Nate Berkenstock
Earliest-born professional baseball player; played in 1871 championship decider.
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Nathan Berkenstock, born September 17, 1832, and died February 23, 1900, holds the distinction of being the earliest-born professional baseball player on record, three years older than Hall of Famer Harry Wright. Jewish, he played in just one professional league game—the 1871 contest that decided the first professional baseball championship in the United States. That single appearance, at age 39, came after a five-year retirement, making his brief moment on the field all the more remarkable.
Early baseball career
When Berkenstock first began playing baseball is not recorded; the National Association of Base Ball Players, the first organized amateur league, formed in 1857, when he was 25. Peter Morris mentions him as a noteworthy amateur player but does not give a start date. According to Marshall D. Wright, Berkenstock debuted with the Athletic Club of Philadelphia in 1863, at age 31. The New York Clipper described him as "not a pretty player, being heavy and clumsy, but does good service (and) generally manages to hold any ball thrown to him." He also served as the Athletics' treasurer.
Statistics from that era were limited to Games Played, Runs Scored, and Hands Lost (an out at bat or on the bases). Berkenstock played for Athletic from 1863 to 1866. Athletic was among the nation's top teams in the 1860s and won an unofficial national championship in 1867, the year after Berkenstock retired.
Berkenstock comes back
On October 30, 1871, the Athletics met the Chicago White Stockings at the Union Grounds in Brooklyn to decide the 1871 championship. The title was determined by wins, not winning percentage; the Athletics had 20 victories, as did Boston, while Chicago had 19. The winner of this game would take the pennant.
The White Stockings were playing despite the Great Chicago Fire, which had destroyed their ballpark and equipment. The Athletics called on Berkenstock, then 39 and out of the game for five years, to play right field after center fielder Count Sensenderfer injured his knee. Philadelphia won 4–1. Berkenstock went hitless in four at bats, striking out three times, but recorded three putouts, including the final out.
Personal life
Berkenstock married Maria Louisa Fable in 1855 and, after her death, Esther H. Gresh in 1885. He had two daughters with Maria: Lilly L. Berkenstock and May Malvina Berkenstock.
A SABR report indicates he enlisted in the American Civil War in 1862 and mustered out after two weeks. In 1885, at age 53, he played in an old-timer's game between the Athletic and Brooklyn Atlantics. He died in Philadelphia; his obituary described him as a well-known hat dealer and noted his home on Diamond Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Nate Berkenstock born?
Nate Berkenstock was born on 17 September 1832 in Pennsylvania, U.S.
When did Nate Berkenstock die?
Nate Berkenstock died on 23 February 1900 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Nate Berkenstock (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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