Meet Al Spalding

AL SPALDING

Positions: Pitcher, Outfielder, First Baseman, Executive

Full Name: Albert Goodwill Spalding

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: September 2, 1850 in Byron, Illinois, USA

Died: September 9, 1915 in San Diego, California, USA

Organizations: Boston Red Stockings (5), Chicago White Stockings (3)

AL SPALDING'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Hall of Fame: Inducted as Pioneer/Executive in 1939, by Old Timer Committee

PITCHING

• Wins Leader: 6 (1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876)

• W-L% Leader: 4 (1873, 1874, 1875, 1876)

• G Leader: 3 (1873, 1874, 1875)

• SV Leader: 1 (1875)

• IP Leader: 2 (1873, 1874)

• GS Leader: 2 (1873, 1874)

• CG Leader: 1 (1874)

• SHO Leader: 4 (1871, 1872, 1874, 1875)

BATTING

• G Leader: 2 (1873, 1874)

• AB Leader: 2 (1873, 1874)

FIELDING

• Def. Games as P: 3 (1873, 1874, 1875)

• Putouts as P: 2 (1873, 1874)

• Assists as P: 4 (1872, 1873, 1874, 1875) 

• Fielding % as P: 2 (1873, 1874)

WHO?

Albert Spalding was an American pitcher, manager, businessman and executive in the early days of professional baseball (being a key figure in the National Association and the National League) 

The premier pitcher of the first years of the National Association (AN), Spalding joined the Boston Red Stocking and was highly successful (204-53 W-L) as a pitcher, and batting .323 as a hitter. When the Chicago White Stockings principal owner, William Hulbert, decided to create a new organization, Al Spalding joined him. In 1876 Spalding was the best pitcher of the new National League (NL)

At the moment of his retirement as a player in 1878, at the age of 27, he continued as president and part owner of the White Stockings. His .796 career winning percentage is the highest ever by a baseball pitcher (the second-best is Spud Chandler with .717) 

In 1874, while still playing, Al and Walter Spalding began a sporting store in Chicago, that rapidly grew and expanded into a manufacturer and distributor. Spalding published the first official rules guide for baseball, stating that only Spalding balls could be used.

Meanwhile, as a Manager and player of the Chicago White Stockings, in 1876 and 1877, his record was 78-47 W-L, with one NL pennant.

In 1888 Spalding organized the first "round-the-world" tour to promote baseball (and Spalding sporting goods). The tour made stops in Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France and England. The tour included future Hall of Fame members Cap Anson and John Montgomery Ward. 

In 1905, when Henry Chadwick wrote and article saying that baseball had his roots in the British sports of cricket and rounders, Spalding called for a commission to investigate the real source of baseball. 3 years later, the commission concluded (erroneously) that baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday. 

MY COMMENT:

We could say that Al Spalding was a kind of a "Renaissance man": He was the star pitcher in early days of baseball, later a co-founder of the National League, president and manager of the Chicago White Stockings, supplier of sporting goods... He transformed the baseball from a gentlemen game into a business and a professional sport.

It is to be noted that he even promoted the use of baseball gloves in the catching hand!

His influence in the early stages of what were to be known as MLB can not be denied. 

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
1872	21	BOS	NA	38	8	.826	1.85	48	48	41	3	0	404.2	417	224	83	0	27	28	1.097
1873	22	BOS	NA	41	14	.745	2.99	60	54	46	1	3	496.2	643	413	165	5	36	50	1.367
1874	23	BOS	NA	52	16	.765	1.92	71	69	65	4	0	617.1	755	402	132	1	19	31	1.254
1875	24	BOS	NA	54	5	.915	1.59	72	62	52	7	9	570.2	573	241	101	1	18	75	1.036
1876	25	CHC	NL	47	12	.797	1.75	61	60	53	8	0	528.2	542	226	103	6	26	39	1.074

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience

What do you think? Is he one of the most influential personalities in the history of the game? 

If not, who is? Share your thoughts!