Bill Lennon

Who was Bill Lennon?

William H. "Bill" Lennon was an American Major League Baseball player born in Brooklyn, New York. He played catcher for three seasons in the National Association from 1871 to 1873, and managed 14 games for the 1871 Fort Wayne Kekiongas.

During the 1870 National Association of Base Ball Players, Lennon, along with Bobby Mathews and Tom Carey all deserted the Maryland team to join the Kekiongas, who joined the new all professional National Association in 1871. On May 4, 1871, Bill scored one the two runs scored by the Kekiongas in the first professional game ever played, when they defeated the visiting Cleveland Forest Citys. Also that day, he became the first catcher to throw out a baserunner attempting to steal a base. A known drinker during his playing days, he deserted the Kekiongas in mid June of the 1871 season. Harry Deane was promoted to manage the team for the rest of the season.

He died at the age of 65 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery.