Al Pratt

Who was Al Pratt?

Albert G. Pratt, nicknamed "Uncle Al", was an American right-handed pitcher and outfielder in the National Association for the Cleveland Forest Citys, and was a manager in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pratt was a Civil War veteran and baseball player. Pratt was 5'7", 140 lbs., and compiled a 12-26 record in 43 professional games as a hurler. In successive years with Cleveland, 1871–1872, Pratt hit .262 and .277 in 45 games with a total of 52 hits.

He managed the Portsmouth, Ohio baseball team in 1868. Afterward he was a member of the Forest City Club of Cleveland in the Professional League of Baseball Players. This was the first professional league in America.

In 1880 Pratt founded the first major league club in Pittsburgh, the Alleghenys, which joined the American Association.

Pratt celebrated his 90th birthday two days before his death in Pittsburgh on November 21, 1937. He was buried, according to his request, attired in his Grand Army of the Republic uniform.