Dick Phelan

James Dickson Phelan

• Bats Right, Throws Unknown

• Debut April 17, 1884
• Final Game October 3, 1885
• Born December 10, 1854 in Towanda, PA USA
• Died February 13, 1931 in San Antonio, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dick Phelan played as a regular in the 1884 Union Association and then briefly in the 1885 National League. He was nearly 30 when he played in 1884, and he continued to play in the minors through the age of 44.

The Journal of Sport History in 1977 published an article about the 1882 Leadville Blues. Phelan played second base, and was said to have played without a glove because he felt he could field better that way. He was described as a "natural born player", and one who was never ordered out of a game by an umpire. The article viewed him as one of the team's core players, and he had one of the best batting averages.