Fred Dunlap

Frederick C. Dunlap
(Sure Shot)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut May 1, 1880
• Final Game April 20, 1891
• Born May 21, 1859 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died December 1, 1902 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dunlap in 1886

"Fred. Dunlap was at one time . . . the best second baseman in the country . . ." - Ned Hanlon, quoted in Sporting Life, Sept. 11, 1897

Nicknamed "Sure Shot" because of his powerful arm, Fred Dunlap twice hit over .300 for the Cleveland Blues in the early 1880s. He was lured to the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association in 1884, becoming the highest-paid player in baseball at the time. He led the league with a .412 average, 160 runs, and 13 homers, as the Maroons won the league's first (and only) pennant.

After the Union Association folded, Dunlap returned to the National League but never again put up big numbers. However, he continued to be an above-average offensive player for several more years, and ended his major league career with an OPS+ of 134. Even looking at just the National League seasons, he had a career OPS+ of 120.

He had actually made his debut not as a player, but as an umpire for one NL game in 1879.

His death in 1902 at age 43 was attributed to "Tubercular Distended Rectum."

His obituary in Sporting Life (Dec. 13, 1902 issue) said he and Fred Pfeffer were the star second basemen of the profession during his time. He came from the "downtown lots" of Philadelphia into pro ball. After baseball, he chose "to follow the racing game", and Sporting Life said that caused him to lose the fortune he had accumulated in baseball. His last couple of years were spent in poverty.

Notable Achievements

• UA Batting Average Leader (1884)
• UA On-Base Percentage Leader (1884)
• UA Slugging Percentage Leader (1884)
• UA OPS Leader (1884)
• UA Runs Scored Leader (1884)
• UA Hits Leader (1884)
• UA Total Bases Leader (1884)
• NL Doubles Leader (1880)
• UA Home Runs Leader (1884)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1884)

Preceded by Horace Phillips

Pittsburgh Alleghenys Manager 1889

Succeeded by Ned Hanlon

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1882	Cleveland Blues	National League	42-36	5th	Cleveland Blues		replaced Jim McCormick (0-4) on May 6
1884	St. Louis Maroons	Union Association	66-16	1st	St. Louis Maroons	League Champs	replaced Ted Sullivan (28-3) on June 15
1885	St. Louis Maroons	National League	30-40	8th	St. Louis Maroons		replaced by Alex McKinnon on July 11 / replaced Alex McKinnon (6-32) on September 8
1889	Pittsburgh Alleghenys	National League	7-10	--	Pittsburgh Alleghenys		replaced Horace Phillips (28-43) on July 25 / replaced by Ned Hanlon on August 13

Related Sites

• BR Manager page