Ollie Beard

Who was Ollie Beard?

Oliver Perry Beard was an American Major League Baseball player who played shortstop for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds from 1889 to 1890. He then played third base for the Louisville Colonels in 1891. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, it is claimed that his family invented the Kentucky version of the food, "Burgoo". In his three year career, he led the American Association in games played with 141 in 1889, and twice finished in the top five in the league in triples. He finished his career with 331 games played, a .270 batting average, 195 runs scored, 34 doubles, 34 triples, and four home runs. He died at the age of 67 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was cremated.