Clarence Cross

Clarence M. Cross
born Clarence Crause
(Cleary)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 7", Weight 178 lb.

• Debut May 5, 1884
• Final Game October 10, 1887
• Born March 4, 1856 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died June 23, 1931 in Seattle, WA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Clarence Cross was 28 years old when he played for three teams in the short-lived Union Association in 1884. Three years later, he played in the American Association.

Cross' debut was pretty spectacular, as he hit .571 in two games for Altoona, a team which lasted 25 games. After moving to the Philadelphia Keystones for two more games (where he hit .222), he came to the Kansas City Cowboys, where he became the regular shortstop. The Cowboys played 79 games, but could not settle on a shortstop for much of the season. They used 13 different players, and Cross was the only one who appeared there more than 20 times. All three of Cross's Union Association teams played well under .500 ball. In 1887, he came to the New York Metropolitans, anotherr team that played well under .500. Although 31 years old, Cross was no older than several of the regulars; the team's oldest player was 42 year old Lip Pike, who appeared in one game, while 38 year old Candy Nelson played fairly regularly.