Hick Carpenter

Who was Hick Carpenter?

Warren William "Hick" Carpenter was an American Major League Baseball third baseman from Grafton, Massachusetts. He travelled around the National League with several clubs before getting the starting third base job with the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association. He played his entire career at third base, even though he was left-handed, unorthodox even during that era. When the Red Stockings switched over to the National League, Hick left Major League Baseball, but did make a one game comeback with the St. Louis Browns three years later.

An excellent hitter, he was often in the top five of most offensive categories, including leading the league in hits, singles, and RBIs. On September 12, 1883, Cincinnati beat the Pittsburg Alleghenys 27-5 collecting a club-record 33 hits. Hick and Long John Reilly each collect six hits‚ while Reilly scores six runs and hits for the cycle.

On July 1, 1884, Hick had 5 hits, including 2 home runs and 2 doubles to lead the Red Stockings to a 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals.

In the winter of 1879–80, Carpenter and Jimmy Macullar became the first North Americans to play in the Cuban League. They were signed by the Colón club and were so dominant that other teams refused to play against them.