| Harry Steinfeldt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born:(1875-09-29)September 29, 1875 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| Died: August 17, 1914(1914-08-17) (aged 38) Bellevue, Kentucky, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1898, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 1, 1911, for the Boston Rustlers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 27 |
| Runs batted in | 762 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Harry M. Steinfeldt (September 29, 1875 – August 17, 1914) was an American professionalbaseball player. Athird baseman, Steinfeldt played inMajor League Baseball for theCincinnati Reds,Chicago Cubs, andBoston Rustlers. He batted and threw right-handed.
Steinfeldt was the starting third baseman for the Cubs in the final game of the1908 World Series, the team's last championship until their victory in2016. He was the fourth infielder on a team that gained fame for a double-play combination of"Tinker to Evers to Chance."
Steinfeldt was born inSt. Louis, Missouri, on September 29, 1875, toGerman immigrants. His family moved toFort Worth, Texas, when he was five years old. He initially pursued a theatrical career.[1]
While touring Texas in aminstrel show, Steinfeldt played baseball in a town where his show was performing.[1] His success at baseball led him to sign his first professional contract. He debuted inminor league baseball with the Houston Magnolias/Mudcats of the Class BTexas-Southern League in 1895. The next year, he played for theGalveston Sandcrabs andFort Worth Panthers of the Class CTexas Association. In 1897, Steinfeldt played for theDetroit Tigers of the Class AWestern League.[1]
In October 1897, theCincinnati Reds of theNational League (NL) purchased Steinfeldt from Detroit. Debuting in the major leagues for the Reds in 1898, he filled in forBid McPhee,Tommy Corcoran, andCharlie Irwin as autility infielder. When the Reds released Irwin during the 1901 season, Steinfeldt became the Reds' startingthird baseman.[1] He led the NL indoubles in 1903 with 32.[2]
On October 24, 1905, the Reds traded Steinfeldt, withJimmy Sebring, to the Chicago Cubs forJake Weimer.[3] He led the NL inhits in 1906 with 176 and tied withJim Nealon for mostruns batted in (RBIs) with 83. His .327 batting average finished second, behindHonus Wagner (.339).[4]
Steinfeldt set a major league record with threesacrifice flies in a game in 1909.Ernie Banks tied the record in 1961.[5]
Steinfeldt is the only member of the Cubs' infield, which also includedJoe Tinker,Johnny Evers, andFrank Chance, who was left out ofFranklin Pierce Adams' famous poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" (the famous trio played together for ten years, starting in 1902, while Steinfeldt played with them for five years).[6]
On April 5, 1911, theSt. Paul Saints of theAmerican Association purchased Steinfeldt from the Cubs.[7] On May 25, 1911, St. Paul traded Steinfeldt to theBoston Rustlers forArt Butler andJosh Clarke.[8] Steinfeldt fell ill in July 1911, leaving the team.[9] It was later identified as a nervous breakdown.[1] The Rustlers released Steinfeldt after the season.
In 1912, Steinfeldt returned to minor league baseball. He managed theCincinnati Pippins of theUnited States Baseball League, but the league folded in midseason.[1] He also played for theLouisville Colonels of the American Association, but was released in May.[10] In June, he became the manager of theMeriden Metropolitans of theCotton States League.[11]
In 1647 games over 14 major league seasons, Steinfeldt posted a .267batting average (1578-for-5900) with 759runs, 284doubles, 90triples, 27home runs, 762RBI, 202stolen bases, 471bases on balls, .330on-base percentage and .360slugging percentage. He finished his career with an overall .927fielding percentage. In 21 World Series games, he hit .260 (19-for-73) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 8 RBI, 2 stolen bases and 4 walks.
Steinfeldt died inBellevue, Kentucky in 1914 after a long illness, at the age of 38. He is interred atSpring Grove Cemetery inCincinnati.[12] The death certificate indicates that he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.[13]
· Baseball Almanac
