Sam Brenegan

Olaf Selmar Brenegan

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut April 24, 1914
• Final Game April 24, 1914
• Born September 1, 1890 in Galesville, WI USA
• Died April 20, 1956 in Galesville, WI USA

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Biographical Information

"In one of the St. Louis games last week the need of another catcher forced itself on fans particularly because of the queer showing of Brenegan, a 1914 rookie... reporters... held that he laid down on chasing a ball that had passed him and rolled to the backstop... Clarke yanked him from the game. This action convinced onlookers that 'Bren' was asleep at the switch. If Brenegan Isn't retained... his will be another case where massive Forbes Field put a catcher out of the big show. Brenegan came from Petersburg, Va., where he caught most of the games with a backstop LESS THAN 30 FEET from the plate. Forbes Field, with the wire screen 140 feet distant and a huge pavilion towering up ahead... is mystifying... Col. Dreyfuss made excuses for the youth... He said Brenegan was on duty in four or five exhibition events on tour and pleased the club by his efforts. It usually takes a newcomer some time to become accustomed to conditions at Forbes Field..." - Sporting Life, May 2, 1914 issue

Sam Brenegan was the pride of Galesville, WI. In 1939, the Galesville baseball club declared a Sam Brenegan night in honor of what was (at the time) thought to be the 100th anniversary of baseball. Brenegan had played for the local team, and his brother John encouraged him to come to Virginia, where John lived, to play in the Virginia League. Sam and Harry Heathcote became famous when Heathcote pitched no-hitters in both ends of a doubleheader, and Ripley put it in Believe It or Not. Sam played seven seasons in the minors.

Although Brenegan only appeared in one major league game in April 1914, he was apparently on the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of 1913 and start of 1914. According to Sam's obituary, he had told a writer that he had been out drinking the night before, and in his only major league appearance muffed a foul fly ball, which angered manager Fred Clarke. When Sam also got angry, it was the end of his major league career.

Related Sites

Find-A-Grave Memorial for Sam Brenegan