Fred "Cy" Perkins
FREDERICK “CY” PERKINS is not to be confused with longtime major league catcher Ralph “Cy” Perkins, who played for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1915 through 1930. Camden’s Cy Perkins was a hard-hitting first-baseman who never made it to the major leagues, but played alongside and managed several major leaguers during his career, which spanned the years between 1896 and 1913. It is not at all unlikely that Ralph Perkins received his nickname from people familiar with our Perkins.
Fred “Cy” Perkins was born in New Jersey around 1876. Camden produces several notable ballplayers in the years prior to 1900 such as Wes Fisler, Kid Gleason, and “Eggie” Lennox. Besides minor league teams that played in the city at different times, there was a very active sandlot and semi-pro baseball scene in Camden. Many traveling teams passed through Camden as well, playing against local teams and supporting themselves in a fashion similar to that of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.
After his playing days were over, Cy Perkins worked as a varnish maker in a paint factory. He was living at 28 South 33rd Street in East Camden at the time of the 1920 Census, and still resided there when he passed away on February 15, 1936.
CAMDEN TEAM COMPLETED
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Great Combination Secured for the South Jersey Champions
Camden’s base ball team for the season of 1906 was completed yesterday, when Manager “Cy” Perkins succeeded in landing his man for third base, Dick Smith, last year with Atlantic City, and who played that corner for Camden great Tri-State Harrisburg–Wilmington–Camden games at the end of last season. This completes a team that will be second to none that has represented Camden at any time, and Manager Perkins is confident that on the teams some great base ball can be looked for on the Twelfth street grounds this year.
The roster shows a lineup of Manager “Cy” Perkins, Dan Whalen and William Dawson for the outfield; Smith McCullough, Lew Melcher, Harry Hilt, Dick Smith and Jake Wagner, for the infield, with Howard Berry and Harry Freeland. The pitching force will include Harry Freeland, of Jenkintown; Zanzinger, of Philadelphia, last season in the State League; Salzman, a “find” from the manager of the Easton, Pa. team last year, and Weisgardner, a “find” from South Jersey. Several other players are still being considered for the team, but the above will start the season.
The New York State and the New York State League last season, are dickering for the use of the Camden grounds for spring training purposes. It is announced that the season will open in Camden on East Monday, April 16, when Camden will play the New York State League teams. Other openers are games: April 16, 21 and 23.
CAMDEN BEATS ALL STARS
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In Benefit Game for Ike Toy Jersey men Came Out On Top
The base ball season in Camden came to a close yesterday with a game between the regular Camden team and a nine made up of natives of Camden who played in the various leagues the past season. The game was for the benefit of “Ike” Toy, a former semi-professional star, but now a member of the Camden police force, and who is dying with consumption. Toy was a pitcher, and Harry Davis, the captain of the Athletics, was his catcher.
On the All-Star team was “Wild” Conroy, of the New York Americans; Eggie Lennox, whom the Athletics farmed out to Rochester; Smith and Kite, of the American Association; Wagner and Ross, of the Connecticut League; Corbett and Black, of the Southern League; and Clayton, of the Camden A. A.
The Camden team won by a score of 4 to 1, and only during base running by Conroy after he had made a hit in the first inning saved the Stars from a shutout.
Camden's Team Will Not Be in Full Blast Until May 4, But There's Much Doing
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden City Will Get Going on April 27, and Is in Shape to Play Ball Now
Camden’s baseball fans are anxiously waiting for the coming of May 4. That is the date on which the season across the river will be formally opened. While the event is in itself one calculated to stir all supporters of the national game, the opening of the season in Camden will be doubly attractive from the fact that the city’s two biggest teams, Camden and Athletics, will line up against one another. During the past week big “Cy” Perkins, manager of the Camden team, has further prosecuted his search for material that will insure the city having the best team possible to get, and as a result of his labors Perkins has a large array of talent from which to pick.
CAMDEN CLUBS NOW MOVING SOME
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Jerseymen Have Struck Winning Gait and Fans Are Taking Notice
Both Camden clubs have now struck their stride and the contests played a week ago on both grounds were real interesting and exciting affairs. The Camden Club defeated the P. R. R. Y.M.C.A. by the score of 2 to 1. The attendance was fairly large. Manager “Cy” Perkins, and although he was wild at times the plucky and efficient man, allowing only four hits. “Warner,” the up-and-coming youngster from the pitching staff and the defense was in fine form.
Besides Weinberger and Nowland, Perkins has his eye on a crackerjack left-hander for his pitching department. The infield will be picked from Fogel, Reynolds, Melcher, Carroll, Whitelock and Barr. Perkins, Heinze and Bakley will likely be the outfielders.
Big Cy Perkins
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Big Cy Perkins, the former manager of the Camden team, is now playing with the Freihofer Professionals team, and the scores show that he is making good.
CY PERKINS RITES HELD IN CAMDEN
Camden Courier-Post —
Friends of Veteran Baseball Player Attend Funeral; Burial in Harleigh Cemetery
Funeral services were held yesterday for Fred “Cy” Perkins, 60, former baseball player, who died Saturday, at his home, 23 South Thirty-third street.
Many friends of the onetime star batsman of professional teams in this area, joined relatives in paying final tribute to him last night and today. Mr. Perkins possessed a wide circle of friends in this city as a result of his baseball activity between 1896 to 1913. He never joined a major league team, although was regarded as one of the hardest-hitting batters in the game prior to his retirement.
Among his teammates with the old Camden Club, managed by “Bob” Black, were Edgar “Eggie” Lennox, Albert “Dutch” Barr, “Butch” Rementer, “Billy” Fischman and Frederick A. Koelle, Sr. Mr. Perkins also played on the memorable occasions when “Rube” Waddell, onetime hero of the Philadelphia Athletics, pitched for the Camden team at Twelfth and Federal streets. “Wid” Conroy, Seck Hewitt and “Tom” Campbell, all well-known to baseball fans here more than 25 years ago, also were with Mr. Perkins when he played with Sunbury, Pa. team, which then was under management of “Ike” Toy, also a Camden sandlot product.
Survivors are Mrs. Emma Perkins, his widow; a daughter, Gertrude, a stepson, Albert von Etten, and a brother, Richard R. Perkins, of Delanco. Burial was in Harleigh Cemetery.