Fatty Briody

Charles F. Briody
(Alderman)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8½", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut June 16, 1880
• Final Game July 24, 1888
• Born August 13, 1858 in Lansingburgh, NY USA
• Died June 22, 1903 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Ex-Player and Umpire Charlie Briody died at his home in Lansingburg, N.Y., last week. At one time there was no better catcher in the country than fat, genial Charlie Briody. He was a native of Lansingburgh. He first came into prominence with the Haymakers of Troy in 1877-78." - the Sporting Life issue of May 7, 1892, falsely reporting his death

"Ex-catcher Charley Briody, who was reported as dead some months ago, and of whom lengthy obituaries were published, is a decidedly lively corpse. He is umpiring in the Eastern League, and when not not umpiring attends to a prospering business in Lansingburgh, N.Y." - the Sporting Life issue of May 13, 1893, setting the record straight

"Charley Briody, who has had on two occasions his obituary written up, and whose funeral, Henry Boyle, the ex-pitcher, claimed he attended, is running a hotel at Lansingburgh, N.Y." - from Sporting Life of March 27, 1897

Fatty Briody moved around a lot, making seven stops in an eight-season major league career. Nicknamed "Fatty", he is listed at 5' 8½" and 190 lbs, which made him the second-heaviest starter on the 1882 Cleveland Blues, behind Bill Phillips who was 12 pounds heavier but also 4 inches taller.

Briody originally broke into the majors with the 1880 Troy Trojans, which also had another rookie catcher, Buck Ewing, along with several other youngsters who would make a name for themselves: Dan Brouthers, Roger Connor, Mickey Welch and Tim Keefe. Briody would be reunited with Brouthers years later on the 1887 Detroit Wolverines, who won the pennant and the postseason play with the help of The Big Four and Sam Thompson. After his playing days, Briody worked for a trucking company and was a Chicago Committeeman for many years.

Sporting Life of August 24, 1887 recalled when Briody was catcher for the Dowagiac Club. Sporting Life usually called him Charley, and sometimes Charlie, but never Fatty. In addition to umpiring in the minors, he worked one National League game in 1881.