THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

June 26, 1878

The Grays played an exhibition game in Waukesha on June 26. I could not find any accounts of it in either the Milwaukee Daily News or Waukesha Freeman. Baseballlibrary.com, however, notes in that game that catcher Charlie Bennett “still trying to recover from a sore arm and his latest eye injury‚ breaks his nose when hit by a foul tip …”

This gives me the opportunity to pass along some Charlie Bennett information.

Bennett’s first major-league season was in 1878 – but perhaps it should have been 1877. Louisville manager John Chapman (the Milwaukee manager in 1878) said that Bennett had agreed to terms to play for his team and be the backup catcher. But five days later (on Jan. 7), Bennett signed on with the new Milwaukee independent club, as he had a chance to be the starter.

However, on Feb. 19, Bennett signs to play with the Athletics of Philadelphia. An A’s team had played in the National Association from 1871-75 and in the National League in 1876. Bennett plays one game for the A’s, but then returns to Milwaukee to honor that contract – albeit promising the A’s he’d play for them next season (why anyone would believe him at this point is beyond me).

So, of course, it should come as no shock that on Aug. 2, 1877, Bennett signs with Milwaukee for the 1878 season for $2,000 - $1,700 from the team and another $300 raised by fans. Baseballlibrary.com notes that “the terms are among the most lucrative ever offered by an independent club.”

After his one year in Milwaukee (of the NL, that is), Bennett would re-emerge with the Detroit Wolverines in 1880 and become regarded as one of the best – if not the best – catcher in the game.

In April of 1880, Bennett (as well as former Milwaukee Gray George Creamer) played against an all-black baseball team in New Orleans. I’m not sure if this was the first time such a game occurred, but it was definitely rare if not.

Bennett was among the leaders in home runs five times in his career, as well as triples three times and double twice. In addition, he led NL catchers in fielding percentage seven times.

Bennett would play until 1883, his last few years with the Boston Beaneaters. Then in 1884, while trying to reboard a train, Bennett slipped and fell under the train’s wheels. He had to have both of his legs amputated.

His baseball career obviously over, he moved back to Detroit, where he was still immensely popular. The team threw him a “day” and he received a wheelbarrow full of silver dollars.

Then, in 1896, when the Detroit Tigers of the Western League opened its new ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull Aves. it was named Bennett Park, in honor of the former Grays catcher. A wheelchair-bound Bennett caught the first pitch. He would either throw out the first pitch or catch it on every opening day at Bennett Park until his death in 1927.

At one point, Bill James ranked Bennett as the 49th-best catcher of all time – and only one of two 19th century catchers to make the top 50 (Buck Ewing being the other).