.gif)
Mark Baldwin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Marcus Elmore Baldwin nicknamed "Fido", was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played in the National League
, the American Association
and the Players League
. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, he batted and threw right-handed, weighed 190 pounds, and was 6'0" in height. He attended Penn State University.
Baldwin made his big league debut on May 2, 1887, at the age of 23 with the Chicago White Stockings
. His career spanned seven seasons, playing for the White Stockings, Columbus Solons
, Chicago Pirates
, Pittsburgh Pirates
and New York Giants
.
Between 1888 and 1892, Baldwin was one of the most productive players in the league. He posted ERAs
as low as 2.76, strikeout
totals as high as 376 and win
totals as high as 34. Two years in a row, 1889 and 1890, Baldwin pitched 54 complete game
s and over 500 innings, and at one point in his career had 4 wins in 6 days, pitching two complete games in one day. Even with his high win totals though, he also lost many games. In 1889
, he led the league in losses with 34.
Overall, Baldwin went 154-165 in his career, with 1307 walks
, 1354 strikeouts and a 3.36 ERA. Baldwin was a .163 career hitter. He played his final game on September 30, 1893.
Following the conclusion of his Major League career, Baldwin toiled with minor league Rochester
in the old Eastern League
. In mid-season 1895, Rochester cut him. He moved to nearby Auburn, New York
. There in late 1895 he and some other former Major Leaguers who lived in Auburn, like Tug Arundel
and Jerry Dorsey
, formed an independent co-op minor league pro team. In 1896, the Auburns went from co-operative to salaried, and Baldwin served as co-owner, field manager, and starting pitcher.
In July, 1896 he and his teammates were arrested and convicted of a Blue law
violation for playing the first-ever Sunday professional game in Auburn. It wasn't Baldwin's first brush with the law. In 1890 he had been jailed for allegedly bribing players to prevent them from jumping from the National League
to the rival American Association
. The Auburn infraction resulted in a mere $5 fine, but it derailed Baldwin's front office career. The local clergy declared war on the Auburns, and attendance dropped precipitously, according to historian Andy Fusco. The team became insolvent with four games remaining in the '96 slate. The franchise re-organized in 1897 but without Baldwin-he moved back to his home in Pennsylvania.
From Baseball's First Stars, by Robert L. Tiemann
: "Although never known for a good curve
, or changeup
, [Baldwin] had plenty of speed and the gumption to challenge the best hitters."
Baldwin died at age 66 in Pittsburgh. His grave is located at Allegheny Cemetery
in Pittsburgh.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed 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 played in 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...
, the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
and the Players League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, he batted and threw right-handed, weighed 190 pounds, and was 6'0" in height. He attended Penn State University.
Baldwin made his big league debut on May 2, 1887, at the age of 23 with the Chicago White Stockings
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...
. His career spanned seven seasons, playing for the White Stockings, Columbus Solons
Columbus Solons
The Columbus Solons were a baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio....
, Chicago Pirates
Chicago Pirates
The Chicago Pirates were a baseball team in the Players' League for a single season in 1890. The team played their home games at South Side Park . Their powerful National League rivals were the Chicago White Stockings. The Pirates recruited most of the White Stocking's players, and for this reason...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and 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....
.
Between 1888 and 1892, Baldwin was one of the most productive players in the league. He posted ERAs
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...
as low as 2.76, strikeout
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....
totals as high as 376 and win
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...
totals as high as 34. Two years in a row, 1889 and 1890, Baldwin pitched 54 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 over 500 innings, and at one point in his career had 4 wins in 6 days, pitching two complete games in one day. Even with his high win totals though, he also lost many games. In 1889
1889 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: New York Giants 6, Brooklyn Bridegrooms 3*National League: New York Giants*American Association: Brooklyn Bridegrooms-National League final standings:-American Association final standings:-National League statistical leaders:...
, he led the league in losses with 34.
Overall, Baldwin went 154-165 in his career, with 1307 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, 1354 strikeouts and a 3.36 ERA. Baldwin was a .163 career hitter. He played his final game on September 30, 1893.
Following the conclusion of his Major League career, Baldwin toiled with minor league Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
in the old Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
. In mid-season 1895, Rochester cut him. He moved to nearby Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
. There in late 1895 he and some other former Major Leaguers who lived in Auburn, like Tug Arundel
Tug Arundel
John Thomas "Tug" Arundel was an American Major League Baseball catcher born in Romulus, New York. He played in parts of four seasons between and with four different teams.-Career:...
and Jerry Dorsey
Jerry Dorsey
Michael Jeremiah Dorsey is a former major league pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Monumentals.He played his one and only major league game on July 9, 1884. He started that game as a pitcher. However, after giving up 8 runs in 4 innings he was switched to the outfield...
, formed an independent co-op minor league pro team. In 1896, the Auburns went from co-operative to salaried, and Baldwin served as co-owner, field manager, and starting pitcher.
In July, 1896 he and his teammates were arrested and convicted of a Blue law
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
violation for playing the first-ever Sunday professional game in Auburn. It wasn't Baldwin's first brush with the law. In 1890 he had been jailed for allegedly bribing players to prevent them from jumping from 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...
to the rival American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
. The Auburn infraction resulted in a mere $5 fine, but it derailed Baldwin's front office career. The local clergy declared war on the Auburns, and attendance dropped precipitously, according to historian Andy Fusco. The team became insolvent with four games remaining in the '96 slate. The franchise re-organized in 1897 but without Baldwin-he moved back to his home in Pennsylvania.
From Baseball's First Stars, by Robert L. Tiemann
Robert L. Tiemann
Robert L. Tiemann is a St. Louis baseball historian and author, and a member of SABR . He is considered a 19th-century baseball expert....
: "Although never known for a good curve
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, or changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, [Baldwin] had plenty of speed and the gumption to challenge the best hitters."
Baldwin died at age 66 in Pittsburgh. His grave is located at Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery is one of the largest and oldest burial grounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.It is a nonsectarian, wooded hillside park located at 4734 Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood and bounded by Bloomfield, Garfield, and Stanton Heights...
in Pittsburgh.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions