Jersey Bakely

From BR Bullpen

Edward Enoch Bakely born Edward Enoch Bakley

Bats Right, Throws Right

Debut May 11, 1883
Final Game August 20, 1891
Born April 17, 1864 in Blackwood, NJ USA
Died February 17, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Edward "Jersey" Bakely played six seasons in the major leagues. Although some sites say that his best year was in 1888 when he won 25 games in the 1888 American Association, in fact his next year, 1889, was more notable because his 2.96 ERA was second in the 1889 National League. Bakely's ERA was about the same each year, but the league ERA was 3.06 in 1888 while it was 4.02 in 1889.

Bakely's record of 12-22 is a bit of a surprise in 1889 because his team went 61-72. Both Darby O'Brien (22-17) and Ed Beatin (20-15) had winning records for the team, in spite of having ERA's much higher than that of Bakely.

Bakeley played for Harrisburg and Pottsville in 1883 as well as for the 1883 Philadelphia Athletics, for whom he went 5-3. He spent the next season in the 1884 Union Association, in the only season of its existence, and had the dubious distinction of leading that league in losses.

He pitched in the minors from 1885-87 and then came back to the majors with three different Cleveland teams - the Cleveland team in the 1888 American Association, the Cleveland team in the 1889 National League and the Cleveland team in the 1890 Players League. The following year he pitched for two non-Cleveland teams in the 1891 American Association