Charlie Gould

Charles Harvey Gould

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 172 lb.

• Debut May 5, 1871
• Final Game July 12, 1877
• Born August 21, 1847 in Cincinnati, OH USA
• Died April 9, 1917 in Flushing, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Charlie Gould was one of the members of the famous 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings team that went almost unbeaten. Thereafter, he played in the National Association for three teams and in the nascent National League.

Gould started in 1863 with the Buckeyes. By 1868, he had joined the rival team and they picked up the nickname "Red Stockings". While a few of the 1868 players were paid money to play, Gould was not (although he would be paid in 1869).

He was the only actual Cincinnatian on the 1869 Red Stockings, a team that came in for some criticism because all the other players came from elsewhere at a time when most teams were made up of local players. He was picked because of his defensive skills, being called a "bushel basket" at first base for his ability to scoop up baseballs. A picture of the Red Stockings in 1869 shows him as clearly the tallest player on the team (of those standing).

At the time, his regular occupation was listed as "bookkeeper" - he worked during the off-seasons for his father's business.

Gould was 23 when the National Association started, and in 1871 he was with the Boston Red Stockings, along with many famous names including Harry Wright, George Wright, Cal McVey, Ross Barnes, and a young Al Spalding. Gould's batting average was below the team average, but would have been above the team average for several of the teams in the league.

In 1872, the Boston team won the pennant. Gould, the first baseman, had one of the weaker offensive performances on the team.

He came back to the National Association in 1874 with the Baltimore Canaries. He hit .224 on a team that hit .244 and won few games.

In 1875 he was with the New Haven Elm Citys, another team that won few games, but here he was a hitting star, with a .266 average that was close to the team leader at .275, on a team that hit .219.

When the National League started in 1876, he went back to Cincinnati to join the hapless Cincinnati Reds who had a record of 9-56. His .279 slugging percentage was second highest on the team. Back with the Reds in 1877 at age 29, he played his last season, batting .275 for a team that hit .255 and finished with a record of 15-42.

Gould was also a player/manager in 1875 and 1876. He umpired a total of 8 games in the National Association in 1874 and 1875.

Related Sites

• Charlie Gould at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• BR Minors page

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