Long Tom Hughes
Encyclopedia
Thomas James Hughes was a right-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. From through , Hughes played for the Chicago Orphans
(1900-01), Baltimore Orioles
(1902), Boston Americans
(1902-03), New York Highlanders
(1904) and Washington Senators
(1904-09, 1911-13). He debuted on September 7, 1900, and played his final game on October 3, 1913. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hughes was knicknamed "Long Tom" for his height, a then-impressive 6'1". His younger brother, Ed Hughes
, also played for Chicago (NL) and Boston (AL).
. Despite his 10-23 mark, in part due to low run support, he recorded a 3.24 earned run average
while striking out
225 opponents, the third-best ever for a National League
rookie
. He jumped to the American League
the following season, while dividing his playing time between Baltimore and Boston. In he became the third starter in the Boston rotation, behind Cy Young
and Bill Dineen. Hughes responded with a 20-7 mark and a 2.57 ERA, helping his team to clinch the AL title. He pitched in the first World Series
ever, losing Game Three.
Before the season, Hughes was sent to the Highlanders in exchange for Jesse Tannehill
in an unpopular trade in Boston. Hughes came up short in New York and was traded to the Senators during the midseason. Again, he suffered low run support in 1905, when he went 17-20 with a 2.35 ERA. The next three seasons he averaged a 2.89 ERA, with a career-best 2.21 in 1908, and a 18-15 mark the same year.
On August 3, Hughes became the first pitcher in major league history to pitch a shutout and hit a home run
which accounted for the only run in the game, when he hit a solo shot in the 10th inning off St. Louis Browns
pitcher Fred Glade
, at Sportsman's Park II
, to give Washington a 1–0 victory. Since then, the feat has been matched only by Red Ruffing
(1932), Spud Chandler
(1938) and Early Wynn
(1959) in the American League, and Jim Bunning
(1965), Juan Pizarro
(1971) and Bob Welch (1983) in the National League.
Hughes was sent to the Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
in the 1909 midseason. In 1910 he topped the league with 31 wins
(against 12 losses), a .721 W/L %, and 222 strikeouts while pitching 326 innings. The next year he returned to Washington for his last three major league seasons.
In a 13-season career, Hughes posted a 131-175 record with 1368 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA in 2644 innings, including 25 shutout
s and 227 complete games.
Hughes retired from baseball in 1918. He died of pneumonia
in Chicago, Illinois at age 77.
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....
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 through , Hughes played for the Chicago Orphans
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...
(1900-01), Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1902), Boston Americans
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1902-03), New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1904) and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1904-09, 1911-13). He debuted on September 7, 1900, and played his final game on October 3, 1913. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Hughes was knicknamed "Long Tom" for his height, a then-impressive 6'1". His younger brother, Ed Hughes
Ed Hughes (baseball)
Edward J. Hughes was a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox . Hughes batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Chicago, Illinois....
, also played for Chicago (NL) and Boston (AL).
Career
In Hughes completed 32 of his 35 starts for Chicago, including 308-1/3 innings pitchedInnings 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...
. Despite his 10-23 mark, in part due to low run support, he recorded a 3.24 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...
while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
225 opponents, the third-best ever for a 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...
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
. He jumped to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
the following season, while dividing his playing time between Baltimore and Boston. In he became the third starter in the Boston rotation, behind Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
and Bill Dineen. Hughes responded with a 20-7 mark and a 2.57 ERA, helping his team to clinch the AL title. He pitched in the first World Series
1903 World Series
The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball. It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last...
ever, losing Game Three.
Before the season, Hughes was sent to the Highlanders in exchange for Jesse Tannehill
Jesse Tannehill
Jesse Niles Tannehill was a dead-ball era left-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Highlanders, Boston Red Sox and Pilgrims, and the Washington Senators. Tannehill was among the best pitchers of his era and was one of the best-hitting pitchers of all time...
in an unpopular trade in Boston. Hughes came up short in New York and was traded to the Senators during the midseason. Again, he suffered low run support in 1905, when he went 17-20 with a 2.35 ERA. The next three seasons he averaged a 2.89 ERA, with a career-best 2.21 in 1908, and a 18-15 mark the same year.
On August 3, Hughes became the first pitcher in major league history to pitch a shutout and hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
which accounted for the only run in the game, when he hit a solo shot in the 10th inning off 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...
pitcher Fred Glade
Fred Glade
Frederick Monroe Glade was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1902 through 1908, Glade played for the Chicago Orphans , St. Louis Browns and New York Highlanders . A native of Dubuque, Iowa, he batted and threw right-handed...
, at Sportsman's Park II
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
, to give Washington a 1–0 victory. Since then, the feat has been matched only by Red Ruffing
Red Ruffing
Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing was a Major League Baseball pitcher most remembered for his time with the highly successful New York Yankees teams of the 1930s and 1940s...
(1932), Spud Chandler
Spud Chandler
Spurgeon Ferdinand "Spud" Chandler was an American right-handed starting pitcher in major league baseball, who played his entire career for the New York Yankees from 1937 through 1947...
(1938) and Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
(1959) in the American League, and Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
(1965), Juan Pizarro
Juan Pizarro
Juan Ramon Pizarro Cordova is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Milwaukee Braves:Juan Pizarro signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1956. After going 27-6 with a 2.06 earned run average in the minors, he made his major league debut on May 4, 1957 against the Pittsburgh...
(1971) and Bob Welch (1983) in the National League.
Hughes was sent to the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in the 1909 midseason. In 1910 he topped the league with 31 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...
(against 12 losses), a .721 W/L %, and 222 strikeouts while pitching 326 innings. The next year he returned to Washington for his last three major league seasons.
In a 13-season career, Hughes posted a 131-175 record with 1368 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA in 2644 innings, including 25 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 and 227 complete games.
Hughes retired from baseball in 1918. He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Chicago, Illinois at age 77.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListMLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListThis is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...