Mike Golden
Encyclopedia
Michael Henry Golden was an American
Major League Baseball
player who pitched
and played in the outfield
for three teams during his two season career.
, Golden made his debut on May 4, 1875 for the Keokuk Westerns
of the National Association
. He was their starting pitcher
for all 13 games the team was in the Association, completing
all 13, with 113 innings pitched
, a 2.79 ERA
, and won
just one game against 12 losses. When the Westerns folded, he signed with the Chicago White Stockings
for the rest of the season. He pitched 119 inings in 14 games pitched for the White Stockings, with a 2.79 ERA, a 6–7 W-L records, 12 complete games, and one shutout
. In addition to pitching, he also played 27 games in the outfield. In total, he played in 39 games, hitting
.258, and scored 16 runs
.
The only other season he played at the top level of professional baseball, and his only "Major League" season, was for the 1878 Milwaukee Grays
of the National League
. He pitched in 22 games that year, starting 18, and led the league with four games finished
. He again played in the outfield when he didn't pitch, playing in a total of 55 games for the Grays, hitting .206, had 3–13 pitching record, and a 4.14 ERA. Golden's career totals include a 10–32 pitching record, a 3.37 ERA, and a .217 batting average in 107 total games played.
at the age of 77, and is interred at Saint Mary and Saint James Cemetey in Rockford.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player who pitched
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...
and played in the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for three teams during his two season career.
Career
Born in Shirley, MassachusettsShirley, Massachusetts
-Demographics:This article describes the town of Shirley as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here...
, Golden made his debut on May 4, 1875 for the Keokuk Westerns
Keokuk Westerns
The Western club of Keokuk, Iowa, or Keokuk Westerns, were a professional baseball team in the National Association in 1875, the last season of that first professional league. They are considered a major league team by those who count the NA as a major league....
of the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
. He was their starting pitcher
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....
for all 13 games the team was in the Association, completing
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...
all 13, with 113 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...
, a 2.79 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...
, and won
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...
just one game against 12 losses. When the Westerns folded, he signed 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...
for the rest of the season. He pitched 119 inings in 14 games pitched for the White Stockings, with a 2.79 ERA, a 6–7 W-L records, 12 complete games, and one 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....
. In addition to pitching, he also played 27 games in the outfield. In total, he played in 39 games, hitting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.258, and scored 16 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
The only other season he played at the top level of professional baseball, and his only "Major League" season, was for the 1878 Milwaukee Grays
Milwaukee Grays
The Milwaukee Grays were a short-lived baseball team that spent one year, 1878, in the National League.The team was part of the League Alliance, loosely affiliated with the National League, in 1877. It won 19 games and lost 13 , ending up in fourth place...
of 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...
. He pitched in 22 games that year, starting 18, and led the league with four games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He again played in the outfield when he didn't pitch, playing in a total of 55 games for the Grays, hitting .206, had 3–13 pitching record, and a 4.14 ERA. Golden's career totals include a 10–32 pitching record, a 3.37 ERA, and a .217 batting average in 107 total games played.
Post-career
Golden died in Rockford, IllinoisRockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
at the age of 77, and is interred at Saint Mary and Saint James Cemetey in Rockford.