Sy Sutcliffe

Elmer Ellsworth "Sy" Sutcliffe (April 15, 1862 – February 13, 1893), also known as "Cy" When he debuted in the major leagues, Sutcliffe received attention principally for his unusual height of six feet, two inches. The Sporting Life in April 1885 observed:"Two Chicago boys tell many amusing stories about their good-natured and popular giant catcher Sutcliffe. His pedal extremities are of liberal dimensions, and in Nashville a wagon ran on to one of his feet and then stopped. Sutcliffe never knew it until he turned to walk away and found his foot caught fast. In Chattanooga, as he was standing on the curbstone, a granger, slightly under the influence of liquor, drove up and hitched his horse to him, thinking he was a telegraph pole."

Sutcliffe began the 1885 season with the Chicago White Stockings. He appeared in only 11 games for the team and was released in mid-July with The Sporting Life reporting that he "must be added to the list of exploded phenomenon."

Shortly after being released by Chicago, he was signed by the St. Louis Maroons. He appeared in 16 games for the Maroons. Over the course of the entire 1885 season, Sutcliffe compiled a .152 batting average.

Minor leagues In 1886, Sutcliffe played in the minor leagues for the Augusta and Savannah, Georgia clubs in the Southern Association. He appeared in 42 games as an outfielder and 34 as a catcher and compiled a .223 batting average.

Sutcliffe began the 1887 season with the Des Moines Hawkeyes in the Northwestern League. He appeared in 105 games for Des Moines, 51 as a catcher, and 34 as a right fielder, and raised his batting average by more than .100 points to .352.

Detroit Wolverines At the end of the 1887 season, Sutcliffe joined the Detroit Wolverines to play in the 1887 World Series. Sutcliffe had 12 plate appearances in the World Series and managed one hit, a stolen base, and a run scored.

The 1888 Detroit team finished in fifth place with a 68–63 record. With high salaries owed to the team's star players, and gate receipts declining markedly, the team folded in October 1888 with the players being sold to other teams. Sutcliffe was sold to the Cleveland Spiders along with Ed Beatin, Henry Gruber, and Larry Twitchell.

In 1890, Sutcliffe jumped to the Players' League and joined the Cleveland Infants. He appeared in 99 games and compiled a .329 batting average in 386 at bats. Defensively, Sutcliffe ranked among the leading catchers in the Players' League with 115 assists (3rd), 84 games at catcher (3rd), 110 runners caught stealing (3rd), nine double plays turned (4th), and 265 putouts (5th). However, he also led the league with 50 errors and 55 passed balls and ranked second in the league with 213 stolen bases allowed.

Sutcliffe concluded his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1892. He appeared in 66 games, all at first base, for the Orioles and compiled a .279 batting average.

In February 1893, Sutcliffe died at his home in Wheaton, Illinois, of "Bright's disease of the kidneys". In its obituary for Sutcliffe, The Omaha Daily Bee described him as follows:"He was quite a character in his way, and were it not for his intemperate habits would undoubtedly have been the best professional backstop in the country. As it was, his irregular habits impaired his efficiency and it was only at times he was seen at his best. He was quite a wit and was celebrated for the way in which he could roast an umpire, at the same time keeping his eyes in an entirely different direction from that individual."

Sutcliffe died at age 30, just four months after playing his final major league baseball game. He was buried at the Wheaton Cemetery.