Dad Clarkson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Hamilton "Dad" Clarkson (August 31, 1866 – February 5, 1911) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from 1891 to 1896. He played for the New York Giants
, Boston Beaneaters, St. Louis Browns
, and Baltimore Orioles
.
, and starred on the Harvard University
baseball team in the 1880s. He started his professional baseball career in 1891 with the New York Giants; however, he didn't pitch much over the next two seasons. In 1893, Clarkson broke out with the St. Louis Browns, going 12-9 with a 3.48 earned run average
. He was the only pitcher on the team to have a winning record. Clarkson received more innings of work in 1894 but slumped badly and posted a 6.36 ERA. In 1895, he started off even worse. He was 1-6 with a 7.38 ERA when the Browns traded him to the Orioles in June. Clarkson immediately turned things around in Baltimore. In his 14 remaining starts that season, he pitched 10 complete game
s and won 12 of 15 decisions. The Orioles won the National League
pennant.
The following season, Clarkson was outpitched by the other members of Baltimore's staff, and he played his final major league game on August 8. His career MLB record was 39-39. In 1900, he is recorded as being on a Montana State League roster.
Dad Clarkson had two brothers who also played in Major League Baseball: Hall of Famer John Clarkson
and Walter Clarkson
. After his baseball days were over, he became a salesman. He died in 1911, at the age of 44.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1891 to 1896. He played for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Boston Beaneaters, St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
.
Biography
Clarkson was born in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, and starred on the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
baseball team in the 1880s. He started his professional baseball career in 1891 with the New York Giants; however, he didn't pitch much over the next two seasons. In 1893, Clarkson broke out with the St. Louis Browns, going 12-9 with a 3.48 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He was the only pitcher on the team to have a winning record. Clarkson received more innings of work in 1894 but slumped badly and posted a 6.36 ERA. In 1895, he started off even worse. He was 1-6 with a 7.38 ERA when the Browns traded him to the Orioles in June. Clarkson immediately turned things around in Baltimore. In his 14 remaining starts that season, he pitched 10 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s and won 12 of 15 decisions. The Orioles won the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant.
The following season, Clarkson was outpitched by the other members of Baltimore's staff, and he played his final major league game on August 8. His career MLB record was 39-39. In 1900, he is recorded as being on a Montana State League roster.
Dad Clarkson had two brothers who also played in Major League Baseball: Hall of Famer John Clarkson
John Clarkson
John Gibson Clarkson was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs , Chicago White Stockings , Boston Beaneaters , and Cleveland Spiders .He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
and Walter Clarkson
Walter Clarkson
Walter Hamilton Clarkson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Highlanders from 1904 to 1907 and the Cleveland Naps from 1907 to 1908.-External links:...
. After his baseball days were over, he became a salesman. He died in 1911, at the age of 44.