Al Reach Explained

Al Reach
Position:Right fielder
Birth Date:25 May 1840
Birth Place:London, England
Death Place:Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 20
Debutyear:1871
Debutteam:Philadelphia Athletics
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 21
Finalyear:1875
Finalteam:Philadelphia Athletics
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.247
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:0
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:56
Teams:
  National Association of Base Ball Players
  • Brooklyn Eckfords (1861–1864)
  • Philadelphia Athletics (1865–1870)
      League player
  • Philadelphia Athletics (–)
      League manager
  • Philadelphia Phillies
  • Alfred James Reach (May 25, 1840 – January 14, 1928) was an Anglo-American sportsman who was one of the early stars of baseball in the National Association. After his playing career, he went on to become an influential executive, publisher, sporting goods manufacturer, and spokesman for the sport. He was influential in the founding of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1875.

    Early life

    Reach was born in London, on May 25, 1840.[1]

    Career

    Reach was a regular for the champion Eckford club in Brooklyn in the early 1860s before moving to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1865.[1] When the National Association began, he helped them win the first professional baseball pennant in 1871.[2]

    Upon his retirement from playing in 1875, he helped found the Philadelphia Phillies franchise. Reach served as team president from 1883 to 1899.[1] Later, similarly to Albert Spalding, Reach formed a sporting goods company and earned millions. In fact, he sold his company to Spalding in 1889.[1] Reach was the trade name used on the game balls for the American League until 1976.

    Reach kept his interest in the Phillies franchise, selling to a syndicate led by James Potter in 1903.[3]

    Death

    Reach died at age 87 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and is interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

    Legacy

    A Pennsylvania historical marker was dedicated on April 4, 2003 at 1820 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for Reach's contribution to baseball.[4]

    External links

    [Category:Sportspeople from London]]

    Notes and References

    1. http://www.webcemeteries.com/westlaurelhill/LH.asp?Id=422016&T=T History for Alfred James Reach
    2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reachal01.shtml Al Reach Statistics
    3. News: Society in Baseball . The New York Times . March 1, 1903.
    4. Web site: Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search. PHMC . 3 November 2018 .