF THE JUDICIARY—DISPOSITION OF CASES—CHANGES OF RULES—NEW OFFICIARY AND COMMITTEES—THE CASE OF D.W. FORCE

Monday last was not a day calculated to bring back memories of green fields and spring butter; but the meeting of the base ball lovers at the Atlantic Club rooms caused considerable excitement, and a scene of unusual activity ensued during the day…

John S. [sic] Radcliff’s appeal for reinstatement—Radcliff, it will be remembered, was expelled from the Philadelphia Club for alleged dishonesty on the accusation of William McLean. Messrs. Redheiffer and Davies appeared as counsel for Radcliff and for the Philadelphia Club. Mr. Davies stated that the original Philadelphia Club was not an incorporated body, was no longer in existence, and that the present organization had no desire to press matters against the plaintiff. Upon these grounds Radcliff was accordingly reinstated.

So John was off the hook because the Philadelphia Club of 1875 was not the same entity as the Philadelphia Club of 1874, and therefore the team he had allegedly betrayed no longer existed. There would actually be three National Association teams in Philadelphia in 1875, the third one being called the Centennial Club—and that’s where John ended up, after a March 13 report in the Chicago Inter Ocean that he was playing for the New Haven Elm City club.

However, the Centennials folded after their game of May 24, having played 14 games and lost 12 of them. John had played in five of them, all at shortstop, where he made 15 errors for a fielding percentage of .651, while hitting .174.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, where the Red Stockings had folded after the 1870 season, a new professional team was being organized. The July 17 Cincinnati Daily Times reported that: “A private telegram from Colonel John P. Joyce, last night, states that he has engaged Radcliffe, a well-known ball tosser, and Snyder, the ‘finest first baseman in the country,’ for the new Cincinnati club.” The team, inevitably known as the Red Stockings, began play in early August, not as part of the National Association but as an independent team, though they did play some games against NA opponents.

John was the captain of the Red Stockings, played shortstop, and usually batted third. A report in the September 1 Cincinnati Enquirer on a game against the Covington Stars said that: “Radcliffe did good service at short, but neglected to bestir himself as Captain in the spirited manner that such a position requires.” A September 9 game against the NA’s Chicago White Stockings was the first game played in a new baseball park, which would become known as the Avenue Grounds.

The Cincinnati Daily Times of November 1 reported that the Red Stockings had finished with a record of 26-7-1 and that John had played in 27 of the 34 games, making 82 outs and 31 hits while scoring 19 runs.

This seems to have concluded John’s baseball career. The next I found of him was a report in the September 9, 1879, Harrisburg Daily Independent that: “Al Reach and John Radcliff, veterans of the Athletics, have given up baseball entirely and now devote all their spare time to cricket.” John’s father had passed away in January of that year, and on September 24 John got married, to 22-year-old Abraetta Briant Munyan.

The 1883 Camden city directory shows John as a poultry dealer with a stall at 109 Federal market, living at 304 S 5^th Street; he also appears in the Philadelphia directory as a poultry dealer at 373 5^th Street market. In August 1884 Abraetta gave birth to daughter Hazel. The 1885 Philadelphia directory shows John at the same market address, but he is categorized as game rather than poultry.

In March 1886 daughter Erma was born, and in May 1888 son John. The 1890 Philadelphia directory has John as a butcher at the 5^th Street market, while the Camden directory of that year shows him operating a livery stable at 538 Washington while still living at 304 Broadway. The Ocean City news column in the June 15 Philadelphia Times reported that “John Y. Radcliff and family, of Camden, came down for the summer on Wednesday.” In February 1891 son Orlyn was born.

The 1892 Philadelphia directory shows John as a game dealer at the 5^th Street market, while the Camden one has him as a poultry dealer in Philadelphia, still living at 304 Broadway. In the 1894 Philadelphia directory he is a game dealer at 30 Terminal market, and the Camden directory lists him as a “com mer” in Philadelphia living at 304 Broadway. Orlyn died that October.

The May 5, 1895, Philadelphia Inquirer’s Ocean City news reported that “John Y. Radcliffe and family, of Camden, were among recent visitors"; on June 30 the same column included the item: “John Radcliffe, of Camden, has his family down for the summer occupying their Asbury avenue residence.” On June 21, 1896, the news was: “John Y. Radcliff brought his family down last Wednesday and opened their summer cottage.” Then, on March 21, 1897: “John Y. Radcliffe and wife, of Camden, spent this week in this city occupying their Asbury avenue cottage.” The 1897 Camden directory has John back to the poultry business in Philadelphia, still living at 304 Broadway in Camden, as it would henceforth.

The Philadelphia North American of July 8, 1899, under the heading of Ocean City Visitors, reported: "John Y. Radcliffe, a real estate man [?] of Camden and an ardent angler, will spend vacation days in a pleasant cottage at Fourteenth street and Asbury avenue."

The 1900 census shows John and family still at 304 Broadway in Camden; he is listed as a poultry dealer. Hazel is 15, Erma, listed as Emma, is 13, and John Jr. is 12.

Things apparently stayed pretty consistent for the Radcliffs for the next several years, though John’s mother passed away in 1902. In the 1907 Camden directory, John Jr. gets his own entry, as a salesman. From the Ocean City news column in the Philadelphia Inquirer of August 18, 1907:

The past week has been the greatest one in the history of this resort. “A Night in Venice,” held here Monday night has been the main topic of conversation all week. Hotel guests and residents alike declare they never saw anything that equaled it. Between 8000 and 10,000 persons came here especially to see the event, many of them remaining all week, the consequence being a greater number of social “doings” than usual.

Among the prominent men of the resort who took part in the parade and the names of their boats follow:

…Captain John Y. Radcliffe, Emma;…

Mount Carmel Daily News, June 8, 1908:

Swimming From Boat, Youth Drowns.

Ocean City, N.J., June 8.—Herbert Morrison, twenty years old, of Philadelphia, was drowned while swimming in the Thoroughfare. Young Morrison, with John Y. Radcliffe, Jr., of Camden, went out in a rowboat. They jumped overboard for a swim in midstream. The boat drifted beyond their reach, and in endeavoring to again reach it Morrison went down. Radcliffe was rescued by a launch.

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 26:

MILITARY MAN TAKES A BRIDE

Commandant of Wenonah Academy Weds Miss Hazel Radcliffe, Camden Society Girl

One of the society events of the present season in Camden was the wedding last night of Miss Hazel Radcliffe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Y. Radcliffe, to Captain Percival C. Jones, commandant of the Wenonah Military Academy. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride, 304 Broadway, by Rev. Caleb H. Butterworth, of Haddonfield, an uncle, in the presence of many invited guests from Camden, Philadelphia, and other places.

Miss Erma Radcliffe, sister of the bride, was maid of honor…

The 1910 census shows John, poultry merchant, now 61, and Abraetta, 52, still at 304 Broadway, with Erma, unemployed, 23, John Jr., poultry salesman, 21, and 20-year-old servant Emma Falis.

The American League Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series in 1910, and on November 6 the Inquirer reported on a celebration in their honor:

PRESENT LOVING CUPS TO PLAYERS AT BANQUET BOARD

Following the big Broad street parade the members of the Athletics were the guests of honor at a banquet in the Clover Room of the Bellevue-Stratford, where 300 representative men in the sporting, business and political life of the city gathered to do them honor.

All the members of the team were present except Manager Connie Mack, Pitcher Jack Coombs and Second Baseman Eddie Collins…

Each guest at the dinner was presented with a copy of an old wood cut, showing the famous championship game between the Athletics and the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1865. This game was played at the old grounds, Fifteenth street and Columbia avenue, and was won by the local stars. Five men who played in that famous game were present at last night’s dinner. They were George Bechtel, right field; A.J. Reach, second base; Weston D. Fisler, first base; John Radcliffe, catcher, and Richard McBride, pitcher. They shared with the present world’s champions the honors of the occasion…

Well, somebody was confused—either the organizers of the banquet, or the reporter. Of the five players named, only Reach and McBride were on the 1865 Athletic club, with Fisler joining in 1866.

From the Inquirer, May 13, 1911:

Record of the Courts

Judgments

In the following list the judgments are against the first named in each case:

Pressler’s Vienna Restaurant—John Y. Radcliffe. For want of a plea. $11.46.

On July 26 John passed away. From the July 27 Inquirer:

John Y. Radcliffe Dies at Shore

Special to The Inquirer.

OCEAN CITY, N.J., July 26.—John Y. Radcliffe, of 304 Broadway, Camden, was seized with a fatal attack of heart disease and acute indigestion here this morning while in his yacht Adele. Captain Herbert Smith went to his assistance and brought him into the Ocean City Yacht Club, where he expired in less than half an hour.

And from the 28^th obituaries column:

RADCLIFFE.—Suddenly, at Ocean City, N.J. on July 26, 1911. JOHN Y. RADCLIFFE, aged 63 years. Relatives and friends, also members of Ocean City Yacht Club, are invited to attend funeral services, Saturday, July 29, 1911, at his late residence, 700 Wesley ave., Ocean City, N.J. at 9:30 A M. Relatives and friends, also Camden Lodge, No. 15, F A M: Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R A M, are invited to attend services at the chapel, Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, N J, same day, at 1 P M.

The version that went out across the country went like this, here as it appeared in the New Orleans Times-Democrat of July 28:

Veteran Radcliffe Dead.

OCEAN CITY, N.J., July 27.—John Y. Radcliffe, famous as a baseball player in the sixties and early seventies, died suddenly at the Ocean City Yacht Club here yesterday, aged sixty-three years. Radcliffe was a member of the celebrated Athletics of Philadelphia, playing as catcher and short stop. He was regarded as one of the great bare-hand catchers of his time. Radcliffe lived in Camden, N.J., and after retiring from baseball became a prosperous poultryman.

John Jr. continued in the poultry business.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Pradcj101.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/radcljo01.shtml