Person:Henry Schlafly (2)

Larry Schlafly – Professional Baseball Player Son of Catherine Phillipine Schug (1858) and Frank Schlafly) by Bruce Roth Harry Fenton (Larry) Schlafly began his professional playing career in 1901, which many people recognize as the first year of modern baseball. He was actively involved in the game every year thereafter until a month before his untimely death in 1919. He played in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 1902, the Washington Nationals in 1906 and 1907, and the Buffalo Buffeds in the Federal League in 1914. He was a manager in 1908, and from 1911 through 1916

During his baseball career, Schlafly was a player, team captain, coach, manager, scout, umpire, and team owner. He was a fiery competitor, but was popular with players and fans. In discussing Larry’s impending return to the lineup after an extended illness in 1906, the September 8 issue of Sporting Life stated: “He has gone to Ohio to recuperate and will join the team in the west. Schlafly is a warm enough proposition without any fever.” Sporting Life on April 12, 1912 said, “Manager Schlafly, of the Skeeters, is like Manager Wolverton, of the Highlanders, in at least one respect. He doesn’t talk much, except on the field.” The January 4, 1913 Sporting Life described him as “Larry Schlafly, prince of good fellows.” The Buffalo Express on May 29, 1914 stated: “Schlafly, while probably a few years older than the other men in age, is equally as young in actions.”

Perhaps Larry’s greatest claim to fame was his role in helping to convert the Federal League to a major league in 1914. He was hired as the manager of the Buffalo team, and began his activities in preparation for that job as early as November 1913. He worked tirelessly during the off-season prior to 1914, signing American and National League players to Federal League contracts.

Larry, an only child, was born September 19, 1878 in Port Washington, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. His father Frank was of Swiss descent; his mother Catherine (Schug) was of German descent. Tuscarawas County has no record of his birth. Sometime before 1885, his family moved to Beach City, Ohio. He remained a resident of Beach City for the rest of his life.

On June 19, 1919, he was diagnosed with tubercular spinal meningitis. He passed away at his home in Beach City on June 27, 1919, at the age of forty. He was laid to rest in a cemetery in Strasburg, in his native Tuscarawas County. In November 1921, his remains were moved to the new South Lawn Cemetery in Beach City. Larry’s parents, his wife, and his son are also buried in the family plot in Beach City.

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Larry Schlafly.

Note: There is a very large amount of info on this guy on the internet.

1.   Larry Schlafly, in Wikipedai.