Gus Schmelz

Augustus H. Schmelz, the popular and capable manager of the Washington Club of the National League and American Association, was born in Columbus, Ohio on September 26, 1850. In his youth he was one of the best players in his native city and as he approached manhood gained a state reputation for his skill in the National game. The success with which he handled the Eastons, the crack semi-professional team of Columbus, lead to his engagement to manage the Columbus Club in 1884, in the American Association, then composed of twelve clubs, in which race his team finished second. In 1885, he managed the famous Atlanta team, the pennant winners in the Southern League of that year. Then came his engagement with the ill-starred Maroons, of St. Louis, who, however, finished higher under his management than they ever had before. In 1887, 1888, and 1889, he held the managerial reigns over the Cincinnati Reds, going to Cleveland in the Brotherhood year and remaining with the National League club of that city unit August 1 of that year...He is unexcelled in the development of young players...No one connected with base ball enjoys greater popularity with the players and patrons of the game than Gus Schmelz.

-From The Sporting News, February 15, 1896