William Buck (baseball)

William F. Henley Buck was an American professional baseball player and umpire.

William Buck
W. H. Buck, 1870 Captain of the Princeton baseball team
Born
William F. Buck
Occupation(s)Baseball player and umpire
Years active1866–1871
EmployerNational Association

Early life

Buck was the son of John M. and Mary B.[1] and had a sister. His university preparation was at St. Timothy's Hall in Catonsville, Maryland, and his undergrad study was at Princeton University, where he graduated in 1870. He then did post-graduate study in medicine for two years at the University of Maryland. He was a Presbyterian and did not marry.[2]

At Princeton

He was a member of the Princeton University's Nassau Baseball Club first nine (starting lineup) in the 1866–67 season as a shortstop.[3] The team was also known as the Pickwick Nine, playing under that name because the faculty refused to allow them to leave campus for some games.[4] In 1867–68 he played at third base,[5] left field,[6] and second base.[7] The team became known as the Princeton University Baseball Club in 1868–69. That year he remained listed as third baseman for the first nine, again occasionally playing at second.[8] In 1869–70 he was made captain and played center field, but also played shortstop, second base,[9] and even catcher.[10] Buck graduated in 1870, and in 1871 moved back to his home of Baltimore. He continued to be involved in amateur baseball. In May, 1871 he was the umpire of a game between Harvard and Brown.[11]

Career
Princeton's Pickwick Nine in 1866, Buck is on far right.

In Baltimore, he joined the local team, the Baltimore Pastime Club, playing in games against the Philadelphia Athletic Club,[12][13] and the Olympics of Washington, DC.[14] In October 1871, he played in a game which was arranged to as a benefit to support victims of the Great Chicago Fire.[15] Buck also umpired two National Association games in 1871, as the home plate umpire in both games.[16][17] He also played for the Baltimore Marylands and Baltimore Enterprise clubs.[2]

Death

Buck died June 10, 1890, in Boston, Massachusetts[1][18] and was buried in Greenmount Cemetery in Baltimore.[19]

References
  1. "Died, The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) June 11, 1890, page 2". The Baltimore Sun. 1890-06-11. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  2. Twenty Years After, Class of '70, Princeton College, p10
  3. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p78
  4. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p80
  5. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p83
  6. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p84
  7. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p85
  8. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p86
  9. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p87
  10. Presby & Moffatt 1901, p89
  11. Base Ball, Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts), Monday, May 15, 1871, Volume: XXXVIII Issue: 12729 Page: 1
  12. "Article clipped from The Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. 1871-06-17. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  13. "Article clipped from The Philadelphia Inquirer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1871-10-03. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  14. "Base Ball, Evening Star (Washington, DC) October 6, 1871, page 4". Evening star. 1871-10-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. "Base Ball Game in Aid of Chicago, The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) October 18, 1871, page 4". The Baltimore Sun. 1871-10-18. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  16. "William Buck". www.retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  17. "Article clipped from The Philadelphia Inquirer". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1871-06-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  18. General catalogue of Princeton University 1746-1906. Robarts - University of Toronto. Princeton, New Jersey, The University. 1908.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. "Died, The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) June 14, 1890, page 2". The Baltimore Sun. 1890-06-14. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
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