Evening star., 1914-01-25
BY JOHN n. GRUBER.

Charles B. Baldwin. for his quiet ways
known as Lady Baldwin, nearly thirty
years ago stood in the limelight for a
brief period as an expert left-hand pitch
er. His fame is to great extenN sup
ported by his odd and feminine title. as
he was actually successful as pitcher in
only one year, 1886. He was born in Allie
gany county, n. Y, April 10, 1859. When
he was eighteen years old his people
moved to Hastings. Mich, where he
learned the rudiments of the game. His
first work in the box was for team Of
his native city, when he proved puzzle
to all his opponents, including some nifty
teams in the days of Independent ball in
the west.
In 1884 a troublous year on account of
the opposition Of the Union Association
to organized base ball. Baldwin was en-
gagged by the Milwaukee club OF the
Northwestern Leagu This league. which
commenced with twelve clubs. began to
crumble early in the season, was soon re-
duced to a fragment OF four cluos. ana
early in September collapsed a'toSether
Milwaukee, however was one of the last
to disband, and then for short period
took up the burden of a disbanded team
in the Union Association.
In 1885, his work having attracted the
attention of National League teams, Bald
win was secured by the Detroit club.
There such catchers as Charley Bennett
and Jim Mcguire put the finishing touches
to his base ball education, SO that in 1886
he shared with Charley Getzein the pitch
ing honorS.
The Pretzel Battery.
Getzein. by the way, had joined the De-
troits in 1884, coming from the Grand
Rapids club in August of that year, and
he and George Weidman were the chief
pitchers of the Detroit team in 1885. In
1885 Charley CAMEL succeeded Jim Nc
CURE as second catcher of the team, and
then the Pretzel battery1Getzein and
Ganzel-began to make lasting reputa-
ton.
That year. 1885. was the best for the
Lady who did the bulk of the work in
the box. winning forty-two out of fifty
five games. In that year also Peter Con-
way Joined the Detroits, and the three
pitchers-Baldwin Getzein and Conway
remained with the team until it left the
National League after the season of 1885,
In 1885 the big four were secured by
| Detroit, the team finishing in second
| place. In 1887 it won the championship.
! Baldwin's start in 1887 was not a happy
one The great Detroit team from the
very beginning of the year was set on
winning the pennant and nothing less.
1t went south for spring training early
| in the year, and by the time the season
| opened. April %. had won thirty or more
| exhibition games. Sam Thompson, the
right fielder, not only took part in all
| the exhibition games. but also in every
| championship contest thereafter, playing
| III 1S4 games the standing record of the
number played by any man in the Ma
| tional League.
! The Dctroits opened the championship
season at Indianapolis and won the en-
tire series of three games by scores of
| 4 to 3, 10 to s and IA to T.. Then they
| went to Pittsburgh. In the first game
| there Baldwin was selected to pitch
| against Jimmy Calvin. The Lady lost
| the game. s to s: and was Immediately
shipped home, for he apparently needed
rest 1t may be stated that after this
| first meeting with the Detroits the Pitts
| burghs won only three games from them
| during the balance of the season and
I lost thirteen.
New Rules Hurt Lady.
In that year. 1887. Baldwin was used in
| only twenty-five games, most of the
4 work in the box developing upon Getzein.
| 1t was the first year in which pitcher
| was compelled to keep one foot on the
rear line of the box, and take only one
| step in delivering the ball Hitherto the
pitcher was permitted to jump. twist and
step as much as he liked before during
and after delivering the ball. The new
| rule probably. in addition to another
| new one requiring four strikes to retire
batsman. crippled Baldwin, as it did
many another star pitcher including Ed
| Norris the crack left-hander of the
| Pittsburgh team, who, the day after
Baldwins defeat, was beaten IA to 5 by
| the Detroits.
| In 1888 Baldwin pitched in only six
| games The last game he pitched for
Detroit was at Chicago July as. 1885,
and it resulted in one of the biggest
| scores in National League history. Chi
| cago winning. p to II. a total of thirty
| eight runs. In that game the Lady pitch
| ed eight innings and Larry Twitchell, the
left fielder. pitched the ninth. For Chi
cago Mark Baldwin pitched two innings
and was relieved by Jimmy Ryan, the
center fielder. In the meantime both
Baldwins took to the outfield. because.
in those days no substitute was allowed
unless a regular player was disabled by
illness or injury, the pature and extent