Mickey Welch
Except for a few very good seasons, it's hard to distinguish Mickey Welch from several other pre-1890s pitchers. But he was fortunate enough (through his own durability) to stick around long enough to win 300 games, a figure that earned him a Hall of Fame nod long after he had passed on.
Played For
Troy Trojans, National League (1880-1882)
New York Giants (1883-1892)
Best Season: 1885
Welch never led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, or any other category except base on balls allowed. In 1885 he went 44-11, completed all of his 55 starts, and posted a 1.66 ERA. Between July 18 and September 4, Welch won 17 consecutive games and hurled four shutouts and four one-run games.
Factoids
Mickey Welch won his 300th game on July 28, 1890, against Pittsburgh.
Mickey Welch was the first pinch-hitter in major league history, appearing off the bench on September 10, 1889 for the Giants. He struck out.
Mickey Welch pitched the first game in the original Polo Grounds in New York City, in 1883.
Born
Michael Francis Welch was born on July 4, 1859, in Brooklyn, NY.
Died
July 30, 1941, Concord, NH
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: NY1
Major League Debut
May 1, 1880
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1880
Coming soon...
Nicknames
Smiling Mickey or Smiling Mike
Similar Players
Charles Radbourn
Related Players
Tim Keefe, John Clarkson, Amos Rusie
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1973 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1888 World Series
1889 World Series
Feats
On August 28, 1884, Welch established a major league record by striking out the first nine Cleveland Blues batters to face him.
Milestones
- July 28, 1890: 300th Win...
Pitching Feats
Best Strength as a Player
Durability
Largest Weakness as a Player
Control. Welch was one of the wilder pitchers of his era, leading the league in wild pitches, as well as finishing among league leaders in walks a few times.
Learn More about Mickey Welch
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View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
