Dickey Pearce

Richard J. Pearce known as Dickey Pearce was an American professional baseball player and one of the sport's most famous early figures. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began playing with the Brooklyn Atlantics in 1857. He continued his career in the National Association and the early years of Major League Baseball. It is possible Pearce was one of the first baseball players to earn money for playing the game professionally. Pearce is given credit for pioneering the shortstop position. Pearce introduced his "tricky hit" to baseball, known today as the bunt. For much of his career, the rules permitted the ball to roll foul and still be a hit.

29 February 1836

Born on the same birth day (29 February): Alf Gover • Balthus • Cam Ward • Carlos Humberto Romero • Eric Kendricks • Gavin Stevens • Leonard Shoen • Patricia A. McKillip • Richard S. Aldrich

Born in the same month (February 1836): Emil Hartmann • Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer • Léo Delibes • Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya • Ramakrishna • Winslow Homer