Bob Ferguson

Note: This page is for 19th Century player and manager Bob Ferguson; for the 1940s pitcher click here.

Robert Vavasour Ferguson
(Death to Flying Things)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9½", Weight 149 lb.

• Debut May 18, 1871
• Final Game July 1, 1884
• Born January 31, 1845 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died May 3, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bob Ferguson played in the majors from the time they were organized (he was 26 and a well-known "amateur" player in 1871), and was the first switch hitter. His major league playing career lasted 14 years, and his managerial career was 16 years (mostly as a player-manager).

He managed and played alongside 35-year-old Dickey Pearce in 1871, as well as Cap Anson in 1878, and also the rookie Dan Brouthers in 1879.

Ferguson had played for the Enterprise club in 1865 and the Brooklyn Atlantics starting in 1866.

Ferguson is remembered partly because of his unusual nickname "Death to Flying Things". It is a nickname that was also bestowed on his long-time amateur teammate Jack Chapman. While there is disagreement over who received the nickname first, Ferguson played infield while Chapman played outfield so Chapman would presumably have had more chances to field towering "flying things".

After his playing and managing days came to a close, Ferguson spent time as a big league umpire. He worked in the National League, American Association and Players League from 1884 to 1891, but had previously worked a signifcant number of games in the National Association between 1871 and 1879.

Notable Achievements

• NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1878)
• NL Bases on Balls Leader (1880)

Preceded by Al Spalding

Chicago White Stockings Manager 1878

Succeeded by Cap Anson

Preceded by N/A

Philadelphia Quakers Manager 1883

Succeeded by Blondie Purcell

Preceded by Denny McKnight

Pittsburgh Alleghenys Manager 1884

Succeeded by Joe Battin

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1871	New York Mutuals	National Association	16-17	5th	New York Mutuals
1872	Brooklyn Atlantics	National Association	9-28	7th	Brooklyn Atlantics
1873	Brooklyn Atlantics	National Association	17-37	6th	Brooklyn Atlantics
1874	Brooklyn Atlantics	National Association	22-33	6th	Brooklyn Atlantics
1875	Hartford Dark Blues	National Association	54-28	3rd	Hartford Dark Blues
1876	Hartford Dark Blues	National League	47-21	3rd	Hartford Dark Blues
1877	Hartfords of Brooklyn	National League	31-27	3rd	Hartfords of Brooklyn
1878	Chicago White Stockings	National League	30-30	4th	Chicago White Stockings
1879	Troy Trojans	National League	7-22	8th	Troy Trojans		Replaced Horace Phillips (12-34) on August 7
1880	Troy Trojans	National League	41-42	4th	Troy Trojans
1881	Troy Trojans	National League	39-45	5th	Troy Trojans
1882	Troy Trojans	National League	35-48	7th	Troy Trojans
1883	Philadelphia Quakers	National League	4-13	--	Philadelphia Quakers		Replaced by Blondie Purcell on May 30
1884	Pittsburgh Alleghenys	American Association	11-31	--	Pittsburgh Alleghenys		Replaced Denny McKnight (4-8) on May 17 Replaced by Joe Battin on July 17
1886	New York Metropolitans	American Association	48-70	7th	New York Metropolitans		Replaced Jim Gifford (5-12) on May 17
1887	New York Metropolitans	American Association	6-24	--	New York Metropolitans		Replaced by Dave Orr on June 3

Related Sites

• Bob Ferguson at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• BR Minors page
• Bob Ferguson on Retrosheet.org

This manager's article is missing a managerial chart. To make this person's article more complete, one should be added.