Quincy, MA, Wednesday Evening, April 8, 1914
Chas Ganzel Passes Away
Was Baseball Player Of National Prominence
Charlie Ganzel, after one of the most stubborn fights any man had ever made against that most dreaded disease, cancer, died about midnight at the home of his daughter, at 832 Billings Road, Norfolk Downs. His illness has been a long one, and although he underwent several surgical operations to seeking relief, it never came. He was a great sufferer but was cheerfull until the last. Last winter, when his circumstances became known, his old time base ball friends stated a fund for him, and over a thousnd dollars was raised.
Charlie Ganzel, who gained a reputation as a catcher in the Boston National club, was born in Waterford, Wis, June 18th, 1862, and has been a resident of Quincey for many years, and interested in local baseball.
His first professional engagement was with the Minneapolis club in 1884 as first bseman and change catcher. While there, he caught Carruthers, formerly of Brooklyn.
In 1885, Ganzel signed with the Philadelphia club and made his debut in the National League. Manager Harry Wright engaged him as a catcher and he remained with Philapelphia that season and part of 1886.
In 1886 he was purchased by the Detroit club. He was not long with Detroit before he showed a marked improvment in his work. He was a fine thrower with a wonderful reach.
Owing to an injury to Bennett during 1886, which necessitated his retirement, Ganzel caught to the entire satisfaction of the management.
He played with Detroit in 1888. In November of that year, he Richardson, and Dan Brouthers and Bennett were sold to the Boston National club for $25,000 dollars.
That was the largest sum paid up to that time for four ball players and Boston obtained plenty of good advertising as well as four ball players who became head-liners in the National game.
In was in the Fall of 1888, that they came to Boston. Ganzel remained with Boston for nine years. He then went into buisness for himself. He continued playing ball with strong teams around New England, now and then coaching teams.
When the players League took nearly all the star players from the old National League, Ganzel remained with the Nationals. He, like Tom Daly and a few others acted honorably, however, as he refused to sign an agreement to go with the Brotherhood.
Ganzel did his full share of his catching on the Boston team, often filling in at first base. He was also a shore man in the outfield. He was a deliberate and accurate thrower to bases, a rangy backstop with a sure pair of hands.
He was always a great lover of the National game, and after making his home in Quincy he became interested in the local ball teams. particularly the Markaria and he did much to make the sport clean. To his advice and assistance the team owes much of its success on the diamond.
He also, several years ago, with several others helped form a baseball league in which Quincy teams were represented, but the venture was never a financial success.
He married Miss Alice M. Carter of Dubuque, Iowa, February 8th, 1885, in Minneapolis, and a daughter and five sons survive him, four of his sons have made enviable records as ball players.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Makaria class of the Bethany Congregational church.
» Jodi Purdy-Quinlan is the great-granddaughter of Charlie Ganzel. I got the above information from a Website called the Dead Players Era. I thought it would be nice to add to your site!
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Posted June 12, 2002.
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