Talk:Toad Ramsey

From BR Bullpen

August 8, 2006

Today is Thomas "Toad" Ramsey's birthday, and I had never heard of the guy before now. I have searched everywhere I know on line, and not only can I not find a baseball card for him, I cannot find an image of any kind.

Nevertheless, for a six-year career Toad performed impressively. It seems to me he must have been a hard thrower who hurt his arm in 1888. Nevertheless, he had fewer hits than IP for his career, an ERA 17% better than the league's, a K/Walk ratio of better than 2:1, back-to-back 30-win seasons, completed 93% of his starts, a 24-win season his last year in the league -- as I say, impressive.

Perhaps most impressive to me is that in his debut in September 1885, aged 21, he had 9 starts, competed them all, allowed just 44 hits and 28 walks in 79 innings, struck out 83, had an ERA of just 1.94 -- but lost six out of nine!

Looking through his batting stats, I can see that he did not help himself much offensively -- .204 career average with just 35 points of extra-base power. And his real Achilles Heel seems to be his fielding -- .890 for his career while pitching. When you add that to his wild pitches -- 35 one season, 31 another -- I begin to get a picture of a talented guy who made his own hard luck. (By the way, has anyone ever seen a pitcher have 35 WP in a full season, and then ZERO the next -- also full -- season? I haven't.)

I'd surely like to know more about Toad Ramsey. Anyone out there in Indianapolis who can do some local digging?

Sincerely,

         dave denny

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I believe there is a picture about Toad Ramsey in The Beer and Whisky League by David Nemec as well as additional information. I'll check it out when I get home. - --Mischa 11:25, 8 August 2006 (EDT)

Here's what Nemec has to say: Ramsey injured a finger on his pitching hand when young and adjusted his motion, creating his best pitch, a drop curve. "His personal habits tore up his body." Opie Caylor wrote that he was a man who "gets down in the gutter completely" and said his life was ruined by debauchery. He holds the record for most major league wins by a pitcher who never threw in the AL or NL.

[edit] Toad Ramsey as a manager

Toad Ramsey is listed as a manager in the NY State League up to 1909 or even later. The problem is Toad died in 1906!

The manager was Henry D. "Hank" Ramsey who had a long career in places like Cortland, Scranton, etc.

There are many managers listed on league pages with the right last name but the wrong first name. --Jeff 17:28, 3 July 2008 (EDT)