Togie Pittinger
Encyclopedia
Charles Reno Pittinger (January 12, 1872 – January 14, 1909) was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Beaneaters
(1900–1904) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1905–1907). Pittinger batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania
. Pittinger was a hard-luck pitcher who played for two of the worst teams in the National League
at the turn of the 20th century.
In 1901, Pittinger joined the Boston Beaneaters rotation that included Vic Willis
, Bill Dinneen
and Kid Nichols
. He started 33 games, winning
13 with a 3.01 earned run average
in 27 complete appearances. The next season he collected 27 wins, tying with teammate Willis for the second place in the National League
behind Jack Chesbro
(29). In 1903, he had 18 victories with a 3.48 ERA, but led the NL with 22 losses. His 1904 season was almost the same, as he went 15–21 with a 2.66 ERA.
Before the 1905 season, Pittinger was sent by Boston to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same trade that brought Chick Fraser
and Harry Wolverton
to the Beaneaters. Pittinger finished with 23 wins, second to New York Giants
star Christy Mathewson
(31) for the NL lead. He also led the Phillies in starts (37), complete games (29), innings pitched
(337) and strikeout
s (136), while posting a 3.09 ERA. Hampered by shoulder problems, Pittinger averaged 8.5 wins and 115 innings from 1906–07. He did not return for the 1908 season.
In an eight-year career, Pittinger posted a 115–113 record with 832 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA in 2040-2/3 innings pitched.
Pittinger died in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, two days after his 37th birthday after developing Bright’s disease, which affects the kidneys..
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...
who played for the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1900–1904) and 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...
(1905–1907). Pittinger batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Greencastle is a borough in Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,722 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Pittinger was a hard-luck pitcher who played for two of the worst teams 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...
at the turn of the 20th century.
In 1901, Pittinger joined the Boston Beaneaters rotation that included Vic Willis
Vic Willis
Victor Gazaway Willis was a Major League Baseball player nicknamed "The Delaware Peach." He was a starting pitcher...
, Bill Dinneen
Bill Dinneen
William Henry Dinneen, alternately spelled Dineen , was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who followed his 12-year career from 1898 to 1909 with a highly regarded tenure as an American League umpire from 1909 to 1937...
and Kid Nichols
Kid Nichols
Charles Augustus Nichols , better known as Kid Nichols, was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols won 361 games, the 7th highest total in major league history...
. He started 33 games, winning
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...
13 with a 3.01 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...
in 27 complete appearances. The next season he collected 27 wins, tying with teammate Willis for the second place 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...
behind Jack Chesbro
Jack Chesbro
John Dwight Chesbro was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Highlanders , and Boston Red Sox . His 41 wins during the 1904 season remains an MLB record for the modern era...
(29). In 1903, he had 18 victories with a 3.48 ERA, but led the NL with 22 losses. His 1904 season was almost the same, as he went 15–21 with a 2.66 ERA.
Before the 1905 season, Pittinger was sent by Boston to the Philadelphia Phillies in the same trade that brought Chick Fraser
Chick Fraser
Charles Carrolton Fraser was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher....
and Harry Wolverton
Harry Wolverton
Harry Sterling Wolverton , nicknamed "Fighting Harry", was a third baseman who played for the Chicago Orphans, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators, Boston Beaneaters, and New York Highlanders.-Biography:...
to the Beaneaters. Pittinger finished with 23 wins, second to 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....
star Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
(31) for the NL lead. He also led the Phillies in starts (37), complete games (29), 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...
(337) and 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....
s (136), while posting a 3.09 ERA. Hampered by shoulder problems, Pittinger averaged 8.5 wins and 115 innings from 1906–07. He did not return for the 1908 season.
In an eight-year career, Pittinger posted a 115–113 record with 832 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA in 2040-2/3 innings pitched.
Pittinger died in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, two days after his 37th birthday after developing Bright’s disease, which affects the kidneys..
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- 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...