- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Boston
- Team: Beaneaters
- League: National League
James Evans Whitney (1857-1891) was a RHP with the Beaneaters who still ranks 4th in Atlanta franchise history in ERA. “Grasshopper Jim” played 10 seasons for 5 teams, ending his career in 1890 with the Athletics. Incredibly, he led the league in BOTH wins and losses (31-33) in his rookie campaign, leading Boston to the title.
- Was NL strikeout champ in 1883
- In 1884 he achieved a rare SO to Walk ratio of 10:1 (270-27)
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Michael Francis Welch (1859-1941). An elite pitcher for 13 professional seasons, Welch was the 3rd pitcher to reach 300 wins. Mickey was a 20-game winner 9 times in his career, 7 times in succession. He also won 30+ games 4 times and 40+ games once. Shared pitching duties with HOFers John Ward & Tim Keefe.
- 1st pinch hitter in Major League history, 9.10.89, when he pinch hit for fellow HOFer Hank O’Day
- Still holds record for consecutive K’s to start a game: 9
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1973
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Louisville
- Team: Colonels
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
George E. Waddell (1876-1914) was one of the premier pitchers in MLB history and also a man-child who’d leave the dugout and chase a fire truck. His titanic struggles with Cy Young made for the greatest pitching duels of all time. Connie Mack described his curve as the “fastest and deepest I’ve ever seen.”
- Waddell’s perplexing personal and social problems led to a shortened career and life
- Driven to distraction, Mack sold Rube to the Browns for the ’08 season, his last hurrah
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Quakers
- League: National League
William Miller Vinton (1865-1893) played two ML seasons in Philadelphia, debuting with the Quakers in 1884 and finishing the next year with the Athletics. He had a 17-19 won-lost record but a fine ERA of 2.46. Vinton returned to his beloved Yale University, ending his big league career.
- Continued to pursue minor league baseball in New England and then Minnesota
- Got his degree from Yale in 1888 but died at age 29
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Ledell Titcomb (1866-1950). A pitcher for 5 professional seasons, Titcomb won a total of 30 games in his career while playing for 4 different clubs: Philadelphia Quakers, Philadelphia Athletics, New York Giants & Rochester Broncos. His best season was 1888, when he went 14-8 with a 2.24 ERA and 22 complete games for the New York Giants.
- Threw a no-hitter against the Syracuse Stars while pitching for the Rochester Broncos: 9.15.90
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