John Haldeman

John Avery Haldeman

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• School Washington and Lee University
• Debut July 3, 1877
• Final Game July 3, 1877
• Born December 2, 1855 in Pewee Valley, KY USA
• Died September 17, 1899 in Louisville, KY USA

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Biographical Information

John Haldeman was an amateur ballplayer whose father owned a Louisville, KY newspaper as well as the local major league ballclub. John was reporting for the newspaper, and team manager Jack Chapman decided to put him in a game. He served as the business manager of the newspaper until his death in 1899. [1] As a reporter, he is remembered for breaking the story of the great baseball scandal of 1877, when Jim Devlin and others were banned for throwing games.

He had been at Washington and Lee University from 1873-1876, and thereafter played amateur ball. He came up for one game with the Louisville Grays in 1877 at age 21, playing second base. Joe Gerhardt, who had a long career in the majors, was the regular second baseman that year.

He is the first major leaguer from Washington and Lee University, and through 2019 the only major leaguer with the last name Haldeman.