Toad Ramsey
Encyclopedia
Thomas H. "Toad" Ramsey (August 8, 1864 – March 27, 1906) was an American
Major League Baseball
player who pitched
in the Majors from to . Ramsey spent his entire career in the American Association
, split between two different teams. He played for the Louisville Colonels
, and later, the St. Louis Browns
. He is sometimes credited as the inventor of the knuckleball
pitch, and was one of the top pitchers in the Association for more than two years, with statistics that put him in the top five in multiple pitching categories.
, and a former bricklayer
, Ramsey is credited as the inventor of the knuckleball pitch. He had severed the tendon
in the index finger
of his pitching hand with a trowel
. The result was that Ramsey's pitches had a natural knuckleball motion. He threw with a fastball motion, holding the ball with his index finger retracted, since he could not straighten it, and with just his finger tip on the ball. Some historians have disputed that he threw a knuckleball in the modern sense, in that his ball movement was like what is now known as knuckle curve
. He was playing for the Chattanooga, Tennessee
team of the Southern League
, when he was traded to Louisville Colonels of the American Association in exchange for John Connor
and $750 on August 29, 1885. He was brought in to spell star pitcher Guy Hecker
, who had a sore arm, and made his Major League debut on September 5, in a complete game
4-3 loss to the St. Louis Browns. In that first season with the Colonels, he started
nine games, completing them all with a 3-6 win-loss record.
For the season, his first full season in the Majors, Ramsey became the number one starting pitcher
for the Colonels, sharing starts with Hecker. Ramsey logged in a league leading 588.2 innings and 66 complete games in 67 starts. In addition to his league leading statistics that season, his ERA
of 2.45, and 38 wins were good for third in the league. His 499 strikeout
s that season finished second behind Matt Kilroy
's record setting total of 513. Ramsey's total is the second highest total in major league history. Ramsey and Hecker's relationship steadily became more at odds the more the Ramsey's status with the team grew. At one point, Ramsey said that Hecker was jealous of his success and it would be good for the team if Hecker were released.
Ramsey had a similar season, pitching 561 innings and winning 37 games. His 355 strikeouts led the American Association, while his 561 innings pitched, 64 games started, and 61 complete games, were all second in the league to Kilroy. Unfortunately, his dominate years stopped after that season, and his fortunes changed for the worse beginning during the season. His win–loss record was 8–30 in 40 starts. On July 25, 1888, Ramsey was arrested for not paying an overdue bar bill.
. He pitched in just five games the rest of season, but did go 3–1 and had an ERA of 3.95. He returned with St. Louis for the season, and pitched his last season in the Majors. He had a record of 24–17, struck out 257 batters, and had an ERA of 3.69 in 348⅔ innings pitched. Ramsey was released by St. Louis on September 19, 1890, and he never returned to the Majors.
in his hometown of Indianapolis at the age of 41, and is interred at Crown Hill 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...
player who pitched
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 the Majors from to . Ramsey spent his entire 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...
, split between two different teams. He played for the 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...
, and later, the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He is sometimes credited as the inventor of the knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
pitch, and was one of the top pitchers in the Association for more than two years, with statistics that put him in the top five in multiple pitching categories.
Louisville
Born in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and a former bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, Ramsey is credited as the inventor of the knuckleball pitch. He had severed the tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
in the index finger
Index finger
The index finger, , is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the first and third digits, between the thumb and the middle finger...
of his pitching hand with a trowel
Trowel
A trowel is one of several similar hand tools used for digging, smoothing, or otherwise moving around small amounts of viscous or particulate material.-Hand tools:...
. The result was that Ramsey's pitches had a natural knuckleball motion. He threw with a fastball motion, holding the ball with his index finger retracted, since he could not straighten it, and with just his finger tip on the ball. Some historians have disputed that he threw a knuckleball in the modern sense, in that his ball movement was like what is now known as knuckle curve
Knuckle curve
In Major League history, the term knuckle curve has been used to describe three entirely different pitches.The first, more common pitch called the knuckle curve is really a standard curveball, thrown with one or more of the index or mean fingers bent. According to practitioners, this gives them a...
. He was playing for the Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
team of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, when he was traded to Louisville Colonels of the American Association in exchange for John Connor
John Connor (baseball)
John Connor was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched a total of 12 games over the course of his two-season career. He had a W–L record of 2–8 and a 3.81 earned run average in 104 innings pitched...
and $750 on August 29, 1885. He was brought in to spell star pitcher Guy Hecker
Guy Hecker
Guy Jackson Hecker was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. His debut game took place on May 2, 1882. His final game took place on September 30, 1890. During his career he played for the Louisville Eclipse and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, who had a sore arm, and made his Major League debut on September 5, in a complete game
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...
4-3 loss to the St. Louis Browns. In that first season with the Colonels, 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...
nine games, completing them all with a 3-6 win-loss record.
For the season, his first full season in the Majors, Ramsey became the number one starting pitcher
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....
for the Colonels, sharing starts with Hecker. Ramsey logged in a league leading 588.2 innings and 66 complete games in 67 starts. In addition to his league leading statistics that season, his 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...
of 2.45, and 38 wins were good for third in the league. His 499 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 that season finished second behind Matt Kilroy
Matt Kilroy
Matthew Aloysius Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Rookie season:...
's record setting total of 513. Ramsey's total is the second highest total in major league history. Ramsey and Hecker's relationship steadily became more at odds the more the Ramsey's status with the team grew. At one point, Ramsey said that Hecker was jealous of his success and it would be good for the team if Hecker were released.
Ramsey had a similar season, pitching 561 innings and winning 37 games. His 355 strikeouts led the American Association, while his 561 innings pitched, 64 games started, and 61 complete games, were all second in the league to Kilroy. Unfortunately, his dominate years stopped after that season, and his fortunes changed for the worse beginning during the season. His win–loss record was 8–30 in 40 starts. On July 25, 1888, Ramsey was arrested for not paying an overdue bar bill.
St. Louis
His season began the way his 1888 season went, winning one game in his 18 starts with Louisville. On July 17, he was traded to the St. Louis Browns for Nat HudsonNat Hudson
Nathaniel P. "Nat" Hudson was an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Browns from to ....
. He pitched in just five games the rest of season, but did go 3–1 and had an ERA of 3.95. He returned with St. Louis for the season, and pitched his last season in the Majors. He had a record of 24–17, struck out 257 batters, and had an ERA of 3.69 in 348⅔ innings pitched. Ramsey was released by St. Louis on September 19, 1890, and he never returned to the Majors.
Post-career
Ramsey died of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in his hometown of Indianapolis at the age of 41, and is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins