[1] On June 6, 1882, while playing for the Buffalo Bisons, Purcell was fined $10 ($316 today) for slicing open a soggy baseball.

He did this to compel the umpire to put a fresh ball in play so his pitcher, Pud Galvin, would be able to throw his curveball.

[2] Purcell was the first player to get a hit and also score a run in Philadelphia Phillies franchise history, doing so in his first at bat of the 1883 season.

He took the reins of the team after 17 games, when they were only 4–13 under player-manager Bob Ferguson, and finished the season with a dismal 17–81 record.

[3] Purcell finished his professional baseball career with the ill-fated 1890 Philadelphia Athletics.