Charlie Hallstrom

Charles Emil Hallstrom
(Swedish Wonder)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut September 23, 1885
• Final Game September 23, 1885
• Born January 22, 1863 in Jonkoping, Sweden
• Died May 6, 1949 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Charlie Hallstrom was the first Swede in Major League Baseball. The 1885 Providence Grays had eight pitchers who were each given the ball for one game. Charley Radbourn was one of two regular pitchers.

The book Cubs Journal indicates that Hallstrom was a Chicago amateur player used by Providence when it was short of pitchers while in Chicago. Hallstrom pitched against Chicago.

After his day in the majors, Charlie played several years in the minors and a couple more in the Chicago City League.

This site [1] says Hallstrom came to the U.S. as a young child. By age 22, he was pitching semi-pro ball. After baseball he became a tailor and was active in politics.

"The Providence Club put Hallstrom, a local pitcher known as 'the Swedish Wonder,' in the box, but the home team gauged his delivery and batted very hard . . ." - from Sporting Life, September 30, 1885, about the game on September 23