Ollie Pickering

Ollie Pickering
Birthdate 4/9/1870
Death Date 1/20/1952
Debut Year 1896
Year of Induction
Teams Athletics, Blues, Browns, Colonels, Senators, Spiders
Positions Center Field, Outfield, Right Field

On April 24, 1901 right fielder Ollie Pickering of the Cleveland Blues became the first batter in the history of the American League.

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Oliver Pickering was the first batter in American League history on April 24, 1901

Oliver Pickering was the first batter in American League history on April 24, 1901

On April 24, 1901, the baseball landscape changed forever as a new league played its very first game. The initial American League contest featured the Cleveland Blues playing in Chicago against the White Stockings. On the hill for the home team was Roy Patterson. When he delivered his first offering
The home plate ump in Pickering's first AL at bat was Cooperstown's Tommy Connolly

The home plate ump in Pickering's first AL at bat was Cooperstown's Tommy Connolly

When Ollie Pickering took the first pitch in American League history, the umpire behind the plate was Hall of Famer Tommy Connolly. In fact, as was the practice of the day Connolly was the only umpire on the field. Playing right field for the Cleveland Blues, Pickering swatted Roy Patterson’s
Pickering appeared in the iconic T206 set made famous in part by Honus Wagner

Pickering appeared in the iconic T206 set made famous in part by Honus Wagner

The T206 set features cards of many of the game’s greats including perhaps the most famous baseball card of all time — the iconic 1909 Honus Wagner card. The set also features the card shown here of the American League’s first hitter, Ollie Pickering. An otherwise nondescript caree
Ollie Pickering hit the original

Ollie Pickering hit the original "Texas Leaguer" and a baseball term was born

The term “Texas Leaguer” refers to a bloop single, but how did it originate? We have to go back to the 1800s and Ollie Pickering. In 1892 he played for Fort Worth and Houston of the Texas League. The turn-of-the-century stadiums in the league seldom had fences,

One response to “Ollie Pickering”

  1. PROFESSOR ALPHONSE A. DATTOLO says:

    MY INTEREST IS IN THE HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AND BLONDIE PURCELL WAS THE FIRST BATTER AND GOT THE FIRST HIT (A BASE HIT TO LEFT FIELD) ON TUESDAY,MAY 1,1883 AT RECREATION PARK, PHLADELPHIA OFF OF OL HOSS RADBOURN

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