Hey....Abbott?

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

I recently picked up Carlos Bauer's book, "The Early Coast League Statistical Record, 1903-1957." It's a must have reference for early PCL player identification.

In the book, the catcher who played for Los Angeles in 1911 is identified as Pete Abbott. I noticed a lot of checklists have the player as Fred Abbott, a player that played in the Majors. Ironically he's listed as Harry Frederick Abbott, but was born as Harry Frederick Winbigler. Fred Abbott was primarily a catcher from 1903-1905. He caught for both the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Is this a case of an incorrect checklist listing or did the player use a nickname?

Here's the card in question, and here's Fred Abbott's T206 with Toledo:






Fred Abbott also died in Los Angeles.

Thanks,

Patrick