Sparrow McCaffrey

Charles P. McCaffrey

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Weight 120 lb.

• Debut August 13, 1889
• Final Game August 15, 1889
• Born 1868 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died April 29, 1894 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Sparrow McCaffrey is listed as weighing 120 lbs., unlike today's catchers who are usually big guys. He appeared in two games in the majors in 1889.

He was not the first "Sparrow" in the majors as Sparrow Morton pitched two games in 1884.

While McCaffrey was only 21 years old, he was a year older than Jack O'Connor, the regular catcher for the team. And he was two years older than Dirty Jack Doyle, who made his major league debut that year. Doyle would still be in the majors more than ten years after McCaffrey died and O'Connor would play even longer.

Sparrow McCaffrey died in 1894 around the age of 26. He died of consumption [1].

", , , (after) seven innings . . . the little Norristown catcher, McCaffrey, went In. He did good work." - Sporting Life, about McCaffrey's major league debut

Related Sites

• Sparrow McCaffrey at the SABR Bio Project