Cy Seymour Position OF, P Baseball History Click on photo to enlarge Baseball player, Cy Seymour, Cincinnati Reds, holding baseball bat, standing at West Side Grounds in Chicago prior to game against the Chucago Cubs. CREATED/PUBLISHED 1903 from Chicago Daily News Baseball HIstory SUMMARY Half-length portrait of baseball player, Cy (James Bentley) Seymour, center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, National League, holding a baseball bat, standing at West Side Grounds, which was located between West Polk Street, South Wolcott Avenue (formerly Lincoln Street), West Taylor Street, and South Wood Street, in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. Cite as: SDN-001726, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society Baseball History The following from Microsoft Baseball History Debut April 1896 with the New York Giants Bats Left Throws Left Ht 6' Wt 200 Lefthander James Bentley “Cy” Seymour received his nickname (short for “Cyclone”) as a tribute to his fastball, and he led the National League in strikeouts in 1898. His arm soon deadened, but he was a strong enough hitter to lead the National League in 1905 in batting, RBIs, hits, doubles and triples. His stubbornness also helped lose the 1908 pennant for the Giants. In the October 8 Cubs-Giants playoff game, Joe Tinker was facing Christy Mathewson in the third inning. Seymour was playing a short field, and he refused to move, although both Mathewson and Turkey Mike Donlin signaled for him to go back. Tinker hit the ball deep into left center, and Seymour immediately saw his mistake as he raced back. He leaped for the ball, just missing a catch that would have been easy had he been ten feet back. Cy Seymour’s misplay led to four Chicago runs in the inning and gave the Cubs a 4-2 victory and the National League pennant. He played with the Giants until 1910, then returned in 1913 for a final season with Boston. Baseball History © 1994 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. |