Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bechtel began his professional career in 1871 for the Philadelphia Athletics, when they joined the new National Association. Bechtel had played for the Athletics in 1870, and stayed with the team during its transformation from the previous version of the National Association. He batted .351 that season while playing in 20 of the team\'s 28 games, as the Athletics won the season\'s championship. Bechtel had also played for a couple of other Philadelphia teams during his amateur career before 1870. He was formerly of the Philadelphias in 1867, and the Keystones in both 1868 and 1869.\n', '

The following season, he signed with the New York Mutuals, who had offered him a higher salary in 1872, and batted .302 and scored 64 runs in the team\'s 54-game schedule. After just one season in New York, Bechtel moved back to Philadelphia, playing the next two seasons for the Philadelphia White Stockings with mixed success at the plate, batting .244 in 1873 and .278 in 1874. When the 1875 season began, he again moved, this time to the Philadelphia Centennials, and was their pitcher in all 14 games that the club played.\n', '

On May 26, 1875, after a 2–12 start, Bechtel and fellow Centennial Bill Craver were sold to the Philadelphia Athletics for $1,500. This is the first known sale of ballplayers from one team to another in baseball history. It is theorized that sale was actually an enticement for the Centennials to fold, which they did.\n', '

Return to George Bechtel Autograph Profile