(This post is an update of an original blog that appeared on 2/8/20).
James Wear "Bug" Holliday was born on February 8, 1867 in St. Louis, MO. Holliday was the first player to make his major league debut in a post season game when he appeared with the Chicago White Stocking in the 1885 World Series. Over a ten year career in the majors, he batted .312. In his rookie year of 1889, he led the National League in home runs with 19 and then led the league again with 13 round-trippers in 1892, both while a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
In 1899, a year after Bug left pro ball, he played for the M.A.C. with Pitcher, Tom Colcolough, (a NY Giant that year), on a team of Fleischmann's ringers (see Jersey City News August 23, 1899). In the latter years of his life he worked in a poolroom and covered horse racing for the local newspaper in Cincinnati. Bug passed away in 1910 at the age of 43 from complications due to gangrene.
Bug Holliday's MLB Statistics:
Chicago White Stockings, 1885 & Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds 1889-1898
930 Games over 10 seasons Batting Average: .312 Hits: 1,141
At Bats: 3,658 Home Runs: 65
Runs Batted In: 621 Led the League in Home Runs in 1889 with 19 and 1892 with 13 Source: Wikipedia
Very interesting story about Honus Wagner. Could be Honus or not but for sure some great baseball was played there in that park. I still have fond memories of pitching there in 1966 for a less than legendary team, with some good local players, as we competed in the Walton Reporter league or it may have been called the Delaware Sullivan league at the time.
But in no way we're we in the same company of a Honus Wagner or as I remember stories of a Jay Kirk, who I believe played there in its golden age. Keep up the good search. Very interesting read!