Charlie Duffee

Charles Edward Duffee
(Home Run)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6", Weight 151 lb.

• Debut April 17, 1889
• Final Game April 30, 1893
• Born January 27, 1866 in Mobile, AL USA
• Died December 24, 1894 in Mobile, AL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Charlie "Home Run" Duffee was the first Alabama-born player to come to the major leagues. Nicknamed "Home Run Duffee" (and usually referred to by that name), his 16 home runs as a rookie were third in the American Association in 1889.

Duffee's best year was 1891 when both his home runs and his doubles were in the top five in the league. The next year he moved to the National League, where he played one full season in 1892 and four more games in 1893 before bowing out. Charlie Comiskey, who had been his manager in 1889 when Duffee broke in, was also his manager in his last season, 1893.

He died the next year, in 1894, of consumption. It was reported that he left the majors due to ill health.

The year he broke in (1889) was a turbulent one, coming right before the founding of the Players League. Duffee is mentioned in the book Baseball in 1889: Players vs. Owners.

The Baseball Rookies Encyclopedia notes that Duffee's performance in 1889, hitting over 15 home runs with a batting average below .250, was rare before 1940, but after that date it became common.

"Charles Ed­ward Duffee, aged 28, died to-day (said to be Dec. 25 but was actually Dec. 24) of consumption. He was well known as "Home Run" Duffee and ex-member of the St. Louis Browns, of the National League aud American Association, also of the Washington Club, of the National League. He left the League in 1891 on account of ill health, but afterward played with the Atlanta team in 1892." - Sporting Life, December 29, 1894