Frank Corridon
Encyclopedia
Frank Joseph Corridon [Fiddler] (November 25, 1880 - February 21, 1941) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 170 lb., Corridon was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island
.
The invention of the spitball
has been credited to several pitchers. Corridon is one of them. He claimed to have originated the pitch while playing for the Providence Grays
of the International League
, when discovered that a ball which had landed in a puddle and was wet on one side did an unexpected effect on its flight when he threw it. He later wet the ball during games and went on to have a respectable major league career.
Corridon entered the majors in 1904 with the Chicago Cubs
, appearing for them in 24 games before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
(1904-1905, 1907-1909) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1910). His most productive season came with the 1907 Phillies, when he posted career-numbers in wins
(18), starts
(32), complete game
s (23) and innings pitched
(274.0), while collecting a 2.46 ERA
. He finished 14-10 with a 2.51 ERA the next season, and went 11-7 with a career-high 2.11 in 1909. He faded to 6-14 with the Cardinals in 1910, his last major league season.
In a six-year career, Corridon posted a 70-67 record with a 2.80 ERA in 180 appearances, including 140 starts, 99 complete games, 10 shutout
s, seven saves
and 1216.0 innings of work, posting a 1.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio (458-to-375).
Corridon died at the age of 60 in Syracuse, New York
.
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...
who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 170 lb., Corridon was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
The invention of the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
has been credited to several pitchers. Corridon is one of them. He claimed to have originated the pitch while playing for the Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, when discovered that a ball which had landed in a puddle and was wet on one side did an unexpected effect on its flight when he threw it. He later wet the ball during games and went on to have a respectable major league career.
Corridon entered the majors in 1904 with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, appearing for them in 24 games before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1904-1905, 1907-1909) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1910). His most productive season came with the 1907 Phillies, when he posted career-numbers in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(18), starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
(32), 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 (23) and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(274.0), while collecting a 2.46 ERA
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 finished 14-10 with a 2.51 ERA the next season, and went 11-7 with a career-high 2.11 in 1909. He faded to 6-14 with the Cardinals in 1910, his last major league season.
In a six-year career, Corridon posted a 70-67 record with a 2.80 ERA in 180 appearances, including 140 starts, 99 complete games, 10 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, seven saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
and 1216.0 innings of work, posting a 1.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio (458-to-375).
Corridon died at the age of 60 in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.