Abner Powell

Abner Charles Powell (December 15, 1860 – August 7, 1953) was a Major League Baseball player who was a member of the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884.

Abner Powell
Pitcher
Born: (1860-12-15)December 15, 1860
Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
Died: August 7, 1953(1953-08-07) (aged 92)
New Orleans
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 4, 1884, for the Washington Nationals
Last MLB appearance
October 13, 1886, for the Cincinnati Red Stockings (AA)
MLB statistics
Wins–Losses8-18
Earned run average4.00
Strikeouts97
Teams

He later played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1886. He also managed and owned several teams, and is best known for his innovations as a manager.

Personal life

Powell was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania He died in New Orleans, aged 92.

Innovations
Powell at center in suit with the 1902 New Orleans Pelicans

Powell is credited with various innovations that changed baseball, though in many cases this is incorrect or overstated.[1]

He is incorrectly credited with inventing rain checks and "ladies' day," but both of these were in use in New Orleans before Powell. Powell did improve the existing rain check system, however, by adding a perforated stub to tickets when sold so that only purchasers of tickets (and not other spectators, notably free-riders and fence-climbers) could get new tickets.[2][3]

The idea of Ladies Day was to create an environment in the stands that would be free of unsavory characters and conduct, as well as to make baseball a family-oriented event; it dates at least to 1880 in New Orleans.[1] Powell scheduled a recurring Ladies Day in 1887.[4]

Powell is also credited with using an infield tarpaulin so that fields could be ready immediately after rain storms.[5]

References
  1. Somers, Dale A. The Rise of Sports in New Orleans: 1850-1900. p. 132.
  2. Morris, Peter. "15.1.3 Rain Checks". A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations That Shaped Baseball. pp. 411–412.
  3. Flanagan, Val J. (April 8, 1943). "Rain-Check Evolved to Check Flood of Fence-Climbers, Says Originator, Now 83". Sporting News.
  4. Gisclair, S. Derby (11 March 2019). Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play. McFarland. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4766-3598-9.
  5. "Dog Day Afternoon". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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