John Healy (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John J. Healy nicknamed "Egyptian" and "Long John", was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. Healy played for the St. Louis Maroons
, Indianapolis Hoosiers
, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Stockings
, Toledo Maumees
, Baltimore Orioles
, and Louisville Colonels
from 1885 to 1892. He was 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 158 pounds (71.7 kg).
, in 1866. He joined the National League
's St. Louis Maroons in 1885 and made his major league debut on September 11, at the age of 18. He made eight starts late in the season, going 1-7 with a 3.00 earned run average
.
In 1886, Healy pitched 353.2 innings and went 17-23 with a 2.88 ERA. He led the Maroons' pitchers in innings pitched
and wins. Healy, whose key pitch was the fastball
, also finished among the league's top 10 in strikeout
s (213), bases on balls
(118), and wild pitch
es (40).
Healy was purchased by the Indianapolis Hoosiers on March 8, 1887. That season, he was the ace of the Indianapolis pitching staff and finished with a record of 12-29. His 29 losses were the most of any pitcher in the NL. Healy also went on an "around-the-world" tour with other American baseball players that year, playing exhibition games in Europe, Asia, and Australia. When Healy returned home, the mayor of his hometown honored him with "a special ceremony and a pin."
After going 12-24 in 1888, Healy was traded to the Washington Nationals for Jim Whitney
. Healy started 12 games for Washington, going 1-11 with a 6.24 ERA before being released on July 8. He signed with the Chicago White Stockings three days later and went 1-4 for them before being released again. During the 1880s, Healy had an overall win-loss record of 44-98; his .310 winning percentage was the lowest of any major league pitcher in the decade.
Healy spent 1890 with the Toledo Maumees of the American Association
. Once again, he led his team in innings pitched (389) and wins (22), setting career-highs in both categories. He had a winning record for the only time in his career, and he finished fourth in the AA with 225 strikeouts.
In 1891, Healy was sold to the Baltimore Orioles. He compiled a record of 8-10 that season and 3-6 the next before Baltimore released him. Healy then finished his major league career by playing one month for the Louisville Colonels. He had a career win-loss record of 78-136, and in 2004, baseball historian Bill James
wrote that he was the fifth-unluckiest pitcher of all-time in regards to his record.
Healy played for the minor league Minneapolis Millers
in 1895 and 1896. He then retired from the game and worked as a St. Louis policeman before becoming ill. On March 16, 1899, Healy died of consumption
in St. Louis. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery.
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...
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...
. Healy played for the St. Louis Maroons
St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers
300px|thumb|right|1888 Indianapolis HoosiersThe St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1884-1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due...
, Indianapolis Hoosiers
St. Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers
300px|thumb|right|1888 Indianapolis HoosiersThe St. Louis Maroons were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1884-1886. The club, established by Henry Lucas, were the one near-major league quality entry in the Union Association, a league that lasted only one season, due...
, Washington Nationals, 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...
, Toledo Maumees
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....
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
, and 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...
from 1885 to 1892. He was 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 158 pounds (71.7 kg).
Career
Healy was born in Cairo, IllinoisCairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, in 1866. He joined the 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...
's St. Louis Maroons in 1885 and made his major league debut on September 11, at the age of 18. He made eight starts late in the season, going 1-7 with a 3.00 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 1886, Healy pitched 353.2 innings and went 17-23 with a 2.88 ERA. He led the Maroons' pitchers in 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 wins. Healy, whose key pitch was the 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...
, also finished among the league's top 10 in 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 (213), 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...
(118), and wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es (40).
Healy was purchased by the Indianapolis Hoosiers on March 8, 1887. That season, he was the ace of the Indianapolis pitching staff and finished with a record of 12-29. His 29 losses were the most of any pitcher in the NL. Healy also went on an "around-the-world" tour with other American baseball players that year, playing exhibition games in Europe, Asia, and Australia. When Healy returned home, the mayor of his hometown honored him with "a special ceremony and a pin."
After going 12-24 in 1888, Healy was traded to the Washington Nationals for Jim Whitney
Jim Whitney
James Evans "Grasshopper Jim" Whitney was a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of ten seasons with the Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters, Kansas City Cowboys, Washington Nationals, Indianapolis Hoosiers and Philadelphia Athletics . He was the National League...
. Healy started 12 games for Washington, going 1-11 with a 6.24 ERA before being released on July 8. He signed with the Chicago White Stockings three days later and went 1-4 for them before being released again. During the 1880s, Healy had an overall win-loss record of 44-98; his .310 winning percentage was the lowest of any major league pitcher in the decade.
Healy spent 1890 with the Toledo Maumees 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...
. Once again, he led his team in innings pitched (389) and wins (22), setting career-highs in both categories. He had a winning record for the only time in his career, and he finished fourth in the AA with 225 strikeouts.
In 1891, Healy was sold to the Baltimore Orioles. He compiled a record of 8-10 that season and 3-6 the next before Baltimore released him. Healy then finished his major league career by playing one month for the Louisville Colonels. He had a career win-loss record of 78-136, and in 2004, baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
wrote that he was the fifth-unluckiest pitcher of all-time in regards to his record.
Healy played for the minor league Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
in 1895 and 1896. He then retired from the game and worked as a St. Louis policeman before becoming ill. On March 16, 1899, Healy died of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in St. Louis. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery.
External links
- Egyptian Healy at Find a Grave