Abner Dalrymple

Abner Frank Dalrymple

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut May 1, 1878
• Final Game October 2, 1891
• Born September 9, 1857 in Gratiot, WI USA
• Died January 25, 1939 in Warren, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Abner Dalrymple was the Opening Day lead-off hitter for the Chicago White Stockings each year from 1879 to 1886. George Gore batted second behind him on Opening Day each year. In 1887, Billy Sunday replaced him on the team as the Opening Day lead-off batter.

Dalrymple led the league in at-bats four times during the period 1880-1885. During his career, he led the league once in homers, once in hits, once in runs scored and twice in total bases. He was second once in batting average, once in triples and twice in doubles.

Abner Dalrymple hit 22 home runs in 1884, which was one of the highest single-season home-run totals of the 19th century. He hit for the cycle in September, 1891, in one of the last games he ever played.

Although Dalrymple made his debut in 1878, in the third year of the young National League, he was still alive many years later in 1938, Lou Gehrig's last full season. Dalrymple died in 1939, the rookie season of Ted Williams.

An article about Dalrymple indicates that he began working for a railroad at age 14 and was on the railroad's baseball team. He played for a variety of other teams on his way to the majors. After his major league days he played in the minors and in semi-pro ball, and worked for decades for the Northern Pacific railroad.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time NL At Bats Leader (1880, 1882, 1884 & 1885)
• NL Runs Scored Leader (1880)
• NL Hits Leader (1880)
• 2-time NL Total Bases Leader (1880-1884)
• NL Singles Leader (1878)
• NL Home Runs Leader (1885)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1884 & 1885)