George Yeager

George J. Yeager
(Doc)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut September 25, 1896
• Final Game August 5, 1902
• Born June 5, 1874 in Cincinnati, OH USA
• Died July 5, 1940 in Cincinnati, OH USA

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Biographical Information

George Yeager played six seasons in the majors, mostly at catcher although he sometimes was positioned in the infield or outfield.

He was born in Cincinnati, OH. From 1894-1896 he played in the New England League, mostly with Pawtucket, coming up to the majors with the Boston Beaneaters near the end of the 1896 season. He had hit .345 with 24 home runs for Pawtucket in 1896.

George was with the famous Boston Beaneaters during parts of 1896-1899. Apparently 1898 was the only year that he didn't spend some time in the minors. The Beaneaters were one of the top teams of the 1890s, and during that period they finished well over .500 each year, winning the pennant in 1897 and 1898.

During his time with the Beaneaters, George had his most at-bats in 1898, getting into 68 games with 221 at-bats and hitting .267. The team's regular catcher, Marty Bergen, was a year older.

Yeager spent most of 1899 in the minors with Worcester, hitting .316, and played in the new American League in 1900, at the time a minor league. He hit .388. According to the book Connie Mack and the Early Years of Baseball, Yeager had an injury that put him out of the lineup for much of 1900. Mack, a former catcher, offered to pay Yeager for the whole 1900 season if he would sign a contract for 1901 as well, but Yeager refused.

He stayed in the American League as it became a major league in 1901, playing for the Cleveland Blues until released in late July. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who went on to win the National League pennant. He also worked one game as a fill-in umpire during his stint in the NL that year.

During the off-season he stayed in the National League, signing with the New York Giants for 1902, but was released in July and then signed with the Baltimore Orioles, whose player-manager the second half of the season was catcher Wilbert Robinson.

George also played some in 1902 with Minneapolis, hitting .328, and stayed with the team in 1903, hitting .310 and managing part of the season. He continued to play minor league ball through 1909, although he didn't hit .300 again.