Charlie Abbey

In all of Major League Baseball history, 119 players originated in the “Tree Planters’ State”1 of Nebraska. Charlie Abbey was the first, arriving during “the mauve decade”2 of the 1890s.

Abbey doggedly zig-zagged his way through the loosely knit minor leagues with uneven progression. He was an anomaly as a lefty second baseman early on before he moved to the outfield, where he played in the majors. Abbey was called one of the greatest outfielders of the mid-1890s. Off the playing field, he was a journalist, who rose from the managerial ranks of the Falls City Journal to the managerial ranks of the Washington Post. More than a dozen years after he retired as a player, he pursued a role as an umpire in the amateur baseball leagues of Washington, D.C. Abbey gained great popularity in Washington as a player and an umpire, but he suffered a succession of devastating personal losses later in life.

Charles Scofield Abbey was born on October 14, 1866, on a farm near Salem, Nebraska,3 to Wallace W. (W.W.) and Alzina (Worth) Abbey. Abbey’s parents were prairie pioneers. W.W. had been a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war the Abbeys moved from Illinois to Kansas-Nebraska Territory, where W.W. farmed and Alzina kept house. Charlie had four sisters. Alzina died in 1893; W.W. then married Lillis Rhodes in 1895. The two had a daughter and a son.4

Abbey attended Falls City public schools.5 After his schooling he assisted in the clerk’s office of the United States district court in Lincoln.6 In 1885 he began “the study of law with Judge (Isham) Reavis.”7

But Abbey didn’t become a lawyer. Instead, he became increasingly interested in baseball, as did Falls City. On June 19, 1885, the Falls City Journal impatiently asked, “Where is our base ball club this summer?”8 The Falls City Daily News opined on July 30 that “Falls City needs a base ball club, if she expects to keep pace with St. Joe [Missouri] and Atchison [Kansas].”9 Two weeks later the same paper announced that a baseball club had been organized in Falls City, with Charley Abbey as a left fielder on the club.10 However, baseball wasn’t yet a full-time occupation for Abbey, who in 1886 also was “a student of the college at York [Nebraska].”11

On December 1, 1886, the York Republican reported that “C.S. Abbey left for Falls City … to take a position on the Journal. … His father has bought the paper, and the style of the firm will be W.W. Abbey & Son.”12

Abbey’s newspaper assignment gave him ample opportunity to pursue his burgeoning baseball interests. In late August 1887 it was reported that “he will play ball with the [Falls City] Blues. As a second baseman Charlie is hard to beat, and as a hitter he will greatly strengthen the sluggers. He is one.”13 He was named team captain14 and locally was touted “as good a second baseman as there is in Nebraska outside the league clubs.” With Abbey at second base, the Blues’ infield was described as one “that will paralyze any club in the state that employs no professional players.”15

In mid-February 1888 the Falls City Daily News forewarned that if “Falls City is backward in organizing a club, Dave Reavis will sign with the Stellas [Nebraska] to play short, and Charley Abbey with the Humboldts [Nebraska]. Should these two ‘standbys’ leave Falls City it is feared that base ball will have little recognition here.”16 Abbey didn’t leave — he maintained his ties to the home team, at least for a while.17

In early July 1888 the Beatrice, Nebraska, newspapers chronicled the creation of a “new base ball club … known as ‘Thrift’s garlands.’”18 “The Beatrice baseball club is the finest in the state,” proclaimed the Falls City Journal.19 The Falls City Daily News reported that “Charley Abbey has been playing ball with the ‘Garlands’ of Beatrice. It is a noticeable fact that the ‘Garlands’ have won every game in which Charley participated.”20 The Garlands concluded their ’88 season, amassing a record of 23–2, and broke up. The Beatrice Republican said, “The club has been quite an advertisement for the city, almost every paper in the state having given the Garlands of Beatrice a notice in its columns.”21

Abbey became “business manager and local editor” of the Falls City Journal in January 1889.22 Then in mid-May he left Falls City and took a position on the Kearney (Nebraska) Enterprise,23 while playing first base with a club in Kearney. On August 9 Abbey’s Kearney team completed a statewide road trip, going 12–0, while twice blanking state champion Grand Island. Abbey also tied for the lead in hitting.24

At 22, Abbey decided to become a professional baseball player with the Des Moines Prohibitionists of the Western Association (WA). The Falls City Journal noted that “Charley Abbey is getting quite a reputation as a baseball player. He played left field for Des Moines … at Omaha and received some very complimentary notices from the Omaha papers.”25 During a six-game stint, he went 9-for–24 (.375).

That Christmas Abbey reported he had signed with Des Moines for $1,500 (equivalent to roughly $47,000 in 2022) for the 1890 season.26 But he didn’t join the Prohibitionists, who subsequently relocated to Lincoln on August 1. Instead, Abbey played the ’90 season with the St. Paul Apostles of the WA. The Apostles carried 13 men on their roster, with Abbey one of two potential right fielders.27 Near season’s end, Abbey was the Apostles’ leading hitter.28

That winter he toiled as a clerk in the auditor’s office in Sioux City.29 During the off-season the Omaha Daily Bee opined that many Omaha fans “would like to see Charley Abbey wearing an Omaha uniform next season.”30 However, Omaha didn’t sign Abbey in ’91.

The Falls City Daily News said St. Paul opened the ’91 season with a win over Cincinnati (Cincinnati was not a member of the WA that season). Reportedly Abbey clubbed six extra-base hits — a homer, two triples, and three doubles.31 In an April 25 3–1 win over Lincoln, Abbey singled twice and tripled. The Nebraska State Journal proudly noted, “These Nebraska grown boys always are hard to beat.”32 Abbey had grown to 5’8½” and weighed 169 pounds.

On June 21, the Omaha Daily Bee asked, “What has become of Charlie Abbey?”33 The answer came in mid-July: The Falls City Journal reported that “Charley is a member of the Duluth [Minnesota] ball team but is laid up with a sore knee and will remain at home until able to go to work again.”34

The Apostles had moved to Duluth on June 8, but Abbey didn’t follow them. He was on the St. Paul roster only six weeks, playing in 24 games. He disappointed, hitting a career low .198, his sore knee possibly a factor. However, on July 27 Abbey was called up by the Portland [Oregon] Gladiators35 of the four-team Pacific Northwestern League (PNL). He played the outfield in 38 games, hit .262, and stole 14 bases. Portland finished 58–40 and won the ’91 PNL pennant.

In 1892 Abbey joined the Columbus (Ohio) Reds of the eight-team Class A Western League (WL), after the collapse of the WA. He played in 65 games and hit just .230. The Reds finished first with a record of 46–26, but the WL folded on July 11, largely because of wet weather and a lack of fan support.36 Abbey remained in the Upper Midwest to close out ’92 playing for the Ishpeming-Negaunee [Michigan] Unions and the Marinette [Wisconsin] Badgers of the Wisconsin-Michigan League.

The Falls City Journal announced Abbey’s resignation from the role of editor in mid-March 1893. He was departing for Chattanooga, Tennessee,37 where he played 94 games for the Chattanooga Warriors of the Class B Southern Association. He was an outfielder and walloped .313, with 29 extra-base hits, including two home runs. He also pitched a complete game and won. Abbey was a skilled defender: “Charlie Abbey the old Omaha fielder (sic) made the most sensational catch in centerfield yesterday that was ever witnessed here. … [It] looked like a ‘homer,’ but Abbey turned, sprinted to the fence … and nailed it with both hands over his head.”38 Abbey also was the Warriors’ team captain.39

In mid-August, the Falls City Journal proudly proclaimed Abbey’s promotion to the major league: He had accepted “a proposition from the Washington, DC, team of the National League. … [We] are glad to hear of his continued advancement.”40 His signing with the Senators was “upon the recommendation of Gus Schmelz,” who managed Abbey at Columbus, and Chattanooga, acting as a scout for J. Earl Wagner, the Washington owner.41

Abbey premiered on August 16, 1893. He played 31 games in left field for the last-place Senators under future Hall of Famer Jim O’Rourke. Abbey batted .259, with 25 of his 30 hits being singles. He collected 12 RBIs and stole nine bases. He fielded .937. His major-league debut, however, was tainted by the death of mother in October.42

In 1894 Abbey, now 27, manufactured his best season for the 11th-place Senators. He batted .314, had 51 hits for extra bases, drove in 101 runs, stole 31 bases, and received 58 bases on balls, all career highs. He scored 95 runs and clouted seven homers. In the outfield he handled 407 chances while recording 344 putouts (second in the league), 26 assists and six double plays, while committing 37 errors for a .909 fielding percentage. Abbey appeared in 129 of the 132 games that Washington played that year.

National League Umpire Tim Hurst regarded Abbey as “one of the best outfielders in the league. … [He] is fast enough to play in any team in the league. He picks out the good balls delivered … with rare judgment. He is a hard hitter, a brilliant fielder and the best baserunner in the team.” Best of all, he “plays ball from start to finish, and has no time for kicking.”43

During a 9-6 loss to the Cleveland Spiders June 5, Abbey hit a first-inning two-strike inside-the-park home run to deep center field off future Hall of Fame great Cy Young.44 He also demonstrated another weapon when “(Piggy) Ward … scored on Abbey’s bunt and marvelous slide to first. It was a very pretty play.”45 In a June 22 drubbing of the Boston Beaneaters, 26–12, Abbey had a five-hit game.46 The Nebraska State Journal on July 8 declared that “Abbey is [the] most popular Washington player.”47

After a July 20 12–8 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, it was printed that “Abbey is deserving of credit for excellent throws from the field to third base and home respectively.”48 However, one Washington Times scribe, after a doubleheader loss to the Orioles on August 1, wrote that “Abbey’s baserunning was very amateurish and he should have been severely reprimanded.”49

The Senators scored a 6–2 win over Young and the Spiders on August 16, with Abbey tripling, scoring once, and stealing two bases.50 The Senators routed the Chicago Colts, 14–3, on August 23 and moved out of last place while Abbey recorded four singles, a triple, a run scored, and a stolen base.51

National League President Nick Young candidly discussed the challenges of forming a new baseball association in the October 20 Evening Star. Among his observations and opinions, he called Charlie Abbey “one of the greatest outfielders in the league.”52

That fall, Abbey became a dual sport athlete. “In 1894, a group of baseball owners … created the nation’s first professional soccer league, the American League of Professional Football (ALPF). … The owners allowed the baseball managers to run the soccer clubs. … Joining [Washington Senators] manager Schmelz from the baseball side was Charlie Abbey, the only Senator to suit up for both baseball and soccer entities.”53 The October 20 Evening Star said “Abbey … understands the game and promises to be as conspicuous … as he was in the great national game.”54 He played pro soccer just that one year.

The Senators departed on March 2, 1895, for spring training in Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.55 The Omaha Daily Bee reported two weeks later that future Hall of Famer “Buck Ewing declares that Charlie Abbey is the best fielder in the country.”56

Abbey didn’t replicate his ’94 output in 1895, but he still led the league in defensive games played, 133, and assists with 34. He was second in double plays turned as an outfielder with eight, but his error total was 34. He fielded .902. Abbey hit a respectable .275, cracked eight home runs (five was the NL average in ’95), a career high at all professional levels, and knocked in 84. He also stole 28 bases.

A July 14 game in Cincinnati, won by the Senators 6–3, was witnessed by 12,000 fans. The game summary headlined: “Charlie Abbey the Star.” The sportswriter stated that “Abbey’s fielding was the best that’s ever been seen on the local grounds. Twice during the game, he prevented the home team from winning by sensational catches.”57 In a lopsided 17-5 loss to the New York Giants on July 30, Abbey homered off future Hall of Fame pitcher Amos Rusie.

The Washington Times in mid-September lauded Abbey as player, journalist, and role model. “Charlie Abbey … is one of the fastest fielders in the business. … Charlie is a scribe during the winter season. … [He] has worked on the staff of several Southern papers. … [No] player stands higher in the estimation of the baseball public than this gentle fielder, of the Washington club.”58

On August 20, in an 8–7 loss to Cleveland and starter Young, Abbey stroked four hits, including a double and triple.59 The Evening Star speculated, “If Charlie Abbey had hit the ball throughout the season as he has been hitting it during the past six weeks he would be up among the first dozen sluggers of the league.”60

In an 8-5 win over Boston and future Hall of Fame pitcher Kid Nichols on September 28, Abbey singled twice and scored two runs. The Senators finished in 10th place.

The Senators opened the ’96 season on April 16 with a 6–3 win over the New York Giants. Abbey’s play in right field was outstanding. He “had done the bulk of the work, accepting nine chances … one of them a circus catch. It was the old Charley Abbey, he of 1894.”61

Despite some decline in hitting and fielding, Abbey’s base stealing acumen remained keen. In a 9–5 win over the Orioles in late April, “Charlie Abbey … in the ninth inning … stole home. … [He] got a big start while Arlie] Pond wasn’t watching … It was a daring play and further discomfited the Orioles.”62

During an 18–5 loss to the Reds May 26, Abbey again flashed signs of past brilliance. “The fielding play of the game was Abbey’s catch of Frank] Dwyer’s long fly to center. … The strawberry blonde made a great sprint backwards, caught the ball, and held it as he stumbled to the ground.”63 However as the season wore on, a critique in the Evening Star complained that “Abbey is playing a shaky game.”64 An item from the Morning Times said the Senators might trade Abbey to the Louisville Colonels. The Washington Times objected, and the deal didn’t develop.65

Abbey’s big-league career appeared to be losing steam. He collected just 79 hits in 79 contests in 1896. His batting average closed at .263. Still, he stole 27 bases. In the outfield, he committed 16 errors in 132 chances, and fielded a career-low .879. He also pitched two innings, allowing one earned run, with no decision. After the season, the Evening Times reported that “Charley Abbey, the utility outfielder, is engaged on the Washington Post.”66

Prior to the 1897 season opener, the Washington Senators team went to the White House and met newly inaugurated President William McKinley. The Senators invited the commander in chief to their season opener. Purportedly a baseball enthusiast, McKinley said he would attend if his schedule permitted.67

The ’97 Senators reached the first division of the 12-club National League, finishing tied with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms for sixth place. After the team started 9–25–2, Schmelz was replaced by Tom Brown on June 9. The Senators went 52–46–1 the remainder of the year.

Abbey’s season also got off to a slow start. On May 23 he was batting under .200,68 but by June 1, he was hitting .255 and fielding .947.69 His baserunning, however, was described as “wretched” in the Washington Times, which suggested benching him.70 Less than a week later, in a 9–3 victory over the St. Louis Browns, Abbey’s play drew favorable comparison with that of future Hall of Famer, Willie Keeler. Abbey “snatched a line hit … while on a dead run” looking into the sun.71 Brown later said, “Charley Abbey was another crackerjack of a sun fielder.”72

In a 7–2 win over Brooklyn on August 13, “Abbey was exceedingly fast and his lightning throw … cut Fielder] Jones down at third.”73 But on August 19, in his final game with the Senators, Abbey went 0-for-4 in a 10–4 loss to the Chicago Colts and future Hall of Famer Clark Griffith.74 Washington released Charlie Abbey on August 21.

Over a five-year major-league career, Abbey had a .281/.351/.404 slash line in 452 games. He stroked 493 base hits, 132 for extra bases, including 19 home runs, with 280 RBIs. Abbey stole 93 bases and accumulated 709 total bases. In the outfield he handled 1,112 chances, recorded 920 putouts, with 92 assists, and committed 100 errors. He generated 19 double plays and fielded .910.

Abbey wasn’t quite finished as a player. He joined the Providence Clamdiggers of the Class A Eastern League on August 25. The Omaha Evening Bee noted that since Abbey had joined the Providence team, they’d won nine in a row.75 Abbey played in 30 games with Providence, recording 31 base hits for a .274 batting average. That stint brought his professional baseball career to an end.

After the season, the Evening Star announced Abbey’s betrothal to “one of Washington’s most charming girls, Miss Felicita Roman.”76 The Fall River (Massachusetts) Globe boasted, “The bride is said to be one of the handsomest young women in Washington.”77 They were married October 11, 1897, in Washington, D.C.78

In November 1899, the couple welcomes a daughter, Lucille.79 The Abbeys resided in Washington, D.C., and six years later, on January 7, 1906, a son, John Roman, was born to Charlie and Felicita. Sadly, the infant died from neonatal jaundice seven days later.80 Little more than two weeks hence, Abbey was injured in a bizarre hit-and-run accident. The Washington Times reported that he “was knocked down and run over by a Le Droit Park car at Fourteenth and E Streets northwest yesterday morning (January 30).”81

Abbey’s encounter was reported in multiple national newspapers, which is how the Falls City community learned of his misfortune. To spare them anguish, he deliberately had not told his family and friends about what happened.82 Naturally, there were conflicting details about the sequence of events, but according to a lawsuit later filed by Abbey, he was walking along Pennsylvania Avenue before sunrise near the Washington Post building. He looked west and saw a streetcar speeding toward him and assumed it would slow down and stop as required, but it didn’t — it sped up. He shifted to avoid being hit but stepped in a low-lying spot and fell, his left arm caught on the track. The front and back streetcar wheels ran over his left forearm doing irreparable damage.83 Abbey got up, walked into the office of the Post and referring to his injury, said “This looks pretty serious.” It was. He was rushed to the hospital where surgeons amputated his left arm above the elbow. He remained for treatment and recovery.84

A year later, Abbey sued the Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad company “for the loss of his left arm by the alleged negligence of the defendant.” The damages sought were $25,000 (about $765,000 in 2022). The railroad company proposed a settlement of $7,000, but Abbey refused that offer85 and continued the suit. The February 22, 1908, issue of the Washington Herald referenced the case as No. 45, in Circuit Court No. 1 under Justice Wright. No newspaper report of a court decision was found, however.

Ten years after he retired from baseball, Abbey also retired from the Washington Post. The June 18, 1907 Washington Herald reported that Abbey “has taken a position with the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York” in the insurance industry.86

But the game brought him back again. The July 14, 1910, Washington Times noted that Abbey had filled in as an umpire in a Suburban League game and “made a big hit with the crowd.”87 The Evening Star noted that umpire Abbey “has now gone through six games without a kick being made, which shows that there is class to his work.”88 During the ’97 NL season, he had acted as an arbiter at first base for two games.

Abbey’s selection “as the official umpire of the Departmental League” in late March 1911 was met “with general approval.”89 But two months later Abbey resigned from the post to devote “more time to his personal business.”90

By 1914 the Abbeys had relocated to Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Star reported a break-in and theft. Their home “was entered by burglars last night [September 10]. A quantity of valuable jewelry was taken.”91

Abbey’s father, W.W., passed away on April 13, 1916, at Falls City. Charlie was unable to return in time for the funeral on April 16.92

According to the 1920 federal census, Abbey and Felicita were divorced, and he was residing as a lodger in Seattle. His occupation was listed as solicitor in the advertising industry.93 Felicita had married William R. Duff on November 26, 1917, in Washington, D.C., and Lucille, a government clerk, lived with them.94

The January 25, 1923, Falls City Journal printed letters from former residents, who reflected on their experiences living in Falls City. John Towle, Omaha, wrote: “I recall … when Charley Abbey was the Managing Editor. He not only was a great base ball player himself, but he took an interest in the games of younger boys. He would even permit us to write accounts of our games and publish our scores in full in his columns.”95

Abbey, 59, died April 27, 1926, in San Francisco, California. His death occurred “On Arrival [at] Park Emergency Hospital.” The fatal cause was “Rupture of dissecting aneurism of ascending aorta.”96 In other words, he bled to death internally.97 Abbey was laid to rest in the family plot at Steele Cemetery, Falls City, Nebraska. His headstone is marked “CHARLIE.”98

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Falls City, Nebraska, Public Library staff for introducing me to John Martin, great-nephew of Charlie Abbey. John then introduced me to his son, Chris, the family genealogist. Chris Martin answered many questions via e-mail, provided some Abbey family history, and shared several links to unique photographs of Abbey. Their assistance was invaluable.

This biography was reviewed by Bill Lamb and Will Christensen and fact-checked by Kevin Larkin and Alan Cohen.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-almanac.com, Baseball-reference.com, Retrosheet.org, SABR.org, and StatsCrew.com.

Notes

1 history.nebraska.gov, It was the first of two official nicknames for the state of Nebraska, 1895.

2 Thomas Beer, The Mauve Decade: American Life at the End of the Nineteenth Century, New York: A.A. Knopf, 1926.

3 “Charles S. Abbey Dies in California,” Falls City (Nebraska) Daily News, May 5, 1926: 1.

4 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222348930967/facts

5 “Charles S. Abbey Dies in California.”

6 Nebraska (Lincoln) State Journal, February 8, 1885: 8.

7 Falls City (Nebraska) Journal, April 3, 1885: 5.

8 Falls City Journal, June 19, 1885: 8.

9 Falls City (Nebraska) Daily News, July 30, 1885: 3.

10 Falls City Daily News, August 13, 1885: 3.

11 Falls City Journal, June 25, 1886: 5.

12 York (Nebraska) Republican, December 1, 1886: 3.

13 Falls City Daily News, August 26, 1887: 5.

14 “Falls City Vs. Sabetha,” Falls City Journal, August 26, 1887: 5.

15 “Baseball Notes,” Falls City Journal, August 26, 1887: 5.

16 Falls City Daily News, February 17, 1888: 5.

17 Falls City Daily News, April 13, 1888: 5.

18 Beatrice (Nebraska) Republican, July 7, 1888: 3.

19 Falls City Journal, August 7, 1888: 8.

20 Falls City Daily News, September 14, 1888: 7.

21 Beatrice Republican, October 13, 1888: 1.

22 Verdon (Nebraska) Vedette, January 11, 1889: 5.

23 Falls City Journal, May 17, 1889: 8.

24 Falls City Journal, August 9, 1889: 5.

25 Falls City Journal, September 27, 1889: 8.

26 Falls City Daily News, December 27, 1889: 5.

27 “Flashes from the Diamond,” Omaha (Nebraska) Daily Bee, April 6, 1890: 5.

28 “Talk in the Grandstand,” Omaha Daily Bee, September 21, 1890: 16.

29 Omaha Daily Bee, February 8, 1891: 13.

30 “Miscellaneous Sports,” Omaha Daily Bee, October 19, 1890: 9.

31 Falls City Daily News, April 17, 1891: 2.

32 “Base Ball Briefs,” Nebraska State Journal, April 26, 1891: 2.

33 “With Your Morning’s Coffee,” Omaha Daily Bee, June 21, 1891: 16.

34 Falls City Journal, July 17, 1891: 3.

35 Falls City Daily News, July 31, 1891: 3.

36 W.C. Madden and Patrick J. Stewart, The Western League: A Baseball History, 1885 through 1999 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2002), 32.

37 Falls City Journal, March 17, 1893: 8.

38 Omaha Daily Bee, April 16, 1893: 18.

39 Falls City Journal, August 18, 1893: 5.

40 Falls City Journal, August 18, 1893: 5.

41 Omaha Daily Bee, September 10, 1892: 11

42 “Charley Abbey Loses His Mother,” Omaha Evening Bee, October 31, 1893: 2.

43 “Notes of the Players,” (Washington, DC) Evening Star, June 2, 1894: 7.

44 “Second Won by Cleveland,” Washington Times, June 6, 1894: 4.

45 “An Exciting Game,” Evening Star, June 12, 1894: 7.

46 “No Trouble with Lovett,” Washington Times, June 23, 1894: 4.

47 “Baseball Notes,” Nebraska State Journal, July 8, 1894: 10.

48 “Not The Umpire This Time,” Evening Star, July 21, 1894: 18.

49 “Won Both Games,” Washington Times, August 2, 1894: 4.

50 “Senators Again Victorious,” Washington Times, August 17, 1894: 4.

51 “Smothered The Colts,” Washington Times, August 24, 1894: 4.

52 “‘Uncle Nick’ Undisturbed,” Evening Star, October 20, 1894: 3.

53 A Moment of Brilliance—An American Soccer History Blog, “The First Professional Soccer League in America and the Senators of Washington,” Part One, January 4, 2014.

54 “Notes,” Evening Star, October 20, 1894: 3.

55 “Senators Start South,” Washington Times, March 3, 1895: 3.

56 Omaha Daily Bee, March 17, 1895: 19.

57 “Charlie Abbey The Star,” Omaha Daily Bee, July 15, 1895: 6.

58 “What The Bleachers Say,” Washington Times, September 15, 1895: 7.

59 “Tried to Mob the Umpire,” August 21, 1895: 5.

60 “May Have Trouble,” Evening Star, September 21, 1895: 7.

61 “Broke All Records,” Evening Star, April 17, 1896: 8.

62 “Orioles’ Feathers Flew,” Washington Times, April 29, 1896: 3.

63 “Diamond Dust,” Washington Times, May 27, 1896: 3.

64 “The Senators Out West,” Evening Star, July 21, 1896: 9.

65 “Objects to Further Trades,” Washington Times, August 13, 1896: 3.

66 “Baseball Notes,” Evening Times, October 19, 1896: 3.

67 “Moving Very Cautiously,” Washington Times, April 18, 1897: 7.

68 Omaha Evening Bee, May 23, 1897: 18.

69 “Work Of the Senators,” Evening Star, June 1, 1897: 7.

70 “The Senators Shaken Up,” Washington Times, June 6, 1897: 4.

71 “The Senators Win Again,” Washington Times, June 11, 1897: 6.

72 “Baseball Brevities,” Pittsburgh Press, March 7, 1898: 5.

73 “Win The Fifth Straight,” Washington Times, August 14, 1897: 6.

74 “The Colts Win the First,” Washington Times, August 20, 1897: 6.

75 “Sports Of the Day,” Omaha Evening Bee, September 13, 1897: 6.

76 “Engaged Permanently,” Evening Star, October 9, 1897: 11.

77 Fall River Globe, October 11, 1897: 6.

78 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222348930967/facts

79 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222348931599/facts

80 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222356834470/facts

81 “Charley Abbey Will Get Well Say His Physicians,” Washington Times, January 31, 1906: 1.

82 “Charlie Abbey Terribly Injured,” Falls City Tribune, February 9, 1906: 1.

83 “Nebraskan Brings a Suit,” Nebraska City News Press, January 26, 1907: 3.

84 “Charley Abbey Loses Arm,” Falls City Daily News, February 9, 1906: 8.

85 “Nebraskan Brings a Suit,” Nebraska State Journal, January 25, 1907: 8.

86 “Charles Abbey Takes New Post,” Washington Herald, June 18, 1907: 4.

87 “Suburban League,” Washington Times, July 14, 1910: 15.

88 “Suburban League,” Evening Star, July 16, 1910: 8.

89 “Departmental Umpire Meets with Approval,” Washington Times, March 23, 1911: 12.

90 “Departmental League,” Evening Star, May 23, 1911: 13.

91 “Player Plucked,” Seattle Star, September 11, 1914: 11.

92 “Wallace William Abbey,” Falls City Daily News, April 18, 1916: 1.

93 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222348930967/facts

94 Abbey family tree, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/180615832/person/222348931593/facts

95 “Absent Falls City People Extend Their Best Wishes,” Falls City Journal, January 25, 1923: 12.

96 Charles S. Abbey, National Baseball Hall of Fame file, which included State of California Death Certificate, issued October 26, 1993.

97 Cotton O’Neil Manhattan (Kansas) medical staff explanation, May 2022.

98 “Funeral of C.S. Abbey Held This Afternoon,” Falls City Journal, May 6, 1926: 1. Grave site information provided by Chris Martin in e-mail to the author, April 19, 2022.