Fred Mauer

Frederick H. Mauer
played as Harry Brooks

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut July 24, 1886
• Final Game July 24, 1886
• Born April 19, 1862 in Hamburg, NJ USA
• Died April 19, 1922 in Schenectady, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

On July 24, 1886, an amateur ballplayer named Fred Mauer played one game for the New York Metropolitans of the American Association under the assumed name of "Harry Brooks". It was a memorable performance, but for all the wrong reasons. Starting the game on the mound against the Louisville Colonels, he gave up 9 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 2nd before he was mercifully moved to another position. He did no better in centerfield, however, as he committed four errors there, according to a newspaper report (his statistics currently assign his errors to his two innings spent on the mound, but that may simply be the result of missing a play-by-play account of the game). Not surprisingly, he went back to the amateur ranks to stay after that dismal showing.

The fact that he was playing under an assumed name only became known over a century later, and the birth and death information of another Henry Brooks, who was from Philadelphia, PA, were attached to his record, but these apparently belong to an entirely different person. SABR researchers were able to find out more details about Fred Mauer's life once his identity was established, including details of his death. His obituary confirmed that he had once pitched for New York.

Further Reading

• "Henry Frank Brooks", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, January/February 2014, pp. 2-3.
• "Fred Mauer Found", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, January/February 2015, p. 1.