Pop Corkhill
Encyclopedia
John Stewart "Pop" Corkhill (April 11, 1858 – April 4, 1921) was a baseball
player who played for ten seasons in the Major Leagues
. He was an outfielder who excelled on defense, winning five fielding
titles in his career.
Born in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
Corkhill began his Major League career in the American Association
with the Cincinnati Reds
in 1883. He served as the Reds' right fielder
for four seasons, leading American Association outfielders in fielding twice. In 1887, he moved to center field and played there regularly for two seasons, winning two more fielding titles. As a batter, Corkhill had a knack for driving in
run
s, finishing 2nd in the league in RBI in 1886. He also pitched on multiple occasions, serving as a relief pitcher
at a time when relievers were not commonplace.
Corkhill finished the 1888 season with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
after the team purchased his contract from Cincinnati. He played two seasons as Brooklyn's center fielder, and earned two league championships with the club, an AA championship in 1889 and a National League
championship in 1890 after the club switched leagues.
Corkhill returned to the American Association in 1891 and began the year with the Philadelphia Athletics. He left the team in mid-season and returned to the NL to finish the year, playing a single game with the Reds before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He played for parts of two seasons with the Pirates, before retiring after being hit in the head by a pitch from Ed Crane
.
Corkhill died after an operation in Pennsauken, New Jersey in 1921.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played for ten seasons in the Major Leagues
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...
. He was an outfielder who excelled on defense, winning five fielding
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
titles in his career.
Born in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
Parkesburg is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2010 census. The Zip code is 19365.-History:...
Corkhill began his Major League career in 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...
with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1883. He served as the Reds' right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for four seasons, leading American Association outfielders in fielding twice. In 1887, he moved to center field and played there regularly for two seasons, winning two more fielding titles. As a batter, Corkhill had a knack for driving in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
run
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...
s, finishing 2nd in the league in RBI in 1886. He also pitched on multiple occasions, serving as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
at a time when relievers were not commonplace.
Corkhill finished the 1888 season with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
after the team purchased his contract from Cincinnati. He played two seasons as Brooklyn's center fielder, and earned two league championships with the club, an AA championship in 1889 and a 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...
championship in 1890 after the club switched leagues.
Corkhill returned to the American Association in 1891 and began the year with the Philadelphia Athletics. He left the team in mid-season and returned to the NL to finish the year, playing a single game with the Reds before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates
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 played for parts of two seasons with the Pirates, before retiring after being hit in the head by a pitch from Ed Crane
Ed Crane (baseball)
Edward Nicholas Crane , nicknamed Cannonball, was an American right-handed pitcher and outfielder in Major League Baseball for eight seasons...
.
Corkhill died after an operation in Pennsauken, New Jersey in 1921.