John Ryn

[Brian McKenna]

I'm delving into this man's story. Anyone have anything on his career - so little is out there?

[Beady]

He was the deaf player from Columbus, right? I think he played with Dummy Dundon on the School for the Deaf team in the early 1880's.

I think of him as a first baseman, but I have a note from the Columbus Dispatch, August 26, 1882, giving a lineup for the local team that includes Dundon and Ryn as the battery.

[Brian McKenna]

I think of him as a first baseman, but I have a note from the Columbus Dispatch, August 26, 1882, giving a lineup for the local team that includes Dundon and Ryn as the battery.

Which local team?

[Beady]

Which local team?

Just "the Columbus team." From what I read about them in the Dispatch, they were amateurs or semiprofessionals but they were presumably the city's strongest team, and at any rate its representative team, before the AA franchise was awarded the next year.

Aside from Dundon and Ryn, Grayce Pearce played for them for a little while (not in the game I mentioned, though), but I didn't see anybody else in the lineup I can definitely identify as having been at any time a professional player However, there are a lot of very common English and Irish names, so being sure of identification just from a last name in a box score is out of the question. With the minor leagues just getting organized, the difference between good semipros and the major leagues was comparatively narrow, of course.

[Brian McKenna]

I wonder if Ryn was catching because the two knew each other and had developed signs together.

[Beady]

Well, I've noticed that professional players of that era often started out as catchers and then filtered into other positions as they advanced in the pro ranks, just as they often start as shortstops nowadays. I presume that since catching was the most challenging and important defensive position in the 1870's, amateur teams would put their most talented player there. Bid McPhee started as a catcher, just to give one example.

[ItsOnlyGil]

Heres a long shot, but its reeel long...
http://vbbc.forumotion.com/19th-century-cards-f16/old-judge-columbus-t320.htm

[Brian McKenna]

Anyone know where I can get a look at the "Mute's Chronicle" from Ryn's era?

[Beady]

Are you in Washington right now, by any chance? Gallaudet University has what looks to be a relatively full run, though with a large hole somewhere around the early 1880's, and the Library of Congress has holdings but I am having a hard time telling what they are.

Other than that, it looks like the Columbus area, the Ohio Historical Society and maybe one or two other places.

[Brian McKenna]

No - didn't go to the convention this year. Looking for the Columbus publication - guess I'll try via loan. Thanks.