Author’s Note: Henry Youngman was a baseball player of some skill in the 1880s and 1890s. Henry (Henny) Youngman was a comedian of some skill for five decades or so during the 1900s. I can’t think of the ballplayer without thinking of the comedian, but that’s how my brain works sometimes.

“Take my glove… Please!” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998 (I’m paraphrasing, of course.)

Heinrich Hugo Jungmann (anglicized to Henry Hugo Youngman) was born in Dortmund, Germany on November 21, 1865, the fourth child of five to Theodore and Frederiche, or Ricka, (Mayer) Youngman. A few years later, the family left Germany and came to the United States. Theodore was initially a shoemaker, though he owned a saloon by the 1880s, and Ricka raised the family. Youngman, as a young man, was already working as a glass blower at 15, just like his older brother.

“I wish my brother would learn a trade, so I would know what kind of work he’s out of.” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998

Working in a baseball city, Youngman worked his way up through different town teams. In 1888, he was playing with Danville where he made a good impression, earning offers from Memphis, Birmingham, Springfield, Lafayette (Indiana), and Burlington (Iowa). However, he declined all those offers to take a spot on Homestead in 1889. There, he played shortstop and third base, batting in the middle of the lineup and usually being noted for fine play in the field. In October, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys played Homestead in an exhibition. Youngman’s play earned praise in the Pittsburgh Dispatch, saying that Youngman deserved an opportunity to play in a higher level league than with Homestead in a good town league.

“You look like a talent scout for a cemetery.” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998

Sure enough, the following spring, Pittsburgh was interested in giving Youngman a tryout. This was 1890 – most of the Pittsburgh roster had left for the Players League so there were plenty of chances for a rookie to find a major league job. Youngman surprised in the spring and made the team, playing second base and third base. Unfortunately, Youngman’s performance went south quickly. As a hitter, he was overmatched – while his six hits were productive (two extra base hits, four RBI), his batting average, .128, wasn’t going to cut it. And his fielding, normally Youngman’s strong suit, wouldn’t meet league standards. He made 16 errors in his 73 chances. The league’s error rate was less than one error per ten chances; Youngman was making more than one in five chances. On May 7, the Pittsburgh Post reported that Manager Guy Hecker sent Youngman home for his poor play. Hecker should have sent everybody home – the 1890 Pittsburgh club went 23 – 113 – 2.

I was playing golf. I swung, missed the ball, and got a big chunk of dirt. I swung again, missed the ball, and got another big chunk of dirt. Just then, 2 ants climbed on the ball saying “Let’s get up here before we get killed!” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998

Youngman’s career didn’t end there. After playing on McKeesport and a team in Bradford, he made it to the California League for 1891, playing for Oakland where he was a teammate with one of my favorite player/managers of the era – Joe Cantillon. After a year with the amateur Homesteads, he played in the Pennsylvania State League for two years, one year in the Iron and Oil League, and finished with three years with Dayton in the Interstate League. By then, it was 1899 and he was 34 years old and it was time to return to his family.

“Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who’ll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? It means you’re in the wrong house, that’s what it means.” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998

Youngman married the former Emily L. Woods on August 16, 1887. As she was only 16, her father gave consent so they could be married. They had five children, but two died without reaching adulthood. They also helped raise a granddaughter.

After his baseball days, Youngman worked as a car salesman, but then took up a role as a desk sergeant at the Homestead police department.

A man pulls up to the curb and asks the policeman, “Can I park here?” “No,” says the cop. “What about all the other cars?” “They didn’t ask.” – Henry (Henny) Youngman 1906-1998

Youngman died in Homestead, a neighborhood near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early morning hours of January 23, 1936. He had been ill for a good part of the previous week; pneumonia was the cause of Youngman’s move to the next league. His human remains lie in an unmarked grave in Homestead Cemetery in Munhall, PA.

Henry Youngman the ballplayer and Henry (Henny) Youngman the comedian are not related, except by this essay.

Notes:

1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 US Census
Allegheny County Marriage Records
PA Death Certificate

Baseball-Reference.com
FindaGrave.com

“Sporting Notes,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, March 24, 1889: 6.
“M’Keesports Won,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, August 5, 1889: 6.
“Homestead’s Turn,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, October 17, 1889: 6.
“The Colts Did Well,” Pittsburgh Dispatch, April 4, 1890: 6.
“Henry Youngman Dies,” Sunday News (Lancaster, PA), January 26, 1936: 9

I found lists of Henny Youngman jokes here, here, and here.