Eddie Kolb
From BR Bullpen
Edward William Kolb
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Debut October 15, 1899
- Final Game October 15, 1899
- Born July 20, 1880 in Cincinnati, OH USA
- Died October 1, 1949 in Calgary, AB CAN
[edit] Biographical Information
Eddie Kolb was the youngest pitcher on the worst major league team ever, the 1899 Spiders who went 20-134. He pitched eight innings on the last day of the Spiders' season.
Kolb was the captain of an amateur team in Cincinnati who also worked at a hotel where the Spiders sometimes stayed. Kolb managed to convince the manager to let him pitch the last game of the season.
- One of the best stat lines ever. See BR page to believe it. To be fair to Eddie, he had to pitch against some pretty imposing batters: Sam Crawford, Jake Beckley, Bid McPhee and others on the Cincinnati team. Sporting Life listed him as "Holb".
Eddie later managed a number of years at independent leagues in Ohio and West Virginia and for minor league teams in Vincennes and Brockton as well as for a semi-pro team. In some cases he also played for his team. He tried to buy the team in Montreal in 1908.
He worked for a couple railroads and later ran a restaurant in Calgary for many years. Then he moved into the oil industry.
Main source: SABR biography
