Joe Gerhardt

Who was Joe Gerhardt?

John Joseph "Joe" Gerhardt, also known as "Move Up Joe", was an American Major League Baseball player from Washington, D.C. who played mainly as a second baseman over a 15 season career that spanned from 1873 to 1891. He played in 1078 games in a well-travelled baseball career that saw him play for 11 different teams.

Gerhardt was a below-average hitter, compiling a career batting average of .227, but he was a good fielder. He led his league in second basemen assists twice and range factor three times.

He became a player-manager on two different occasions; one in 1883 for the Louisville Colonels, and the other in 1890 for the St. Louis Browns. His managerial record totaled 72 wins against 61 losses.

Gerhardt died in Middletown, Orange County, New York, at the age of 67. He was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.