Lou Sylvester

Louis J. Sylvester

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 3", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut April 18, 1884
• Final Game August 14, 1887
• Born February 14, 1855 in Springfield, IL USA
• Died May 5, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Lou Sylvester played in the 1884 Union Association and in the 1886 and 1887 American Association. In 1884 he was mostly an outfielder but also had a couple appearances at shortstop and six as a pitcher, hurling 32.7 innings as one of the team's four pitchers. In 1886-87 he was solely an outfielder except for one game at second base.

His 1887 team, the 1887 St. Louis Browns, won the pennant.

Lou also played in the minors through 1892 all over the country - in places such as Sacramento, Milwaukee, Houston and Augusta. He is mentioned in the book The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers as a "smooth center fielder".

The SABR biography of Frank Cox indicates that Sylvester in the early 1880's had played for the Waltham Watch Company's Stars of Waltham, a factory team, along with several other future major leaguers.

Sylvester is one of the shortest major leaguers ever, standing 5' 3". He umpires one game in the American Association in 1888.

He is not to be confused with the later Louis Sylvester.

"Lew Sylvester . . . officiated as umpire for quite a while in the Texas League, and . . . afterwards played the outfield for Houston . . . Although not a youngster, Mr. Sylvester is considered a player of no little ability. He handles himself well, is very speedy on bases and is a vicious hitter." - Sporting Life, of July 23, 1892, after Sylvester was named manager of the San Antonio team