Asa Brainard
From BR Bullpen
Asahel Brainard (Count)
- Bats Unknown, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 150 lb.
- Debut May 5, 1871
- Final Game October 14, 1874
- Born 1841 in Albany, NY USA
- Died December 29, 1888 in Denver, CO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Asa Brainard was the starting pitcher on the great 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. One of the highest paid players on the first openly professional team, his regular occupation was listed as "insurance".
Brainard had played cricket for the American Cricket Club in 1861 and 1862, and played baseball as early as 1861 and 1862 with the Brooklyn Excelsiors and Brooklyn Atlantics. He pitched on the day that teammate Jim Creighton hit a home run and in doing so injured himself in a way that he died four days later. Creighton had been with Brainard as a teammate on both baseball clubs and on the cricket club.
Brainard had pitched for the amateur Washington Nationals and came over in 1868 to join the Red Stockings.
Probably the best professional pitcher in 1869, he wasn't the same pitcher by the time that he entered the National Association.
After his baseball days, he held some government jobs and then worked as the superintendent of the Markham Hotel billiard room in Denver. His father-in-law had been president of the National Bank of Commerce in New York City. Asa died of pneumonia.
