Candy Cummings
From BR Bullpen
William Arthur Cummings
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 120 lb.
- Debut April 22, 1872
- Born October 18, 1848 in Ware, MA USA
- Died May 16, 1924 in Toledo, OH USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1939
[edit] Biographical Information
Candy Cummings had a brief but influential career. From 1872 to 1877, he compiled a 145-94 career record and 2.49 ERA while playing for five different teams. He is credited with being the first pitcher to throw a curveball, which he first threw at a game in Worcester, MA while playing for the Brooklyn Stars, a non-major league team. However, some historians dispute this claim.
In spite of throwing a curveball, Cummings in 1875 was able to throw 417 innings but give up only 6 walks.
Cummings was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.
Some or all content from this article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Candy Cummings".
SABR has a detailed biography of Candy Cummings. Cummings became interested in the curve ball around 1863, and later pitched for several years for the junior and then varsity team of the amateur Brooklyn Stars. Even after the National Association started in 1871, Cummings stayed with the Stars, but joined the National Association in 1872.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- NA Games Pitched Leader (1872)
- NA Innings Pitched Leader (1872)
- NA Complete Games Leader (1872)
- 2-times NA Shutouts Leader (1872 & 1875)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 4 (1872-1875)
- 30 Wins Seasons: 2 (1872 & 1875)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1872-1876)
- 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1872-1875)
- 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1872, 1874 & 1875)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1939
