Joe Borden
Encyclopedia
Joseph Emley Borden, aka Joe Josephs, (May 9, 1854 – October 14, 1929), nicknamed "Josephus the Phenomenal", was a starting pitcher
in professional baseball for two seasons. Born in Jacobstown, New Jersey
, he was playing for a Philadelphia amateur team when he was discovered by the Philadelphia White Stockings
of the National Association
(NA) in . The White Stockings needed a replacement for a recently released pitcher, and were awaiting the arrival of a replacement. During his short, seven-game stint with the team, he posted a 2–4 win–loss record, both victories recorded as shutout
s. On July 28 of that season, he threw the first no-hitter
in professional baseball history.
When the NA folded after the 1875 season, Borden signed a three-year contract with the Boston Red Caps
. On April 22, 1876, Borden and the Red Caps were victorious in the first National League
(NL) game ever played. Later that season, on May 23, he pitched a shutout, which some historians claim was the first no-hitter in Major League Baseball
. Known for having an eccentric personality, he played under different surnames, such as Josephs and Nedrob, so as to disguise his involvement in baseball; his prominent family would have disapproved had they known. After he was released from the Red Caps as a player during the first season of his contract, he worked for a short period of time as their groundskeeper until he and the owner agreed to a buyout of the remainder of his contract. Little is known about his post-baseball life, and it has been claimed that he died as early as 1889, in the Johnstown Flood
, but his official death date is recognized as occurring in 1929 when he was 75 years of age.
, New Jersey
into a wealthy family. It is claimed that his family would have been embarrassed that their son was playing baseball for money, and would have disapproved. To hide his playing career, he assumed several various last names, such as Josephs and Nedrob, which is Borden spelled backwards.
, of the NA, had recently dismissed pitcher Cherokee Fisher
in July 1875 due to his clashing with team captain
, Mike McGeary
, and were in need of a replacement. The White Stockings signed George Zettlein
, but there was a delay in his arrival. The team then signed Borden, who was a local Philadelphia amateur player, as a replacement until Zettlein arrived. His first appearance in a game for the White Stockings was on July 24, an 11–4 loss to the Dick McBride
and the Philadelphia Athletics.
In his next start, on July 28 against the Chicago White Stockings
, he pitched the first recorded no-hitter
in professional baseball history. Borden lost the next three games he started before defeating the St. Louis Brown Stockings
, and future Hall of Fame
pitcher Pud Galvin
, 16–0 on August 9. By this time, Zettlein had settled in as their regular pitcher, and Borden was no longer needed. During his time with the White Stockings, he pitched in seven games
, all of which he started
and completed
. He finished the season with a 2–4 win–loss record, two shutout, a 1.50 earned run average
in 66 innings pitched
.
of the NL. The club had high expectations that he could adequately replace Albert Spalding
who had recently departed for the Chicago White Stockings. Sportswriters were in agreement with the club and dubbed him "Josephus the Phenomenal". Hall of Fame baseball writer Henry Chadwick described Borden's pitching style as having speed, but with little strategy. In addition to his swiftly moving fastball
, he also delivered a curveball
that moved down and away from right-handed batters; both pitches he delivered from a low arm angle. His Red Caps played the Philadelphia Athletics in the first game in NL history on April 22; the only game of the day due to rain cancelling the rest of the league's schedule. The Red Caps defeated the Athletics with two runs
in the ninth inning, and a final score of 6–5 at Athletic Park
, with Borden pitching the complete game for the victory.
On May 23, Borden pitched a two-hit 8–0 shutout victory against the Cincinnati Reds. Various historians claim that this performance was, instead, the first no-hitter thrown in the NL, thus the first in major league history. According to Lee Allen
, baseball historian and writer, the scorecard shows that Borden gave up two bases on balls
, which were counted as hits
in the final score. The official scorekeeper for the game was O. P. Caylor
, a writer for The Cincinnati Enquirer
, who believed, unlike his contemporaries, that bases on balls should be scored as hits. Bases on balls were only officially counted as hits for the season. The Boston Daily Globe reported on the game the following day, and noted that Reds had had two clean one-base hits during the game. Furthermore, on June 6, the New York Clipper
did not report an occurrence of a no-hitter in their summary of the game, though the box score
did have differing stats in other categories than what the Daily Globe had reported. Consequently, the first official no-hitter in Major League history was pitched by George Bradley
, of the St. Louis Brown Stockings
on July 15, 1876.
Two days after his near no-hitter, on May 25, Borden and the Red Caps faced the Reds again; this time against Cherokee Fisher, resulting in a scoreless game through nine innings. The Red Caps scored four runs in tenth inning for a 4-0 victory. Unfortunately for Borden, his pitching effectiveness declined rapidly after this, and at one point he reportedly lost his temper during a game in response to his own ineffectiveness, admonishing his teammates, even the well-liked and good-natured future Hall of famer George Wright. Due to his erratic pitching and behavior, he was released from the team by August. In 29 games pitched during the 1876 season, he started 24, completed 16 and recorded two shutouts. Additionally, he had a 11–12 win–loss record, a 2.89 earned run average
in 218⅓ innings pitched
, and led the league in allowing 51 bases on balls.
agreed to pay Borden approximately three-quarters of the two remaining years of his contract, and released him from the team. Borden reportedly found work stitching baseballs in Philadelphia. Little is known of Borden's life after baseball, and it has been alleged that he died in May 1889 during the Johnstown Flood
, the same disaster that had stranded the entire Louisville Colonels
team. Official records show that he died in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
at the age of 75, and is interred at Oaklands Cemetery
in West Chester, Pennsylvania
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in professional baseball for two seasons. Born in Jacobstown, New Jersey
Jacobstown, New Jersey
Jacobstown is an unincorporated area within North Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. Jacobstown got its name from a Quaker named Jacob Andrew....
, he was playing for a Philadelphia amateur team when he was discovered by the Philadelphia White Stockings
Philadelphia White Stockings
The Philadelphia White Stockings were an early professional baseball team. They were a member of the National Association from 1873 to 1875. Their home games were played at the Jefferson Street Grounds...
of the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(NA) in . The White Stockings needed a replacement for a recently released pitcher, and were awaiting the arrival of a replacement. During his short, seven-game stint with the team, he posted a 2–4 win–loss record, both victories recorded as 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. On July 28 of that season, he threw the first 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"...
in professional baseball history.
When the NA folded after the 1875 season, Borden signed a three-year contract with the Boston Red Caps
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. On April 22, 1876, Borden and the Red Caps were victorious in the first National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(NL) game ever played. Later that season, on May 23, he pitched a shutout, which some historians claim was the first no-hitter in 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...
. Known for having an eccentric personality, he played under different surnames, such as Josephs and Nedrob, so as to disguise his involvement in baseball; his prominent family would have disapproved had they known. After he was released from the Red Caps as a player during the first season of his contract, he worked for a short period of time as their groundskeeper until he and the owner agreed to a buyout of the remainder of his contract. Little is known about his post-baseball life, and it has been claimed that he died as early as 1889, in the Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
, but his official death date is recognized as occurring in 1929 when he was 75 years of age.
Career
Joseph Emley Borden was born on May 9, 1854 in JacobstownNorth Hanover Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,347 people, 2,498 households, and 2,020 families residing in the township. The population density was 423.7 people per square mile . There were 2,670 housing units at an average density of 154.0 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
into a wealthy family. It is claimed that his family would have been embarrassed that their son was playing baseball for money, and would have disapproved. To hide his playing career, he assumed several various last names, such as Josephs and Nedrob, which is Borden spelled backwards.
1875 season
The Philadelphia White StockingsPhiladelphia White Stockings
The Philadelphia White Stockings were an early professional baseball team. They were a member of the National Association from 1873 to 1875. Their home games were played at the Jefferson Street Grounds...
, of the NA, had recently dismissed pitcher Cherokee Fisher
Cherokee Fisher
William Charles "Cherokee" Fisher , was an American baseball pitcher.Fisher was a pitcher during organized baseball's formative years, from about 1867 to the end of his career. He was known for his fastball on the field and his heavy drinking off it. William J...
in July 1875 due to his clashing with team captain
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, Mike McGeary
Mike McGeary
Michael Henry McGeary was an American Major League Baseball player. He played mainly infield positions during his 11 league seasons, which included stints for seven different teams in two leagues. Three of those teams employed him as player-manager.McGeary was a native of Philadelphia...
, and were in need of a replacement. The White Stockings signed George Zettlein
George Zettlein
George Zettlein was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1871–1876. Zettlein played for the Chicago White Stockings, Troy Haymakers, Brooklyn Eckfords, Philadelphia White Stockings, and Athletic of Philadelphia...
, but there was a delay in his arrival. The team then signed Borden, who was a local Philadelphia amateur player, as a replacement until Zettlein arrived. His first appearance in a game for the White Stockings was on July 24, an 11–4 loss to the Dick McBride
Dick McBride
James Dickson "Dick" McBride was an American Major League Baseball player from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was the star pitcher and the player-manager for the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association from through most of the when Cap Anson took over as player-manager for the...
and the Philadelphia Athletics.
In his next start, on July 28 against the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, he pitched the first recorded 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"...
in professional baseball history. Borden lost the next three games he started before defeating the St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
, and future Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
pitcher Pud Galvin
Pud Galvin
James Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
, 16–0 on August 9. By this time, Zettlein had settled in as their regular pitcher, and Borden was no longer needed. During his time with the White Stockings, he pitched in seven games
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, 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 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...
. He finished the season with a 2–4 win–loss record, two shutout, a 1.50 earned run average
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...
in 66 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...
.
1876 season
After the 1875 season concluded, the league, and subsequently the Philadelphia White Stockings, folded, allowing the NL to form, becoming the first "Major" league. Before the season, Borden signed a three-year contract worth $2000 a season ($ current dollar adjustment) with the Boston Red CapsAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of the NL. The club had high expectations that he could adequately replace Albert Spalding
Albert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
who had recently departed for the Chicago White Stockings. Sportswriters were in agreement with the club and dubbed him "Josephus the Phenomenal". Hall of Fame baseball writer Henry Chadwick described Borden's pitching style as having speed, but with little strategy. In addition to his swiftly moving fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, he also delivered a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
that moved down and away from right-handed batters; both pitches he delivered from a low arm angle. His Red Caps played the Philadelphia Athletics in the first game in NL history on April 22; the only game of the day due to rain cancelling the rest of the league's schedule. The Red Caps defeated the Athletics with two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in the ninth inning, and a final score of 6–5 at Athletic Park
Jefferson Street Grounds
Jefferson Street Grounds was a baseball field located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was also known as Jefferson Park and Athletics Park. It was home to the Philadelphia Athletics from 1871 to 1876, five seasons in the...
, with Borden pitching the complete game for the victory.
On May 23, Borden pitched a two-hit 8–0 shutout victory against the Cincinnati Reds. Various historians claim that this performance was, instead, the first no-hitter thrown in the NL, thus the first in major league history. According to Lee Allen
Lee Allen (baseball)
Leland Gaither "Lee" Allen was an American sportswriter and historian on the subject of baseball. He was known for an accessible writing style that made history more interesting, typically focusing on the people in the stories as much as the events. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Allen was the son...
, baseball historian and writer, the scorecard shows that Borden gave up two bases on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, which were counted as hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in the final score. The official scorekeeper for the game was O. P. Caylor
O. P. Caylor
Oliver Perry Caylor was a baseball newspaper columnist for The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Commercial before becoming one of the principal figures in the founding of the American Association in 1881 as well as the catalyst in the formation of the modern-day Cincinnati Reds.Caylor was...
, a writer for The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati (Ohio) and Northern Kentucky. The...
, who believed, unlike his contemporaries, that bases on balls should be scored as hits. Bases on balls were only officially counted as hits for the season. The Boston Daily Globe reported on the game the following day, and noted that Reds had had two clean one-base hits during the game. Furthermore, on June 6, the New York Clipper
New York Clipper
The New York Clipper, also known as The Clipper, was a weekly entertainment newspaper published in New York City from 1853 to 1924. It covered many topics, including circuses, dance, music, the outdoors, sports, and theatre. It had a circulation of about 25,000. The publishers also produced the...
did not report an occurrence of a no-hitter in their summary of the game, though the box score
Box score
A box score is a structured summary of the results from a sport competition. The box score lists the game score as well as individual and team achievements in the game....
did have differing stats in other categories than what the Daily Globe had reported. Consequently, the first official no-hitter in Major League history was pitched by George Bradley
George Bradley
George Washington Bradley , nicknamed "Grin", was an American Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and infielder. He was 5'10.5" and weighed 175 lbs. Bradley was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.-Baseball career:...
, of the St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
on July 15, 1876.
Two days after his near no-hitter, on May 25, Borden and the Red Caps faced the Reds again; this time against Cherokee Fisher, resulting in a scoreless game through nine innings. The Red Caps scored four runs in tenth inning for a 4-0 victory. Unfortunately for Borden, his pitching effectiveness declined rapidly after this, and at one point he reportedly lost his temper during a game in response to his own ineffectiveness, admonishing his teammates, even the well-liked and good-natured future Hall of famer George Wright. Due to his erratic pitching and behavior, he was released from the team by August. In 29 games pitched during the 1876 season, he started 24, completed 16 and recorded two shutouts. Additionally, he had a 11–12 win–loss record, a 2.89 earned run average
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...
in 218⅓ 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...
, and led the league in allowing 51 bases on balls.
Post-baseball career
Though the Red Caps had released him as a player, he was still under contract, so they had him work in various other capacities, such as a ticket-taker and groundskeeper. Eventually, team owner Nicholas ApollonioNicholas Apollonio
Nicholas T. Apollonio was the owner of the Boston Red Stockings/Red Caps of the National League from through . In 1874, Apollonio purchased the club from Charles Porter. He sold the Red Stockings to Arthur Soden in 1876.-References:*...
agreed to pay Borden approximately three-quarters of the two remaining years of his contract, and released him from the team. Borden reportedly found work stitching baseballs in Philadelphia. Little is known of Borden's life after baseball, and it has been alleged that he died in May 1889 during the Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
, the same disaster that had stranded the entire Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
team. Official records show that he died in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the City of Philadelphia. The population was 11,762 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yeadon is located at ....
at the age of 75, and is interred at Oaklands Cemetery
Oaklands Cemetery
Oaklands Cemetery was founded in 1854. It is located on Pottstown Pike in West Chester, Pennsylvania and occupies roughly .Oaklands Cemetery was founded as a response to the closure of graveyards within the borough of West Chester and the stoppage of future burials allowed within it...
in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
.