Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17


for professionals it will be found that only
| thirty boxmen have hung up the highest
percentage of victories IL they pitched in
more than twenty-five games. 1t was in
1871 that Dick Mcbride of the Phiadel-
phia Athletics established a percentage Of
$50 for twenty-five games. and led the
profession. Since then the leading pitch
|, ers have taken part in a greater number
of contests, the record in this respect be-
ing held by those famous twirlers, Charles
Radbourne Of the 1884 Providence team
and John G. Clarkson of the 1889 Bostons
each of whom pitched seventy-two games
for percentages Of 1913 and 1876, respec-
lively. A. G. Spalding still holds the high
est winning percentage, 800, hung up in
1875, when he was member of the Bos-
ton team.
Following the mark set by Mcbride in
1871, Spalding led all pitchers for the next
five years. He was wi h the Bostons in
1872. 1873, 1874 and 1875, after which he
became a member of the Chicagos in 1915.
During 1872 Spalding pitched forty-seven
games for a percentage of $50. In 1873
he took part in sixty games for .129. In
1874 his record was sixty games and III.
In 1875 he twirled sixty-three games with
percentage of 500, and in 1876 he played
in sixty games for .7s3. Thomas Bond
supplanted Spalding as the National
Leagues star pitcher in 1877 and 1878.
Bond was a member of the Bostons, and
he had the noted Charley Snyder behind
the bat. His record in 1877 was forty
nine games and percentage of .646 while
in 1878 1t was f1fty-niue games and 1888.
John Ward Great Pitcher.
John NJ. Ward was the leagues crack
twirler in 1879. He pitched sixty-five
games for Providence that year and his
winning percentage was TOP. Providence
won the championship and Ward was
chiefly responsible for the honor. Larry
Corcoran. short in stature, but with a
great arm. helped Chicago to win the
pennant in 1880 and 1881. His side part
ner in the box was Fred Goldsmith, and
together they made monkeys OF the other
teams in the league. Corcoran led all the
pitchers in those two wears with hity-six
games and 1857 in 1881. Goldsmith car
ried off the honors in 1882. when the Chi
cagoes won the pennant for the third
consecutive time, for he pitched forty
'.Grasshopper" Jim Whitney. a Cali
fornia phenomenon, pitched sixty-tWo
games for the champion Bostons in 1888,
and had percentage Of 1888. Whitney
was more than six feet tall, as lean as
bean pole, but powerful man physically.
''walk-up'' delivery in vogue In those
days made life miserable for his catchers.
Radbourne proved verftable' horse Tor
work in 1884. when he pitched seventy
practically won the pennant for Provi-
dence. The previous year saw Radbourne
hang up a record Of thirty-seven consecu-
tive games in the box. twenty-eight being
victories. Radbourne was one OF the fTst
pitchers to use change of pace" He
had perfect control of the ball and mixed
I'D the fast and slow ones in a most per-
picking manner. Radbourne had won
derful co-worker in Charley Sweeney.
whose record Of twenty-one strike-outs In
a game played against the Bostons in
1883 still remains unequaled.
John Clarkson Hard Worker
John Clarkson doomed up as star
pitcher with the Chicagos in 1885. He
pitched seventy games. winning 74.5 per
cent of them, and showed superb science.
Clarkson was another student of STRAIT
egy He was not a big man physically,
but he had head filled with brains. and
he knew how to pitch. He was wise to
the weak points Of all the batsmen. and
was about the coolest proposition imagin-
able when under Are. Clarkson. a native
Of Cambridge. Mass, was delighted when
the Chicago club sold his release to Bos-
ton in 1889 for $4,000. and he promptly
showed his appreciation Of the deal by
pitching seventy-two games. with per
centage Of .738. The Giants nosed the
Bostons out OF the pennant that year.
but 1t was not the fault Of Clarkson,
who practically pitched his arm on In
a game attempt to keep the Hub team
in front.
When Detroit won the National League
championship in 1885 the Wolverines star
pitcher was Lady" Baldwin. left
handler Baldwin received his nickname
because of his quiet habits. but he was
an iron man in the box and had nerves
of steel He pitched f1fty-six games, and
won IS per cent Of them In Impressive
style, the Detroits playing with supreme
confidence behind him al all times.
Although the Philadelphia did not cap
ture the pennant in 1887. they had the
leading pitcher in Charley Ferguson, who
oficiated in thirty-five games for a per-
csntage OF $3.50. Ferguson was not only
a fine twirler. but also a splendid general
player and batsman, and when he died
the base ball sharps said that. lit would
be many years before the game could
produce his equal.
Tim Keefe Star Of 1883.