Born 1847 in Newark, New Jersey, Sweasy\'s debut with a "major" team was in 1866 with the New Jersey Irvingtons that hailed from Irvington, New Jersey about 20 miles inland. Irvington was a new member of the National Association of Base Ball Players, with many other clubs as the association tripled in size to more than 90 in its first post-war season. The Irvingtons frightened the champion Brooklyn Atlantics by winning their first meeting on June 14 and losing their third one only in extra innings on October 29. Several team members would later play professionally including Sweasy and Andy Leonard, also of Newark.\n', '

For 1868 Sweasy and Leonard moved to Cincinnati and joined the Buckeyes, the chief local rival of the Red Stockings; the move suggests that they were somehow compensated by club members if not by the club.\n', '

When the NABBP permitted professionalism for 1869, Sweasy and Leonard were two of five new men hired to complete the First Nine of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first team on salary for a season. All had previously played in the infield, with Harry Wright and Asa Brainard sharing pitcher and second base for Cincinnati. Wright put Sweasy at second and made center field the position shared by the two pitchers.\n', '

Return to Charlie Sweasy Autograph Profile