Tom Long (longto00)

Thomas L. Long

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut August 29, 1888
• Final Game August 29, 1888
• Born November 1860 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died December 15, 1914 in Norristown, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom Long was a player about whom almost nothing was known for over a hundred years.

Someone only identified at the time as "Long" played in the outfield for the Louisville Colonels for one game on August 29, 1888. Early encyclopedias listed him as "Dan Long", but that particular player was toiling for a team in San Francisco, CA at the time, so it was not him. A note in the Philadelphia Press indicated that the man was a player for the Athletic reserves, a sort of development team for the Philadelphia Athletics of the time. Researcher Peter Morris was able to track a mention of two players named Long who were with that outfit, catcher Harry Long and outfielder Tom Long. The two were brothers from Philadelphia, PA. Tom died in the state insane asylum in Norristown, PA in 1914.

Further Reading

• "It was a Long Time Coming", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Committee Report, SABR, May/June, 2014, pp. 10-11.