Larry Corcoran
Encyclopedia
Lawrence J. Corcoran was an American
pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Corcoran debuted in 1880, winning 43 games and leading the Chicago team to the National League championship. Cap Anson
alternated him with pitcher Fred Goldsmith, giving Chicago the first true pitching "rotation" in professional baseball.
In 1882, Corcoran became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitter
s in a career. Two seasons later, he became the first pitcher to throw three no-hitter
s, setting a record that would stand until 1965, when Sandy Koufax
threw his fourth no-hitter. He is also famous for being one of baseball's very few switch-pitchers. A natural righty, Corcoran pitched four innings alternating throwing arms on June 16, 1884, due to the inflammation of his right index finger. He is credited with creating the first method of signaling pitches to his catcher, which consisted of moving a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth to indicate what pitch would be thrown.
Corcoran's arm was dead by 1885, and by 1887 he was out of the league.
Corcoran, afflicted with Bright's disease
, died in Newark, New Jersey
at the age of 32. He was interred in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in East Orange
.
His brother, Mike, pitched in one major league game in 1884.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pitcher
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...
. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Corcoran debuted in 1880, winning 43 games and leading the Chicago team to the National League championship. Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
alternated him with pitcher Fred Goldsmith, giving Chicago the first true pitching "rotation" in professional baseball.
In 1882, Corcoran became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s in a career. Two seasons later, he became the first pitcher to throw three no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s, setting a record that would stand until 1965, when Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
threw his fourth no-hitter. He is also famous for being one of baseball's very few switch-pitchers. A natural righty, Corcoran pitched four innings alternating throwing arms on June 16, 1884, due to the inflammation of his right index finger. He is credited with creating the first method of signaling pitches to his catcher, which consisted of moving a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth to indicate what pitch would be thrown.
Corcoran's arm was dead by 1885, and by 1887 he was out of the league.
Corcoran, afflicted with Bright's disease
Bright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
, died in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
at the age of 32. He was interred in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is located in East Orange and Newark, New Jersey. The Garden State Parkway runs through the two halves of the cemetery . This cemetery was established in 1859 and is maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.-Notable burials:*Thomas J...
in East Orange
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
.
His brother, Mike, pitched in one major league game in 1884.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
External links
- FutilityInfielder.com - Article on Corcoran and other switch pitchers
- TheDeadballEra.com - obituary
- FindAGrave.com