Mark Baldwin (baseball)
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| Mark Baldwin | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB Debut | |
| May 2, 1887 for the Chicago White Stockings | |
| Final game | |
| September 30, 1893 for the New York Giants | |
| Career Statistics | |
| ERA | 3.36 |
| Record | 156-165 |
| Strikeouts | 1354 |
| Teams | |
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| Career Highlights and Awards | |
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Marcus Elmore Baldwin (October 29, 1863 - November 10, 1929), nicknamed "Fido", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played in the National League, the American Association and the Players League. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he batted and threw right-handed, weighed 190 pounds, and was 6'0" in height. He attended Penn State University.
Baldwin made his big league debut on May 2, 1887, at the age of 23 with the Chicago White Stockings. His career spanned seven seasons, playing for the White Stockings, Columbus Solons, Chicago Pirates, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants.
Between 1888 and 1892, Baldwin was one of the most productive players in the league. He posted ERAs as low as 2.76, strikeout totals as high as 376 and win totals as high as 34. Two years in a row, 1889 and 1890, Baldwin pitched 54 complete games and over 500 innings, and at one point in his career had 4 wins in 6 days, pitching two complete games in one day. Even with his high win totals though, he also lost many games. In 1889, he led the league in losses with 34.
Overall, Baldwin went 156-165 in his career, with 1307 walks, 1354 strikeouts and a 3.36 ERA. Baldwin was a .163 career hitter. He played his final game on September 30, 1893. Statistically, he has been compared to Howard Ehmke.
Following the conclusion of his Major League career, Baldwin toiled with minor league Rochester in the old Eastern League. In mid-season 1895, Rochester cut him. He moved to nearby Auburn, New York. There in late 1895 he and some other former Major Leaguers who lived in Auburn, like Tug Arundel and Jerry Dorsey, formed an independent co-op minor league pro team. In 1896, the Auburns went from co-operative to salaried, and Baldwin served as co-owner, field manager, and starting pitcher. In July, 1896 he and his teammates were arrested and convicted of a Blue law violation for playing the first-ever Sunday professional game in Auburn. It wasn't Baldwin's first brush with the law. In 1890 he had been jailed for allegedly bribing players to prevent them from jumping from the National League to the rival American Association. The Auburn infraction resulted in a mere $5 fine, but it derailed Baldwin's front office career. The local clergy declared war on the Auburns, and attendance dropped precipitously, according to historian Andy Fusco. The team became insolvent with four games remaining in the '96 slate. The franchise re-organized in 1897 but without Baldwin-he moved back to his home in Pennsylvania.
From Baseball's First Stars, by Robert L. Tiemann: "Although never known for a good curve, or changeup, [Baldwin] had plenty of speed and the gumption to challenge the best hitters."
Baldwin died at age 66 in Pittsburgh. His grave is located at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
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Categories: Major league pitchers | Major league players from Pennsylvania | 1863 births | 1929 deaths | Penn State University alumni | Chicago White Stockings players | Columbus Solons players | Chicago Pirates players | Pittsburgh Pirates players | New York Giants baseball players | People from Pittsburgh
