“In the course of a conversation recently with Lynch, of the Nationals of Washington, we were informed that Charles Bierman, formerly first baseman of the Mutuals of [New York], and a popular player of a bygone era, has died… His career on the ball field was ended years ago. Nevertheless, many will hear with regret of his reported demise. It is not merely that he was a popular favorite, as many others of his class have been, but he was, so to speak, the low comedian of the ball field, and the patrons of the game in this city will recall with a cordial and friendly recollection his antics and drollery, and the quaint, ungainly but effectual manner in which he played his position. It seems rather singular that a professional once so well known and popular should have passed away without any reference made to it at the time.”

“Charley Bierman’s Death,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 21, 1879: 13. (Reprinted from the New York Clipper that was published on December 13, 1879.)

Charles Bierman played just a single association game with the Kekiongas of Fort Wayne in 1871, but had been a professional in the years before the National Association became the major league. His days with the New York Mutuals, based on box scores found in the New York Clipper, were in 1866 and 1867.

Bierman arrived and left this world in Hoboken, New Jersey.  (The Mutuals of New York actually played home games on the Elysian Fields in Hoboken when Bierman was their first baseman.)  His parents were John and Lucy Beerman (a produce huckster and his wife), and Charles was the third child and second son, arriving on November 24, 1843.

Bierman served with the Union Army (Company A, 95th NY Infantry) in the Civil War. According to registration records, he joined his brigade shortly after Lee was chased out of Pennsylvania and participated in that chase though Virginia under U.S. Grant until Lee finally surrendered in 1865.  Along the way he was noted as missing in action after the battle of Weldon Railroad in 1864 but he rejoined his corps and mustered out with an honorable discharge days after the traitorous general surrendered at Appomattox.  His professional baseball career started soon after his war responsibilities ended with the Union Army.

The 1871 Kekiongas of Fort Wayne weren’t a stable club and the Chicago Tribune listed a number of ballplayers who had been hired on the fly, tried out for the Kekiongas, and then weren’t paid. Bierman, listed as Bearman in the box scores, played for the Kekiongas for a week (I see one league game and two other games in the New York Clipper); according to the Tribune, he wasn’t paid.

Bierman died of tuberculosis (phthisis pulmonalis, per the 1880 US Census).  His New Jersey death record says he was single and a professional musician at the time he passed on August 4, 1879.  That he was a performer might explain why he was seen as a bit of a ham on the diamond as well.

Notes:

Baseball-Reference.com
FindAGrave.com
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 US Census
United Methodist Church Records
New Jersey Death Records
Civil War Registration Records
Box Scores in the New York Clipper (1866, 1867)

“Charley Bierman’s Death,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 21, 1879: 13.
“Base Ball,” Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1871: 4.