iamtheglove said:
MuckRaker96 said:
annie88 said:
Larry Corcoran: 3 - June 27, 1883
Listed at 5-3, 127 pounds. In his rookie year of 1880, went 43-14 with 57 complete games out of 60 starts and threw 536 innings.
Based on those numbers I wonder if he invented the curveball or something?
It was a different game back then. The players made essentially no money and went back home and farmed at their family farms after the season. It took 9 balls to walk. The outfield walls were routinely 600 feet to the power alleys. Sliding was not explicitly against the rules, but was considered a form of cheating. There were 7 bases but only 4 fielders. Players positions were distinguished only by their facial hair (this is why the shortstop is sometimes known as the 'Shaggy Brow' in contemporary parlance). There were 609 games in a season but most were cancelled due to dust. No doubt the game has evolved since then, not always for the better, but Larry 'Three Fingers' Corcoran is one of the best