Emmett Seery

John Emmett Seery

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 145 lb.

• Debut April 17, 1884
• Final Game June 10, 1892
• Born February 13, 1861 in Princeville, IL USA
• Died August 7, 1930 in Saranac Lake, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"During 1887, '88 and '89, while with the Indianapolis team, Seery earned an extended reputation, not only as an expert left fielder, but also as a good batsman and clever base-runner." - from a professional biography of Emmett Seery appearing in Sporting Life of August 9, 1890, which also has a sketch of his face

Emmett Seery played nine years in the majors, split among four leagues. He was above average in each league except the Players League, where he had an off-season.

He was the best hitter on the 1884 Baltimore Monumentals of the short-lived Union Association, as well as the 1889 Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League. In 1891 he and King Kelly had pretty similar averages for the 1891 Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, in the American Association, and either one could be chosen the best hitter.

Seery was involved in a fight with Charlie Sweeney in 1886, but all his teammates and at least one newspaper sided with Seery.

He is the only player to ever have exactly as many runs scored as hits in a season, with a minimum of 100 hits.

Sporting Life on February 6, 1897 carried the following note: "Emmett Seery has foregone his umpirical designs and has signed to play in the outfield for Savannah, which, by the way, is not so very far away from his Florida orange plantation."

He was a talented singer who a had a part in the musical play "The Chimney of Normandy" with the Peterson Opera of Indianapolis, IN one winter.

Notable Achievements

• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1884, 1887 & 1889)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 1 (1888)