 Born in Sylvan Lake , New York , he played organized baseball from the time that he was a child , from playing in the local <unk> to the semi @-@ professional <unk> of Wappingers Falls , New York . On July 7 , 1877 , while running the bases , he collided at home plate with a catcher , named Johnny Quigley , of the Clippers of Harlem . Quigley was knocked unconscious , having suffered a traumatic head injury , and later died from these injuries on August 12 . The 19 @-@ year @-@ old Brouthers was cleared of any wrongdoing by the authorities . 
