Lou Say

Louis I. Say

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 145 lb.

• Debut April 14, 1873
• Final Game October 19, 1884
• Born February 4, 1854 in Baltimore, MD USA
• Died June 5, 1930 in Fallston, MD USA

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Biographical Information

Shortstop Lou Say played in the National Association, the National League, the American Association and the Union Association. He was not much of a hitter in any of them, earning his keep with good range defensively.

He also played in quite a few different minor leagues. His brother Jimmy Say was also an infielder, and the two played together on some teams. Both Lou and Jimmy played exclusively shortstop for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1882, with Lou appearing in 49 games while Jimmy was in 22. The two also joined Utica in the last half of the 1885 season.

He worked one National League game as an umpire in 1879.

"Louis Say, once a famous short stop, who fell out of the profession through drink, was, last week, sent to the Baltimore House of Correction for 10 months upon the charge of larceny. He was indicted for robbery, but his plea of guilty to the charge of larceny was accepted by the prosecution." - Sporting Life, February 3, 1900

"Louis Say, a famous old shortstop, who flourished in the early days of professional baseball, has been arrested in Baltimore for street begging." - Sporting Life, February 14, 1903

According to Bill James Baseball Stats Calendar 2000, the hidden ball trick was invented by Lou Say, then a minor league shortstop, who worked the trick for Albany in a game against Worcester on September 26, 1879.