Ed Cushman
Encyclopedia
Edgar Leander Cushman was an American
Major League Baseball
pitcher
from – for five teams in three different Major leagues spanning his six year career.
, and made his first appearance in Majors with the Buffalo Bisons, but was only able to pitch in seven games, all of which he started
, and had a respectable win/loss total of 3-3, as well as a 3.93 ERA
.
For the following season, he played for the minor league Milwaukee Brewers
, who would later join the newly formed and ill-fated Union Association
as a late season replacement. Ed pitched extremely well, in the four games in which he pitched to finish the season, he had a record of 4-0, with a 1.00 ERA, 47 strikeout
s in 36 innings pitched
. He completed
all four starts and pitched two shutout
s, one of which was a no-hitter
thrown on September 28, 1884, vs. the Washington Nationals
, a 5-0 victory. It was the second and last no-hitter thrown in the Union Association
, and was the second game the Brewers had played since joining the league as a late season replacement. He followed up his no-hitter with eight more hitless innings on October 4, against the Boston Reds, when he finally surrendered a hit, a ninth inning bloop single, but holds on for the 2-0 shutout victory.
His remarkable season with the Brewers earned him a shot with the Philadelphia Athletics
of the American Association
for the season. After 10 starts, he then moved to and finished the season with the New York Metropolitans
, also of the Association. Late in the season, on September 16, in a game against the Pittsburgh Alleganys
, he struck out eight batters in a row. He pitched for them during both the and seasons, earning the team award of Pitcher of the Year for the 1885 and 1886 seasons.
For the season he returned to the minors, this time in the Western Association
and played for Charlie Morton's Des Moines
team. When Morton took over the minor league Toledo Maumee
team, he moved several of his Des Moines players with him, including Cushman, who would play for that team through the season, and in season when the team earned Major League status by joining the American Association. This was the only season the Maumees played in the Majors.
, and was also a restaurant owner at one time. Ed died in Erie, Pennsylvania
at the age of 63, and was buried in Erie Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from – for five teams in three different Major leagues spanning his six year career.
Career
Ed was born in Eagleville, OhioAshtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497, its county seat is Jefferson. The county is named for a Native American word meaning "river of many fish"....
, and made his first appearance in Majors with the Buffalo Bisons, but was only able to pitch in seven games, all of which he started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, and had a respectable win/loss total of 3-3, as well as a 3.93 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
For the following season, he played for the minor league Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (UA)
The Milwaukee Brewers served as a replacement team late in the 1884 Union Association season. Called the Cream Citys by both local papers, they had a record of 8-4. The team came to the UA from the Northwestern League, as did the St. Paul Saints, and were managed by Tom Loftus...
, who would later join the newly formed and ill-fated Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
as a late season replacement. Ed pitched extremely well, in the four games in which he pitched to finish the season, he had a record of 4-0, with a 1.00 ERA, 47 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 36 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He completed
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
all four starts and pitched two shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, one of which was a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
thrown on September 28, 1884, vs. the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals (UA)
The 1884 Washington Nationals were a member of the Union Association. They were managed by Mike Scanlon and finished in seventh place with a record of 47-65. Their home games were played at Capitol Grounds...
, a 5-0 victory. It was the second and last no-hitter thrown in the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
, and was the second game the Brewers had played since joining the league as a late season replacement. He followed up his no-hitter with eight more hitless innings on October 4, against the Boston Reds, when he finally surrendered a hit, a ninth inning bloop single, but holds on for the 2-0 shutout victory.
His remarkable season with the Brewers earned him a shot with the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association, a 19th-century major league, which began play in 1882 as a rival to the National League. The other teams were the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Red Stockings, Eclipse of...
of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
for the season. After 10 starts, he then moved to and finished the season with the New York Metropolitans
New York Metropolitans
The Metropolitan Club was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887...
, also of the Association. Late in the season, on September 16, in a game against the Pittsburgh Alleganys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, he struck out eight batters in a row. He pitched for them during both the and seasons, earning the team award of Pitcher of the Year for the 1885 and 1886 seasons.
For the season he returned to the minors, this time in the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
and played for Charlie Morton's Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
team. When Morton took over the minor league Toledo Maumee
Toledo Maumees
The Toledo Maumees were originally formed in 1888. The team was based in Toledo, Ohio and formed part of the Tri-State League for one season. Their home games were played at Speranza Park in Toledo....
team, he moved several of his Des Moines players with him, including Cushman, who would play for that team through the season, and in season when the team earned Major League status by joining the American Association. This was the only season the Maumees played in the Majors.
Post-career
After his playing days, he worked as a conductor on the New York Central RailroadNew York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
, and was also a restaurant owner at one time. Ed died in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
at the age of 63, and was buried in Erie Cemetery
Erie Cemetery
Erie Cemetery is a prominent cemetery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is situated on of land bordered on the east by Chestnut Street, the west by Cherry Street, the north by 19th Street, and the south by 26th Street.- History :...
.
External links
- Ed Cushman's Obit - The Erie Daily Times, September 27, 1915