Tug Arundel

John Thomas Arundel

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut May 23, 1882
• Final Game September 27, 1888
• Born June 30, 1862 in Auburn, NY USA
• Died September 5, 1912 in Romulus, NY USA

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Biographical Information

"Tug Arundel astonished Memphis last week by wearing a chest protector for the first time." - from the Sporting Life issue of September 9, 1885

Tug Arundel came to the majors before he turned 20, and played four seasons in the big leagues. In the minors, he played for teams mostly in the Midwest and the South.

Tug played for Toledo in 1884, the year Fleet and Welday Walker were on the team. With the 1888 Washington Nationals, he was the same age as teammate Dummy Hoy and a year older than catcher Connie Mack. During the 1887-88 offseason, he was said to be practicing to be a pitcher. The writer said that if it was true Arundel was an excitable type, he should not become a pitcher as temper control is key for a pitcher. He umpired one game in 1888.

He is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Auburn, NY. Sporting Life of September 14, 1912 carried his obituary, saying that he died at Willard State Hospital "of paralysis". Harry Arundel was a contemporary but apparently not a relative.

". . . the Prince of sharp-spiked kickers, the inimitable and 'only' Tug Arundel." - Sporting Life of January 27, 1886

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Tug Arundel
• Baseball History Daily story on Tug Arundel