Bobby Mathews
| Bobby Mathews | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:November 21, 1851 Baltimore, Maryland,U.S. | |
| Died:April 17, 1898(aged 46) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 4, 1871, for the Fort Wayne Kekiongas | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 10, 1887, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 297-248 |
| Earned run average | 2.86 |
| Strikeouts | 1,528 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Robert T. Mathews(November 21, 1851 – April 17, 1898) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher who played in theNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players,theNational LeagueofMajor League Baseballand theAmerican Associationfor twenty years beginning in the late 1860s. He is credited as being one of the inventors of thespitballpitch,[1][2]in each of three major leagues.[1]which was rediscovered or reintroduced to the major leagues after he died. He is also credited with the first legal pitch whichbrokeaway from the batter.[1][2]He is listed at 5 feet 5 inches tall and 140 pounds, which is small for a pro athlete even in his time, when theaverage heightof an American male in the mid-19th century was 5 foot 7.
Career[edit]
Mathews was born in 1851, inBaltimore, Maryland,and he played as a teenager with the Maryland club of that city, and he made the team a dangerous one. Mathews began his career at the age of 16 for the Marylands of Baltimore (a junior squad) in 1868. A year later, he moved to the senior club, and the following year the club declared themselves professional, resulting in the creation of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NAABP). On August 19, he made his first ever start in the league against the Orientals of New York, winning 28–15.[3]For the 1871 season, he and some other Maryland players signed with theFort Wayne Kekiongas.On May 4, 1871, inFort Wayne, Indiana,he pitched ashutoutin the inaugural game of theNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players(NA), the first professional league.[1][2]
Over his 16-year career, he had 297wins,248losses,525complete games,with a careerearned run averageof 2.86. He had 1,528strikeoutscompared with 532walks.He won 20 games 8 times, including 42 in 1874 with theNew York Mutualsof theNational Association,and is the only player to win 50 games or to pitch 100 games[2]in each of three major leagues.[1]
Mathews died in 1898 in Baltimore, at the age of 46, ofparesiscaused bysyphilis,[4]and is interred atNew Cathedral Cemetery,also in Baltimore.[5]
After baseball[edit]
Mathews umpired a few games between 1871 and 1888[5]and signed with the regular staff of thePlayers' Leaguein 1890, returning to the AA in 1891.
Legacy[edit]
Over his 16-year career, he had 297wins,248losses,525complete games,with a careerearned run averageof 2.86. He had 1,528strikeoutscompared with 532walks.He won 20 games 8 times, including a career-high 42 in 1874 with theNew York Mutualsof theNational Association,and is the only player to win 50 games or to pitch 100 games[2]in each of three major leagues.[1]He is the 25thwinningest pitcherin MLB history, yet has the most career innings pitched and the second-highest number of wins (behindRoger Clemens) for a pitcher not elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame.He is also the pitcher with the highest number of wins without reaching 300.[6]Although he was known primarily as a pitcher (doing so for 578 games), he also played games in other positions from time to time, playing 80 games in the outfield, nine as a third baseman and two as a shortstop.
Death[edit]
Mathews died in 1898 in Baltimore, at the age of 46, ofparesiscaused bysyphilis,[4]and is interred atNew Cathedral Cemetery,also in Baltimore.[5]
See also[edit]
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in games started
- List of Major League Baseball career innings pitched leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders
References[edit]
- ^abcdefPietrusza, David; Matthew Silverman; Gershman, Michael (2000).Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia.New York: Total Sports. p.720.ISBN1-892129-34-5.
- ^abcdeCharlton, James; Shatzkin, Mike; Holtje, Stephen (1990).The Ballplayers: baseball's ultimate biographical reference.New York: Arbor House/William Morrow. p. 679.ISBN0-87795-984-6.
- ^"Bobby Mathews – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ab"Too Young To Die".thedeadballera.RetrievedMarch 29,2009.
- ^abc"Retrosheet".RetrievedJune 26,2008.
- ^"The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Stats: Historical Leaders".RetrievedJune 26,2008.
Further reading[edit]
- Wright, Marshall D. (2000).The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857–1870.Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.ISBN0-7864-0779-4.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information fromBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors)
- Bobby MathewsatFind a Grave
- Bobby MathewsatSABR(Baseball BioProject)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1851 births
- 1898 deaths
- 19th-century baseball players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baltimore Marylands (NABBP) players
- Fort Wayne Kekiongas players
- Baltimore Canaries players
- Boston Red Caps players
- Cincinnati Reds (1876–1879) players
- New York Mutuals players
- Philadelphia Athletics (AA) players
- Providence Grays players
- Columbus Buckeyes (minor league) players
- Lynn Live Oaks players
- Worcester (minor league baseball) players
- Baseball players from Baltimore