Lady Baldwin

Charles B. Baldwin

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut September 30, 1884
• Final Game June 26, 1890
• Born April 8, 1859 in Oramel, NY USA
• Died March 7, 1937 in Hastings, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

" 'Lady' Baldwin was the best left-handed pitcher of his day and one of the best that ever stood in the box. He had wonderful command, speed and curves, and knew how to work the batters." - Ned Hanlon, quoted in the Sporting Life issue of September 11, 1897

Charles "Lady" Baldwin pitched six seasons in the majors during the 19th century and, aside from one record-breaking year, had a relatively unspectacular career.

Baldwin began playing in the minors in 1883 and reached the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers of the Union Association in 1884. The circuit folded after one season and he moved on to the Detroit Wolverines of the National League. After winning 11 games in 1885, he had a career year in 1886, going 42-13 and setting the record for most wins in a season by a left-hander, which still stands today. That year, he led the NL in wins and strikeouts (323) as his clubs finished in second place. During the course of the season, he threw 7 shutouts, a one-hitter, 5 two-hitters, and 5 three-hitters.

The next season, Baldwin fell to 13 wins (Charlie Getzein led the team with 29) and, after struggling in midseason due to fatigue, was sent home for a while. Nonetheless, the Wolverines won the NL title that year. In that year's World Series, Lady went 4-1 in 5 starts and held the St. Louis Browns to a .155 batting average. He played in just 6 big league games in 1888 and was back in the majors in 1890, splitting his time between the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the NL and the Buffalo Bisons of the Players League.

Baldwin was a .231 lifetime hitter. In 1886, when he won 42 games, he also added 25 RBI. He got his nickname because he did not smoke, drink or curse. After baseball, he operated a farm and then a real estate business, dying in 1937 at the age of 77.

Notable Achievements

• NL Wins Leader (1886)
• NL Strikeouts Leader (1886)
• NL Shutouts Leader (1886)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 40 Wins Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1886 & 1887)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 300 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)

Further reading

• The Wolverines and Lady Baldwin