Born January 10, 1835
Sheffield, England

Died October 3, 1895
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Baseball player

Harry Wright. The Library of Congress.

"The spectators all arise between halves of the seventh inning, extend their legs and arms and sometimes walk about. In so doing they enjoy the relief afforded by relaxation from a long posture upon hard benches."

Harry Wright organized, managed, and played on the first all-professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869. Baseball had been played since the 1840s under many rules still in effect today, and some teams or bettors had occasionally paid players, but the Red Stockings paid all their players and influenced the development of organized, professional baseball. The Red Stockings traveled the country and won their first 130 games (89 against certified opponents). During the 1870s, Wright played and managed in the first two professional baseball leagues, the National Association of Baseball Clubs (1871–75) and the...