Robert T. Mathews (November 21, 1851 – April 17, 1898) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher who played in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the National League of Major League Baseball and the American Association for twenty years beginning in the late 1860s. He is credited as being one of the inventors of the spitball pitch,[1][2] in each of three major leagues.[1] which was rediscovered or reintroduced to the major leagues after he died. He is also credited with the first legal pitch which broke away from the batter.[1][2] He is listed at 5 feet 5 inches tall and 140 pounds, which is small for a pro athlete even in his time, when the average height of an American male in the mid-19th century was 5 foot 7.
Mathews was born in 1851, in Baltimore, Maryland, and he played as a teenager with the Maryland club of that city, and he made the team a dangerous one. Mathews began his career at the age of 16 for the Marylands of Baltimore (a junior squad) in 1868. A year later, he moved to the senior club, and the following year the club declared themselves professional, resulting in the creation of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NAABP). On August 19, he made his first ever start in the league against the Orientals of New York, winning 28–15.[3] For the 1871 season, he and some other Maryland players signed with the Fort Wayne Kekiongas. On May 4, 1871, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he pitched a shutout in the inaugural game of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NA), the first professional league.[1][2]
Mathews umpired a few games between 1871 and 1888[5] and signed with the regular staff of the Players' League in 1890, returning to the AA in 1891.
Legacy
Over his 16-year career, he had 297 wins, 248 losses, 525 complete games, with a career earned run average of 2.86. He had 1,528 strikeouts compared with 532 walks. He won 20 games 8 times, including 42 in 1874 with the New York Mutuals of the National Association, and is the only player to win 50 games or to pitch 100 games[2] in each of three major leagues.[1] He is the 25th winningest pitcher in MLB history, yet has the 2nd highest number of wins for a pitcher not elected to the Hall of Fame and the most career innings pitched for a pitcher not elected to the Hall of Fame. He is also the pitcher with the highest number of wins without reaching 300.[6] Although he was known primarily as a pitcher (doing so for 578 games), he also played games in other positions from time to time, playing 80 games in the outfield, nine as a third baseman and two as a shortstop.
^ abcdefPietrusza, David; Matthew Silverman; Gershman, Michael (2000). Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. New York: Total Sports. p. 720. ISBN1-892129-34-5.
^ abcdeCharlton, James; Shatzkin, Mike; Holtje, Stephen (1990). The Ballplayers: baseball's ultimate biographical reference. New York: Arbor House/William Morrow. p. 679. ISBN0-87795-984-6.
^"Bobby Mathews – Society for American Baseball Research".
^ ab"Too Young To Die". thedeadballera.com. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
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For the Indian Army officer see Bobby Mathews general Robert T Mathews November 21 1851 April 17 1898 was an American right handed professional baseball pitcher who played in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players the National League of Major League Baseball and the American Association for twenty years beginning in the late 1860s He is credited as being one of the inventors of the spitball pitch 1 2 in each of three major leagues 1 which was rediscovered or reintroduced to the major leagues after he died He is also credited with the first legal pitch which broke away from the batter 1 2 He is listed at 5 feet 5 inches tall and 140 pounds which is small for a pro athlete even in his time when the average height of an American male in the mid 19th century was 5 foot 7 Bobby MathewsPitcherBorn 1851 11 21 November 21 1851Baltimore MarylandDied April 17 1898 1898 04 17 aged 46 Baltimore MarylandBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutMay 4 1871 for the Fort Wayne KekiongasLast MLB appearanceOctober 10 1887 for the Philadelphia AthleticsMLB statisticsWin loss record297 248Earned run average2 86Strikeouts1 528Teams NAPBBP Baltimore Marylands 1869 1870 Fort Wayne Kekiongas 1871 Baltimore Canaries 1872 New York Mutuals 1873 1875 National League New York Mutuals 1876 Cincinnati Reds 1877 Providence Grays 1879 1881 Boston Red Caps 1881 1882 American Association Philadelphia Athletics 1883 1887 Career highlights and awardsWon first NA game on May 4 1871 NL champion 1879 AA champion 1883 Contents 1 Career 2 After baseball 3 Legacy 4 Death 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksCareer EditMathews was born in 1851 in Baltimore Maryland and he played as a teenager with the Maryland club of that city and he made the team a dangerous one Mathews began his career at the age of 16 for the Marylands of Baltimore a junior squad in 1868 A year later he moved to the senior club and the following year the club declared themselves professional resulting in the creation of the National Association of Base Ball Players NAABP On August 19 he made his first ever start in the league against the Orientals of New York winning 28 15 3 For the 1871 season he and some other Maryland players signed with the Fort Wayne Kekiongas On May 4 1871 in Fort Wayne Indiana he pitched a shutout in the inaugural game of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players NA the first professional league 1 2 Over his 16 year career he had 297 wins 248 losses 525 complete games with a career earned run average of 2 86 He had 1 528 strikeouts compared with 532 walks He won 20 games 8 times including 42 in 1874 with the New York Mutuals of the National Association and is the only player to win 50 games or to pitch 100 games 2 in each of three major leagues 1 Mathews died in 1898 in Baltimore at the age of 46 of paresis caused by syphilis 4 and is interred at New Cathedral Cemetery also in Baltimore 5 After baseball EditMathews umpired a few games between 1871 and 1888 5 and signed with the regular staff of the Players League in 1890 returning to the AA in 1891 Legacy EditOver his 16 year career he had 297 wins 248 losses 525 complete games with a career earned run average of 2 86 He had 1 528 strikeouts compared with 532 walks He won 20 games 8 times including 42 in 1874 with the New York Mutuals of the National Association and is the only player to win 50 games or to pitch 100 games 2 in each of three major leagues 1 He is the 25th winningest pitcher in MLB history yet has the 2nd highest number of wins for a pitcher not elected to the Hall of Fame and the most career innings pitched for a pitcher not elected to the Hall of Fame He is also the pitcher with the highest number of wins without reaching 300 6 Although he was known primarily as a pitcher doing so for 578 games he also played games in other positions from time to time playing 80 games in the outfield nine as a third baseman and two as a shortstop Death EditMathews died in 1898 in Baltimore at the age of 46 of paresis caused by syphilis 4 and is interred at New Cathedral Cemetery also in Baltimore 5 See also Edit Biography portal Baseball portalList of Major League Baseball career wins leaders List of Major League Baseball leaders in games started List of Major League Baseball career innings pitched leaders List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders List of Major League Baseball single inning strikeout leadersReferences Edit a b c d e f Pietrusza David Matthew Silverman Gershman Michael 2000 Baseball The Biographical Encyclopedia New York Total Sports p 720 ISBN 1 892129 34 5 a b c d e Charlton James Shatzkin Mike Holtje Stephen 1990 The Ballplayers baseball s ultimate biographical reference New York Arbor House William Morrow p 679 ISBN 0 87795 984 6 Bobby Mathews Society for American Baseball Research a b Too Young To Die thedeadballera com Retrieved 2009 03 29 a b c Retrosheet Retrieved 2008 06 26 The Official Site of Major League Baseball Stats Historical Leaders Retrieved 2008 06 26 Further reading EditWright Marshall D 2000 The National Association of Base Ball Players 1857 1870 Jefferson N C McFarland ISBN 0 7864 0779 4 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bobby Matthews Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Bobby Mathews at Find a GraveBobby Mathews at SABR Baseball BioProject Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby Mathews amp oldid 1142899883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
