Professional Baseball Players Who Attended Penn • University Archives and Records Center

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Introduction

In its early years, the game of baseball was purely amateur, with no paid players. Because the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first salaried team in 1869, they are considered the first professional team. Two years later the National Association of Professional Baseball Players was established as the first professional baseball league. The National League became the first major league in 1876.

The earliest baseball played at the University can be traced to at least the Civil War, the first Baseball Club at the University dating to 1865. Penn students organized their first all-University team in 1867, and played their first intercollegiate baseball game in 1874.

Professional ball players who attended the University of Pennsylvania, either before or after their baseball careers, are listed here. They are arranged chronologically by the year of their professional Major League debut.

1875-1900

Albert John Bushong (Doc) (1856-1908), D.D.S. 1882

Major Leagues: 1875 to 1890. Debuted on July 19, 1875 for the Brooklyn Atlantics. Also played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Worcester Ruby Legs, Cleveland Blues, Saint Louis Browns, Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers and Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Penn Teams: none
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

Cyrus Alban Allen (Jack) (1855-1915), D.D.S. 1880

Major Leagues: 1879 only. Debuted May 1, 1879 for the Syracuse Stars. Also played for the Cleveland Blues in the same year
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: third-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

Thomas Francis Gunning (1862-1931), M.D. 1891

Major Leagues: 1884 to 1889. Debuted July 26, 1884 for the Boston Beaneaters (later the Braves). Also played for the Philadelphia Quakers and the Philadelphia Athletics
Penn Teams: none
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

Elwood Otto Wagenhurst, c. 1888

Elwood Otto Wagenhurst (Woody) (1863-1946), Law School Class of 1892

Major Leagues: 1888 only. Debuted June 25, 1888 for the Philadelphia Quakers
Penn Teams: Captain of varsity baseball team, 1890 and 1891; varsity football player, 1888, and coach, 1888-1891
Position: third-baseman, batting and throwing arm unknown

University baseball team, 1889

Sumner Sallade Bowman (1867-1954), L.L.B. 1891

Major Leagues:1890 to 1891. Debuted June 11, 1890 for the Philadelphia Phillies. Also played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenies and Philadelphia Athletics
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1889, 1890 and 1891
Position: pitcher/outfielder, bats and throws left-handed

University baseball team, 1890

Thomas H. Cahill (1868-1894), Medical School Class of 1891

Major Leagues: 1891 only. Debuted April 9, 1891 for the Louisville Colonels
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team 1889 and 1890
Position: catcher, batting and throwing arm unknown

University baseball team, 1890

James S. Darragh (1866-1939), D.D.S. 1891

Major Leagues: 1891 only. Debuted May 13, 1891 for the Louisville Colonels
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1890 and 1891
Position: outfielder, batting and throwing arm unknown

William McLain Thompson, c. 1940

William McLain Thompson (1870-1962), D.D.S. 1897

Major Leagues: 1892 only. Debuted July 9, 1892 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

University baseball team, 1893

Mark A. McGrillis (1872-1935), possibly College Class of 1894

Major Leagues: 1892 only. Debuted September 17, 1892 for the St. Louis Browns
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1893
Position: third-baseman, batting and throwing arm unknown

Jesse Hall Allen (Pete) (1868-1946), M.D. 1897

Major Leagues: 1893 only. Debuted August 4, 1893 for the Cleveland Spiders
Penn Teams: none documented as a player; varsity basketball coach, 1897
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

University baseball team, 1894

Andrew Cottrell Boswell (1874-1936), Chemical Engineering Class of 1896

Major Leagues: 1895 only. Debuted May 10, 1895 for the New York Giants. Also played for the Washington Senators
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1893 and 1894
Position: pitcher/first-baseman, batting and throwing arm unknown

University baseball team, 1893

Daniel George Coogan (Little Danny) (1875-1942), College Class of 1895

Major Leagues: 1895 only. Debuted April 25, 1895 for the Washington Senators
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1892, 1893 and 1894; varsity baseball coach, 1904-1906
Position: catcher/short-stop/outfielder/third-baseman, batting and throwing arm unknown

Frank Joseph Sexton (1872-1938), M.D. 1898

Major Leagues: 1895 only. Debuted June 21, 1895 for the Boston Beaneaters (later the braves)
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: pitcher, batting and throwing arm unknown

Harvey Fetterhoff Smith, c. 1930

Harvey Fetterhoff Smith (1871-1962), M.D. 1897

Major Leagues: 1896 only. Debuted August 19, 1896 for the Washington Senators
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: third-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

Roy Allen Thomas, c. 1894

Roy Allen Thomas (1874-1959), B.S. 1894

Major Leagues: 1899 to 1911. Debuted April 14, 1899 for the Philadelphia Phillies. Also played briefly for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Doves
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1892, 1893 and 1894; coach, 1903 and 1909-1919
Position: outfielder, bats and throws left-handed

William John Goeckel, c. 1915

William John Goeckel (Billy) (1871-1922), College Class of 1895, L.L.B. 1896

Major Leagues: 1899 only. Debuted August 10, 1899 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team 1893, 1894 and 1895
Position: first-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

1901-1925

John Francis Hayden (Jack) (1880-1942), Medical School Class of 1901, Dental School Class of 1902

Major Leagues: 1901, 1906 and 1908. Debuted April 26, 1901 for the Philadelphia Athletics. Also played for the Boston Pilgrims and the Chicago Cubs
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: outfielder, bats and throws left-handed

Henry Joseph Thielman, 1906

Henry Joseph Thielman (1880-1942), D.D.S. 1906

Major Leagues: 1902 and 1903. Debuted April 17, 1902, for the New York Giants. Also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Suberbas
Penn Teams: not documented as playing varsity sports; varsity baseball coach in 1906
Position: outfielder/pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Andrew James Coakley (a.k.a. Jack McAllister in 1902) (1882-1963), Dental School student in 1906

Major Leagues: 1902 to 1911. Debuted September 17, 1902, for the Philadelphia Athletics. Also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and New York Highlanders
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: pitcher, bats left-handed and throws right-handed

Louis Bruce, yearbook entry, 1904

Louis R. Bruce (1877-1968), D.D.S. 1904

Major Leagues: 1904 only. Debuted June 22, 1904, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Penn Teams: not on any varsity baseball team; captain of his class baseball teams
Position: outfielder/pitcher/second-baseman/third-baseman, bats left-handed and throws right-handed

University baseball team, 1903

Ralph Grant Caldwell (Lefty) (1884-1969), B.S. 1907

Major Leagues: 1904 and 1905. Debuted September 10, 1904, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1903 and 1904
Position: pitcher, bats and throws left-handed

John Wesley Knight (Schoolboy) (1885-1965), Dental School student 1912, n.g.

Major Leagues: 1905 to 1913. Debuted April 14, 1905 for the Philadelphia Athletics. Also played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Highlanders, Washington Senators and New York Yankees
Penn Teams: none documented
Position: short-stop/third-baseman/second-baseman/first-baseman/outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Francis Patrick Leary, 1900

Francis Patrick Leary (1881-1907), College Class of 1903 and L.L.B. 1904

Major Leagues: 1907 only. Debuted April 30, 1907, for the Cincinnati Reds
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1900 and 1901; Law School class baseball teams in 1902 and 1903; varsity track, 1900 and 1901
Position: pitcher, batting arm unknown, throws right-handed

Stephen Douglas Yerkes, 1912

Stephen Douglas Yerkes (1888-1971), Wharton School Class of 1909

Major Leagues: 1909 to 1916. Debuted September 29, 1909, for the Boston Red Sox. Also played for the Pittsburgh Rebels and Chicago Cubs
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1906
Position: second-baseman/short-stop/third-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

Varsity baseball team, 1908

Simon Francis Pauxtis (Si) (1885-1961), LL.B. 1910

Major Leagues: 1909 only. Debuted September 18, 1909, for the Cincinnati Reds
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1908; varsity football team, 1907
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

Wallace Luther Shultz, 1912

Wallace Luther Shultz (Toots) (1888-1959), Class of 1911

Major Leagues: 1911 and 1912. Debuted May 5, 1911 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1909 and 1910
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Harry Miller Imlay, c. 1912

Harry Miller Imlay (1889-1948), D.D.S. 1912

Major Leagues: 1913 only. Debuted July 7, 1913 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1911 and 1912; also pitcher for his freshman baseball team
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Pius Louis Schwert, 1915

Pius Louis Schwert (Pi) (1892-1941), B.S. in Economics 1914

Major Leagues: 1914 and 1915. Debuted October 6, 1914 for the New York Yankees
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1912, 1913 and 1914 (team captain in 1914); Class baseball team in 1912
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

John Lester Fluhrer (Jack) (a.k.a. William G. Morris) (1894-1915), Wharton Class of 1918

Major Leagues: 1915 only. Debuted September 5, 1915 for the Chicago Cubs
Penn Teams: Class of 1918 freshman baseball team, 1915
Position: outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Varsity baseball team, 1917

Adam William Swigler (Doc) (1895-1975), D.D.S. 1917

Major Leagues: 1917 only. Debuted September 25, 1917 for the New York Giants
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1915, 1916 and 1917; also on varsity football, basketball and track teams; freshman baseball coach, 1918
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Walter Jacob Bernhardt, detail from varsity baseball team photograph, 1917

Walter Jacob Bernhardt (1893-1958), D.D.S. 1918

Major Leagues: 1918 only.Debuted July 16, 1918 for the New York Yankees
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1917 and 1918
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Firman Newton Warwick (Bill) (1897-1984), B.S. in Chemical Engineering 1920

Major Leagues: 1921 to 1926. Debuted July 18, 1921 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Also played for the St. Louis Cardinals
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team 1918, 1919 and 1920
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

Joseph Howard Berry, Jr., detail from varsity baseball team photograph, 1917

Joseph Howard Berry, Jr. (Nig) (1894-1976), B.S. in Economics 1919

Major Leagues: 1921 and 1922. Debuted July 18, 1921 for the New York Giants
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1916 and 1917 (team captain in 1917); also All-American fullbaack on varsity football team and intercollegiate track champion, 1915-1918
Position: second-baseman, bats both left and right-handed, throws right-handed

Walter Henry Huntzinger, 1922

Walter Henry Huntzinger (Shakes) (1899-1981), Wharton Class of 1922

Major Leagues: 1923 to 1926. Debuted September 19, 1923 for the New York Giants. Also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1920, 1921 and 1922; Class of 1922 freshman baseball team, 1919; varsity football team, 1920, 1921 and 1922
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Edward Stephen Farrell, in New York Giants uniform, c. 1930

Edward Stephen Farrell (Doc) (1901-1966), College Class of 1923, D.D.S. 1925

Major Leagues: 1925 to 1935. Debuted June 15, 1925 for the New York Giants. Also played for the Boston Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team in 1923, 1924 and 1925 (team captain in 1925); Class of 1923 freshman team in1920; also varsity football team, 1920, 1921 and 1922
Position: short-stop/third-baseman/second-baseman/first-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

1926-1950

Carlton Overton Tremper, 1927

Carlton Overton Tremper (1906-1996), B.S. in Economics 1927

Major Leagues: 1927 and 1928. Debuted June 16, 1927 for the Brooklyn Robins
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1925, 1926 and 1927 (team captain in 1927); Class of 1927 freshman team, 1924
Position: outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Varsity baseball team, 1931

James Niels Peterson (Jim) (1908-1975), B.S. in Economics 1931

Major Leagues: 1931 to 1937. Debuted July 9, 1931 for the Philadelphia Athletics. Also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931; varsity basketball, 1928-1931; varsity football, 1928
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Varsity baseball team, 1931

Walter Thomas Masters (1907-1992), Wharton Class of 1931

Major Leagues: 1931 to 1939. Debuted July 9, 1931 for the Washington Senators. Also played baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies (1936) and the Philadelphia Athletics (1939), as well as professional football, 1936, and 1943-1944
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1929, 1930 and 1931; Class of 1931 freshman team, 1928; varsity football, 1929-1931
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Eugene Joseph Connell

Eugene Joseph Connell (Gene) (1906-1937), B.S. in Economics 1928, Law School Class of 1931

Major Leagues: 1931 only. Debuted July 4, 1931 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928; varsity basketball, 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928
Position: catcher, bats and throws right-handed

Varsity baseball team, 1931

John Lewis Jackson (1909-1956), Wharton Class of 1933

Major Leagues: 1933. Debuted June 20, 1933 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1931, 1932 and 1933; varsity basketball, 1931, 1932 and 1933
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Donald Stafford Kellett (Red) (1909-1970), B.S. in Economics 1934

Major Leagues: 1934 only. Debuted July 2, 1934 for the Boston Red Sox
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934 (team captain in 1934); Class of 1934 freshman baseball team captain, 1931; Director of Freshman Athletics and then head basketball coach, 1941-1947
Position: short-stop/second-baseman/third-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

Bernard Carl Kuczynski, c. 1945

Bernard Carl Kuczynski (Bert) (1920-1997), B.S. in Education 1943, M.S. in Education 1949

Major Leagues: 1943 only. Debuted June 2, 1943 for the Philadelphia Athletics. Also played professional football, 1943 and 1946
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1942 and 1943; varsity football team, 1941, 1942 and 1943; assistant football coach, 1946
Position: pitcher, bats and throws right-handed

Jerome Francis McCarthy, c. 1948

Jerome Francis McCarthy (1923-1965), B.S. in Economics 1948

Major Leagues: 1948 only. Debuted June 19, 1948 for the St. Louis Browns
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1947 and 1948 (captain in 1948); varsity football, 1942 and 1947-1948
Position: first-baseman, bats and throws left-handed

Thomas Herbert Upton (Tom) (1926-2008), V-12 Navy Program, 1945-1946

Major Leagues: 1950 to 1952. Debuted April 19, 1950 for the St. Louis Browns. Also played for the Washington Senators
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1946
Position: short-stop/second-baseman/third-baseman, bats and throws right-handed

Joseph Ambrose Murray (Joe) (1920-2001), Law School Class of 1948

Major Leagues: 1950 only. Debuted August 17, 1950 for the Philadelphia Athletics
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team
Position: pitcher, bats and throws left-handed

1951-present

Eric Chapman Rodin (1930-1991), Wharton Class of 1953

Major Leagues: 1954 only. Debuted September 7, 1954 for the New York Giants
Penn Teams: none known
Position: outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Grover David Powell, baseball card, 1964

Grover David Powell (1940-1985), Class of 1962

Major Leagues: 1963 only. Debuted July 13, 1963 for the New York Mets
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1960, 1961 and 1962
Position: pitcher, bats and throws left-handed

Steven Thomas Adkins, 1986

Steven Thomas Adkins (born 1964), B.S. in Engineering 1986

Major Leagues: 1990 only. Debuted September 12, 1990 for the New York Yankees
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
Position: pitcher, bats right-handed and throws left-handed

Douglas Metunwa Glanville (born 1970), B.S. in Engineering 1992

Major Leagues: 1996 to 2005. Debuted June 9, 1996 for the Chicago Cubs. Also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1990, 1991, 1992
Position: outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Mark DeRosa (born 1975), Wharton Class of 1997

Major Leagues: 1998 to 2005. Debuted September 2, 1998 for the Atlanta Braves. Also played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, and Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in November 2013.
Penn Teams: varsity baseball team, 1994, 1995, 1996; varsity football, 1993, 1994 and 1995
Position: short-stop/second-baseman/third-baseman/first-baseman/designated hitter/outfielder, bats and throws right-handed

Distinguished Penn Athletes Professional Baseball Players Who Attended Penn

Related Links

Introduction

1875-1900

1901-1925

1926-1950

1951-present