Samuel Wright was born in New York in 1848 to famous cricket player Samuel Wright, transplanted from England, and Ann Tone of Ireland.
Samuel's brother William Henry "Harry" Wright would organize the first professional baseball team, and brother George would turn out to be the biggest star of the game. Harry and George would end up in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Samuel would also play some professional ball from the late 1870s to early 1880s.
From birth places and dates of census reports of New York from 1840, 1850, and 1855, it is shown that Samuel's parents had their first son, William Henry Wright in England in 1835, and arrive in New York in 1836.
All subsequent children were born in New York: 1837 Daniel, 1847 George, 1848 Samuel, and 1851 Mary.
Samuel's father Samuel, was noted in the 1855 census as a cricket player. Father Samuel played for the Saint George Cricket Club of New York from 1840-1862.
The 1860 census showed the family had moved to Hoboken, NJ, The only one missing from previous census was eldest; William Henry Wright.
Samuel and brothers William Henry and George followed their father's interest in cricket, and played some matches, but the three also became acquainted with American baseball during the 1860s.
In 1870, still in New Jersey, Samuel, sister Mary, and parents Samuel and Ann were living in the home of Daniel Wright. Daniel appears to be the only brother who did not get into sports. Daniel was working as a clerk, and Samuel(Jr.) was working as a bookbinder at this time.
During this time, brothers William Henry(now referred to as Harry) and George were in Cincinnati, starting up the Cincinnati Red Stockings baseball club. The team went 65-0 in 1869, but folded after 1870. Harry and George took a couple players from that team and started up the Boston Red Stockings.
When brother Harry organized a baseball tour of Europe in 1874(see pic attached), Samuel got to play for the Boston Red Stockings in exhibition matches versus the Philadelphia Athletics. The month long tour included cricket matches versus the local teams. The Americans won all the matches, undoubtedly due to the expertise of Samuel, Harry, and George Wright.
Father Samuel died in 1877. Most of the family was in Boston for his passing.
Samuel(Jr.) had some professional baseball experience around this time. Like his superstar brother George, he mostly played shortstop. Teams were 1875 New Haven, 1876 Boston, 1880 Cincinnati, 1881 Boston.
In three separate entries in the 1880 census of Boston, it is shown Harry, George, and Samuel were "head of house". In Samuel's case, it was stated his job was baseball player. Also in his home were sister Mary, and nephew Charles(Harry's son) and nephew George(Daniel's son).
Samuel's brother George had part interest in a sporting goods company named Wright & Ditson. One of their specialties was tennis racquets. Samuel apparently had a job with that company, as his occupation in the 1900 Boston census was shown as racquet stringer.
Samuel passed away in Boston in 1928. No evidence that he ever married. SAMUEL WRIGHT's Findagrave page offers pertinent details.
Two sites that offer biographies are digplanet and redirectify.
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Categories: Professional Baseball Players