Zeke Wrigley

George Watson Wrigley

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Weight 150 lb.

• Debut August 31, 1896
• Final Game October 14, 1899
• Born January 18, 1874 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died September 28, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Infielder-outfielder Zeke Wrigley, who was born and died in Philadelphia, PA, played four seasons in the big leagues, primarily with the 1897 Senators and 1898 Senators at a time when they were in the National League.

His most common position was shortstop, a position at which he was the Senators' regular in 1898.

Although "Wrigley" is a famous baseball name due to Wrigley Field, Zeke is the only Wrigley to ever play major league ball (through May 2008).

In 1905 he played second base for the Columbus Senators who went 100-52 and had a bunch of former and future major leaguers.

At one point Wrigley was rumored to be part of a potential trade with the Orioles, but the trade never happened and it's possible that the Senators were just trying to drum up interest in Wrigley. Source: A Game of Brawl: The Orioles, The Beaneaters, and the Battle for the 1897 Pennant.

In an odd circumstance in 1899, Wrigley had played for Syracuse, and then came to play for the New York Giants. The Brooklyn Superbas then bought his contract from Syracuse, something which got Brooklyn in hot water with the league although Wrigley did play for Brooklyn. The purchase was then nullified and Brooklyn again bought Wrigley in 1900 from Syracuse. All of the 1899 games Wrigley played for Brooklyn were voided by the league.

He managed New Orleans for part of 1903 and managed in the Ohio State League in 1911-13.

A 1916 article in the New York Times states that Wrigley was recommending the young Roy Elsh to John McGraw and the New York Giants. Elsh would eventually come to the majors beginning in 1923.