Fred Warner

Frederick John Rodney Warner

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 7", Weight 155 lb.

• Debut April 21, 1875
• Final Game September 11, 1884
• Born January 7, 1855 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 13, 1886 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Fred Warner played several years in the major leagues, and died young, just after turning 31. He was called "Chain Lightning Warner" because of a throwing arm that was considered possibly the best in the majors.

He played in Indianapolis before the team became part of the National League, and then played for the 1878 Indianapolis Blues when it was in the National League. According to an article in the 1886 Dallas Morning News, the Indianapolis team in 1876 came to play the Dallas Trinity on March 10, and beat them 50-0. The day was so cold, the newspaper said, that players wore overcoats and fires were built at various places on the field.

Warner broke in at age 20 in the National Association and was an above-average player on the 1875 Philadelphia Centennials (Warner had been born in, and died in, Philadelphia). Most of 1876-78 was apparently spent with Indianapolis, whose most notable star was The Only Nolan.

With the 1879 Cleveland Blues, he again posted above-average offensive numbers on a below-average team.

He came back to Philadelphia in 1883, but hit below average. His last major league season was in the American Association, where his offensive numbers were around the team averages on the 1884 Brooklyn Atlantics.