Herman Dehlman

Herman J. Dehlman
(Dutch)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut May 2, 1872
• Born 1852 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died March 13, 1885 in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Herman Dehlman died before he was 35, but he had six years in the early major leagues. A weak hitter, he played first base at a time when the job required a lot of skill. He was apparently a good fielder at the position. One indication was a triple play that occurred in 1876, when Joe Start hit a drive which shortstop Dickey Pearce grabbed and threw to Dehlman at first, catching the runner off the base. Dehlman then whizzed the ball to third baseman Joe Battin, catching another runner off third.

One observer calculated that Dehlman deserved the 1876 Gold Glove on the basis of Win Shares.

And Dehlman could draw walks, which helped his offensive output. Four of his six teams finished under .500, but his best year by far was in St. Louis in 1875 on a team that finished 39-29, when he led the league in walks. He also led the league in strikeouts, indicating that he tried not to swing.

He worked regularly as an umpire in the National Association, for a total of 14 games between 1873 and 1875.

A notice in April 1885 said that another individual would succeed him in management of the Wilkes-Barre club following his death.