Billy Earle

William Moffat Earle (November 10, 1867 – May 30, 1946), nicknamed "the Little Globetrotter", was an American Major League Baseball player who mainly played as a catcher for five teams from 1889 to 1894.

He was known as one of the best catchers of his time, although he shifted from team to team by contract jumping, threatening to contract jump if he was not happy. He was most noted for his "creepy" nature. He thought of himself as a hypnotist, and was interested in spiritual healing. His teammates reported feeling uncomfortable around him, his eyes making them feel helpless and was known as somewhat of a "Weirdo".

Career Born in Philadelphia, Earle began his Major League career with the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1889, and split his playing time between catcher and right field. In 53 total games played that season, his career high, he hit .269, scored 37 runs, stole 26 bases, and hit four home runs in 169 at bats. He played sparingly for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1892 and 1893 seasons. According to Bill Stern in his book Bill Stern's Favorite Baseball Stories, players recalled that Earle had a pair of piercing eyes, and gave anyone who he looked at a creepy, helpless feeling. He, Earle, and another teammate, John Ake, were in a boat when a wave created by a passing-by steamer capsized the boat. Barnes and Earle was able to swim to shore, but Ake drowned when he attempted to swim ashore himself. Barnes relates that he would never forget the look in Earles' eyes when he was watching Ake. Earle, shortly thereafter, joined the Princeton University as a coach.

In 1902, he became manager of the Cuban Fe Club on a cooperative basis, meaning that it was not a paid position. He was barred from playing for any of the clubs in the Cuban league due to their rule of not allowing any professional United States players from joining the league. It was noted that during this period that he was nearly penniless from losing at poker games.

Earle died at the age of 78 in Omaha, Nebraska, and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery.