A righthanded batting leadoff man with fair power, the handsome, mustachioed Bobby Lowe (along with Kid Nichols and Herman Long) starred on all five Beaneater (later known as the Braves) pennant winners of the 1890s, playing second base in an infield that has been called the 19th century’s best. On Decoration Day 1894, Lowe became the first major leaguer to homer four times in one game, doing it off Cincinnati’s Elton “Iceberg” Chamberlain. The home runs came consecutively, in six at-bats, all over the 250-foot left-field wall of Boston’s Congress Street Grounds, the Beaneaters’ temporary home while their regular park was under repair. After the 20-11 Boston victory, the crowd showered Lowe with $160 in silver coins.
