When discussing the most unbreakable records in baseball history, Ol Hoss Radbourn will inevitably be mentioned. Let us look back at the life and times of one of the more intriguing figures from the 19th century.
Baseball history is littered with interesting characters, especially in the early days of the game. One of the most storied of those players may be Old Hoss Radbourn, an iconic pitcher for the Providence Greys in the early part of the 1880s.
Born on this day in 1854, Radbourn did not get his major league start as a pitcher. Instead, he was a second baseman for the Buffalo Bisons, putting together a .143/.143/.143 batting line in six games. Released by Buffalo, he was signed by Providence prior to the 1881 campaign, where he was converted to the mound.
That decision worked wonders for the Grays. Radbourn led the National League in winning percentage in his first season on the mound, and continued his ascension as one of the dominant pitchers of his time. He led the league in strikeouts in 1882, and in 1883, he led the league with 48 wins. As impressive as that season was, it was only a preview of what may be the greatest season in the history of the game.
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That 1884 campaign was quite tumultuous. Radbourn and Charlie Sweeney were the Grays primary pitchers, alternating starts. Then, on July 16, Radbourn, who was 24-8, was suspended from the team. He and Sweeney hated one another, and fought in the clubhouse, bringing tensions to a boil. He was then accused of throwing a game where he was lobbing slow pitches, leading to that suspension.
The suspension lasted for a week. Sweeney, like Radbourn, was an alcoholic, and began drinking before a game on July 22. He continued drinking between the innings, but somehow managed a 6-2 lead through seven innings. At that point, manager Dave Bancroft attempted to relieve Sweeney. The pitcher, after verbally attacking the manager, and refusing to vacate the mound in his other attempts at being relieved, stormed off the field. He later returned to the stands in the company of two prostitutes, watching as the now eight man Grays eventually lost the game.
At that point, Radbourn made a deal with the Grays. He offered to start every game for the rest of the year, in exchange for a pay raise and to be freed of the reserve clause at the end of the year. Ownership relented, and Radbourn began one of the more incredible performances in baseball history. He started, and completed, 40 of the Grays next 43 games, including 20 in a row at one point. His arm began to hurt, with Radbourn unable to even lift his arm enough to comb his hair. In order to warm up before each game, he had to play catch from a few feet away, gradually extending the distance until he was throwing from short center field.
Radbourn ended the season wit one of the more incredible performances the game had ever seen. He posted a 59-12 record, along with 73 complete games in his 75 starts. He led the league with a 1.38 ERA in his 678.1 innings, striking out 441 batters. Radbourn was practically untouchable, issuing only 98 walks and posting a 0.922 WHiP that season. He later pitched, and completed, all three games of the “World Series” against the New York Metropolitans of the American Association. He won all three contests, not allowing an earned run in his 22 innings, while striking out 17 batters.
That season was the end of Radbourn’s greatness. Although he pitched for another seven years, he was unable to reach those heights again. However, in that time, Radbourn did gut his way to five 20 win seasons, relying on his command and ability to pitch to get the opposition out. Overall, in just a 12 year major league career, Radbourn posted a 309-194 record, along with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.149 WHiP. In his 4527.1 innings, he struck out 1830 batters against only 875 walks. Of his 502 starts, Radbourn completed 488 games. The great Radbourn would eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939, a fitting tribute to his career.
Radbourn had another, relatively interesting, first. During the 1886 season, he was photographed flipping off the camera in the 1886 Boston Beaneaters team picture. Radbourn is standing in the back row all the way to the left, with the offending digit over the shoulder of the player in front of him. He continued that trend of flipping off the camera with his 1887 Old Judge baseball card, with the offending digit outstretched as his hands rested on his hips.
Following his playing days, Radbourn opened a billiard hall and saloon in Bloomington, Illinois. The venture was a success, and Radbourn enjoyed the company of his admirers. However, he lost an eye in a gun accident soon after retirement, leaving the vain pitcher disfigured. He spent the rest of his days secluded in a small room in the tavern, as he did not want others to see his scarred face. Radbourn would pass away at just 42 years old due to complications from syphilis.
Old Hoss Radbourn was one of the greatest pitchers in the early days of baseball history. His 1884 campaign will never be equaled, and his place in baseball lore is secure.