Ned Williamson had a thirteen-year career (1878-1890) in the big leagues, mostly at third base and shortstop. He spent most of his career with the Chicago White Stockings.
He was the all-time single season home run leader with 27 until 1919 when Babe Ruth hit 29. The main cause of Williamson's record-setting season was his playing in Lake Front Park, where right field was only 196 feet away. Williamson hit 25 of his 27 HR in his home park. His career high other than 1884 was 9 HR. Prior to 1884, balls hit over the right field fence were ground rule doubles. In 1883, under the old rules, Williamson hit a then-record 49 doubles.
At the completion of the 1888 baseball season, longtime teammate Al Spalding organized an around-the-world tour to promote the game of baseball. The two teams Spalding selected were the White Stockings and a collection of players from other National League teams. It was during a game played on at the Parc Aristotique in Paris, France on March 8, 1889, when Williamson suffered a torn knee cap which forced him to be bedridden in England on doctor's orders. Though players in the 19th century were responsible for their own medical care, Williamson asked Spalding to help him financially with the mounting medical costs. Spalding refused, citing that he was not obligated to assist, and Williamson never forgave him for this. Williamson, among his baseball contemporaries, wrote the most colorful articles to newspapers as the tour was unfolding. and the 2015 movie "Deadball" depicts his life and journaling of the world tour. - bRef Bullpen wiki & Wikipedia
Sadly, he never really recovered. His career ended in 1890, and he died in 1894 from a variety of maladies. He was 36. He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago until November 6, 2021, when the grave received a dedication thanks to the efforts of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
Redid the facegen from the sketch but then thinned his face a bit to reflect his playing weight. Will catch up on the fg's this weekend but at least wanted to get one up tonight
