MLB Forgotten Players: Remembering Tom Carey
Tom Carey made his way into the MLB history books in his very first game. Let us look back at his career on what would have been his 171st birthday.
It is understandable if Tom Carey had never dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Born on this day in 1846 in Brooklyn, NY, the idea of MLB ball was still decades away. Even before he really had a chance to establish himself in the amateur games that were so popular in that era, Carey found himself embroiled in the Civil War. Afterwards, he was a soldier stationed in the Presidio garrison in San Francisco in 1869.
However, he soon found his way to the diamond. In 1870, appearing with the Baltimore Marylands as their primary second baseman. With the National Association became the first major league in 1871, Carey found himself with the Fort Wayne Kekiongas, once again as the starting second baseman.
It was with the Kekiongas that Carey made MLB history. With Fort Wayne facing the Cleveland Forest Citys, he made the first putout in professional baseball, catching a line drive off the bat of Gene Kimball. Carey also pulled off the first unassisted double play at the same time, tagging out Deacon White as he was heading to second base.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
While that was Carey’s most enduring moment in the majors, he was certainly in demand. During his nine years in the majors, split between the NA and the early National League, he appeared with seven different teams. The longest period of time that Carey spent in one city was three years, playing for the Hartford Dark Blues, and then the Hartfords of Brooklyn.
Carey was a relatively solid player for the time. Splitting his time between second and short, he had a reputation as a good defensive player in the middle of the infield. He was in the top ten in defensive WAR as the metric was determined afterwards, and was routinely amongst the league leaders in putouts, assists, and fielding percentage. Carey was also decent with the bat, producing a lifetime .270/.275/.320 batting line, good enough for an OPS+ of 89.
After his career ended in 1879, Carey returned to San Francisco. He spent some time as an umpire in 1882, but ended up in a hospital in California, according to the 1900 census. Carey was eventually discharged in 1905 for failing to abide by the rules of the facility, and passed away the following year.
Tom Carey made certain he would be a part of MLB history, as he recorded the first putout in the National Association. Thanks to his quick thinking, he also recorded the first unassisted double play at the same time.