Gus Weyhing
Gus Weyhing won more than 260 games in a 14-year career that spanned from 1887 to 1901. The diminutive right-hander (he weighed just 120 pounds in his rookie season) enjoyed success despite pitching for teams that finished higher than third just twice. He won twenty games in each of his first seven seasons in the big leagues, for four different teams. In the final week of the 1888 season, Weyhing pitched three consecutive complete game victories against Brooklyn to eliminate that team from the pennant race.
Played For
Philadelphia Athletics, American Association (1887-1891)
Philadelphia Phillies (1892-1895)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1895)
Louisville Colonels (1895-1896)
Washington Senators (1898-1899)
St. Louis Cardinals (1900)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1900)
Cleveland Indians (1901)
Cincinnati Reds (1901)
Best Season: 1892
Weyhing never led the league in any important pitching category, but in 1892 he enjoyed a very fine season. He won 32 games, completed 46 of his 49 starts, hurled six shutouts, and logged 469 2/3 innings.
Pigeon Thief?
The following report is from newspaper accounts in Louisville (Weyhing's hometown) in 1892:
Louisville, Jan. 26 — Gus Weyhing, pitcher of the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, was before the police court this morning upon an alleged charge of grand larceny. During the past two days a number of pigeons have been stolen from the coops at the National Pigeon Show, and last night, when Weyhing started out of the building with his basket, a pair of blondinettes, valued at $100, were found in his possession. He could not explain how he got the birds, and was therefore arrested. The case was continued and he was released on bail. Weyhing has a weakness for fine pigeons; in fact, is quite a pigeon fancier, and this fact makes the charge appear plausible. It does not, however, seem possible that a man in Weyhing's position, and with such an income as he enjoys, would be guilty of such a deed for a couple of birds. Weyhing has in the past been in trouble through indiscretion, but nothing more serious than conviviality, and consequent excesses, was ever charged against him. It is to be hoped, however, for his own sake, as well as for the sake of the Philadelphia Club and the good repute of the profession, that the charge against him is unfounded. If he should not be able to clear himself it would be a hard blow to the Philadelphia Club, which had counted on Weyhing as its star pitcher next season.
It appears that Weyhing was either cleared of the charges, or found guilty and took care of the matter before the 1892 season commenced. He was with the Phillies all of 1892, and won 32 games. We can find no further mention of this episode in subsequent clippings and biographies.
Born
August Weyhing was born on September 29, 1866, in Louisville, KY.
Died
September 4, 1955, Louisville, KY
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: PH4
Major League Debut
May 2, 1887
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1887
Coming soon...
Nicknames
Cannonball, Rubber Arm, Rubber-Winged Gus
Similar Players
Red Ruffing, statistically.
Related Players
Weyhing teamed with pitcher Ed Seward in the Athletics' rotation from 1887-1889... Weyhing and Lave Cross and Billy Hamilton each signed with the Phillies in 1892 after the Athletics folded in the American Association.
Feats
Weyhing hurled a no-hitter on July 31, 1888, against the Kansas City Cowboys. He walked one batter and another reached base via an error. Both runners were erased by caught stealing, meaning Weyhing faced the minimum 27 batters.
Transactions
Prior to the 1901 season, Weyhing jumped from the National League Superbas to the AL's Cleveland Blues.
Best Strength as a Player
His "rubber " arm.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Weyhing was a poor hitter and suspect fielder.
Learn More about Gus Weyhing
Search Amazon.com for Books about Gus Weyhing ⇒
Search for Gus Weyhing at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
