Fred Abbott (born Harry Frederick Winbigler) spent more than a decade in the minor leagues before the Cleveland Naps purchased his contract from the New Orleans Pelicans prior to the 1903 season. The 28-year-old rookie appeared in 77 games for the Naps.
Fred Abbott
After his first big league season he told The Cleveland Press about his most embarrassing moment with the Naps:
“I was behind the bat in a game at Washington one day last summer when the batter hit a ball straight up over my head. I should judge it went nine miles high. As I tore off my mask a bleacherites flashed the sun’s rays in my eyes by aid of a looking-glass. It nearly blinded me.
“’I can’t see it,’ I shouted, expecting either (Earl) Moore, who was pitching or Hick (“Cheerful” Charlie Hickman), who was at first, to take the ball. But neither man stirred. Instead Cheerful took my latitude and Earl my longitude.
“’Go toward first two steps,’ yelled Moore. I did.
“’Go back about three feet,’ shouted Hick. I did.
“Now put your hands straight over your head,’ howled both men in chorus when they had got me placed. I did.
“And although my eyes were shut tight, the ball dropped straight into my hands.”
Abbott played one more season in Cleveland, and played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1905. The Phillies sold his contract to the Toledo Mud Hens in the American Association (AA).
Abbott laid down roots in Toledo. He played five seasons there and operated a bowling alley and pool hall on Euclid Avenue with his teammate Harry Hinchman; until Hinchman took over as Mud Hens manager.
The Pittsburgh Press said:
“Rather tough on a baseball player when your own business partner releases you and sells your ability to play to a club on the other side of the country? “
Hinchman had succeeded James “Ducky” Holmes as manager late in the 1910 season; Abbott was sold to the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League shortly after the season ended:
“One of Hinchman’s first managerial duties was to sell his partner to the Los Angeles club, Hinchman believing that Fred had been connected to the Toledo club too long and that both he and the club would be benefited by the change.”
Abbott wasn’t thrilled, but took the news in stride:
“Gee, I had been in Toledo so long that I had about made up my mind that I was going to die in the harness there…It’s a good move sending me to Los Angeles, but I will have to put in a longer season there than in the AA, and the pay offered is just the same. I didn’t like that angle to the case very well, but they have got us ballplayers where they want us and I suppose it is up to Fred to run along and play.”
Fred Abbott with Los Angeles Angels 1911
Los Angeles apparently grew on Abbott; he only spent one season with the Angels before retiring, but remained in L.A. until his death in 1935.
Baseball History Daily 
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