Charley Radbourn

Played For
Buffalo Bisons (1880)
Providence Grays (1881-1885)
Boston Braves (1886-1889)
Cincinnati Reds (1891)

Best Season: 1884
After briefly being suspended in mid-season, Radbourn returned, started every game the rest of the year, and won an astounding 60 games. He completed every one of his 73 starts, pitching 678+ innings, and fanning 441. He finished with a 1.38 ERA, 11 shutouts, and allowed just 98 walks in all those innings.

Born
Charles Gardner Radbourn was born on December 11, 1854, in Rochester, NY.

Died
February 5, 1897, Bloomington, IL

Batted:  Right
Threw:  Right

Primary Position:  OF

Primary Team:  PRO

Major League Debut
May 5, 1880

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1880
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Nicknames
Old Hoss

Radbourn was Charles or Charley until his amazing 1884 season, when he pitched 678 innings and earned the nickname “Old Hoss.” Interestingly, Radbourn’s surname was spelled “Radbourne” when he was an active player, but it was switched to the proper “Radbourn” many years after he died, by his sister.

Similar Players
Mickey Welch, John Clarkson

Related Players
Charlie Sweeney and Radbourn were the only two pitchers on Providence’s roster in 1884, but they were not friends. Sweeney was a hard drinker with a temper, and despite being eight years Radbourn’s junior, Sweeney openly disrespected and belittled Radbourn. Radbourn was known to empty a bottle from time to time as well, and soon the two were in a feud that split the team into “Pro-Sweeney” and “Pro-Radbourn” factions. While on the mound on July 16, Radbourn finally snapped. With Sweeney taunting him from his own dugout, and suspecting that some of his teammates were purposely playing poorly behind him, Radbourn lobbed pitches to the opponent and lost the game. Manager Frank Bancroft suspended Radbourn, but found himself in need of his banished pitcher a week later when Sweeney reported to an exhibition game drunk and beligerant. Bancroft suspended Sweeney (who quickly signed with the rival Union Association), and with his players urging him on, re-instated Radbourn. “Old Hoss” agreed to return under a few conditions: he be allowed to pitch every day the rest of the year and that he be paid the balance of Sweeney’s contract in addition to his own. With little options, Bancroft relented, and Radbourn returned to pitch the rest of the way, winning 60 games. While Radbourn went on to a Hall of Fame career, Sweeney’s ill-temper led him to a much different fate. In 1894, after being out of baseball for seven years, 31-year old Sweeney got into an argument in a bar in San Francisco and shot and killed a man. After his conviction, Sweeney spent the rest of his life in San Quentin Prison, where he died in 1902.

Hall of Fame Voting Year Election Votes Pct 1936 Veterans 1 % 1939 Old Timers %

Post-Season Appearances
1884 World Series

The Pitches He Threw
According to Tim Murran, who played semi-professional baseball against many of the top players in the country in the 1970s, Radbourne used a "raise curve." The pitch seemed to be a high, looping curve, since Murran described it as a pitch that never came in below the belt.

Awards and Honors
1884 NL Triple Crown

Milestones

• June 2, 1891: 300th Win...

Pitching Feats

• , 1884: ...

Best Strength as a Player
Durability. After his 73 complete games in the regular season in 1884, Radbourn reportedly couldn’t lift his arm over his head. Regardless, he pitched and won two games in the championship series.

Largest Weakness as a Player
None

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