George Townsend

George Hodgson Townsend
(Sleepy)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7½", Weight 180 lb.
• School New York University
• Debut June 25, 1887
• Final Game October 6, 1891
• Born June 4, 1867 in Hartsdale, NY USA
• Died March 15, 1930 in New Haven, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Dr. George Townsend, the famous Baltimore catcher of a decade ago, who is a practicing physician here, saved the life of Annie Rust of Meriden to-day. . . She was unable to swim and sank. . . Dr. Townsend . . . leaped in the water without removing any of his clothing. He swam out to Miss Rust and brought her to shore after she had sunk for the second time. . . . his exertions in the surf completely exhausted him . . ." - from the New York Times of August 14, 1907, reporting from Branford, Connecticut

George "Sleepy" Townsend was the first player out of New York University to make the majors. He played four seasons in the American Association. Although he was from the state of New York and attended university in that state, the teams he played for were in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Townsend was at NYU at the same time as Doc Leitner, but George beat Doc to the majors by several weeks.

George also played for Reading in 1887, hitting .347. In 1890, George played for a Baltimore team that was part in the Atlantic Association and then joined the American Association in August.

Townsend had his most major league at-bats in his last season, 1891. He was a teammate that year of the 18-year-old rookie John McGraw. He umpired two games in the American Association in 1890.

He is the only major leaguer who died in Connecticut in 1930. Roger Connor died there the following January.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for George Townsend