MLB History: 300 Game Winners Face off in Contest
By David Hill
Throughout the entirety of MLB history, only 24 pitchers have won 300 games. The first two to reach that milestone, Pud Galvin of the St. Louis Browns and Tim Keefe of the Philadelphia Phillies, faced off on this day in 1892 in the first meeting of 300 game winners.
It is a rare occasion in the MLB when two pitchers that have won 300 games in their career square of against one another. It was even rarer back in 1892, as only four pitchers had reached that impressive milestone. Yet, on this day, two pitchers in that exclusive club, Pud Galvin and Tim Keefe, faced off against one another.
At this point, both Galvin and Keefe were nearing the end of the line. In fact, Galvin’s last MLB outing would be less than two weeks after this matchup, and Keefe would end his career at the end of the following season. But for one day, both pitchers were able to turn back the clock, turning in a vintage performance, although Keefe came away with the 2-0 victory.
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It was fitting that the first meeting of 300 game winners would feature Galvin and Keefe. Back in 1888, Galvin, then pitching for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, became the founding member of the group. Keefe would join him a year and a half later in June of 1890, besting Mickey Welch to the milestone by just under two months. Having the first two members of the club face off in the first meeting ever of 300 game winners was a nod from the baseball gods themselves.
It would also be the only time that two 300 game winners would face off until 2005. On that day, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens would meet in a battle between the Cubs and the Astros, with Maddux besting Clemens by a score of 3-2.
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In the first meeting of 300 game winners in MLB history, both Pud Galvin and Tim Keefe were able to turn back the clock and put together a performance worthy of the occasion.