Conroy picked up the nickname "Widow" for his solicitous concern for younger boys
on his sandlot team and was known as "Wid" all his long life in organized baseball.
He began as a shortstop, replacing Honus Wagner with Paterson in the Atlantic League,
but was struck by malarial fever and dropped from the team. In 1900 Connie Mack invited
him to try out for the Western Association team he would field in Milwaukee and transfer
to Philadelphia when the American League began as a major circuit; Conroy won the
last spot on the roster.
Conroy was the first-string shortstop of the NL champion
1902 Pirates, but became a third baseman when he returned to the AL with the Highlanders
(later the Yankees) in 1903. He led AL third basemen twice in total chances per game.
His 22-year career in pro baseball ended as a Phillies coach in 1922.
(JK)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 12, 1907: The Highlanders make it easy for the Tigers by committing 11 errors in the 14-6 win by Detroit. Shortstop Kid Elberfeld leads the bobble gang with four errors; 1B Hal Chase, 3B Frank LaPorte, 2B Jimmy Williams, LF Wid Conroy, and pitchers Al Orth and Bill Hogg each add a miscue. Following the game, New York manager Clark Griffith gets into a fracas with a fan and is charged with assault. Griffith later argues self defense and receives a fine.
»September 25, 1911: Washington's Wid Conroy, in his final season, sets an American League record for total chances by a 3B with 13 in a 3–2 loss to Cleveland.
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