John Clarkson

John Gibson Clarkson (July 1, 1861 – February 4, 1909) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs (1882), Chicago White Stockings (1884–1887), Boston Beaneaters (1888–1892), and Cleveland Spiders (1892–1894). Clarkson pitched the first known immaculate inning in MLB history on June 4, 1889 vs the Philadelphia Quakers in the 3rd inning.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963.

Career overview

Clarkson compiled a career 328–178 record, placing him twelfth on the MLB list of all-time wins. Clarkson pitched over 600 innings in a season twice and won a career-high 53 games in 1885. In MLB history, only Charles Radbourn has won more games in a single season (59 in 1884). In just five seasons from 1885 to 1889, Clarkson won 209 games.

Clarkson had a wide variety of curve balls and was considered to be a calculating, scientific pitcher who carefully analyzed every hitter's weaknesses. Hall of Fame hitter Sam Thompson said of Clarkson: "I faced him in scores of games and I can truthfully say that never in all that time did I get a pitch that came where I expected it or in the way in which I guessed it was coming."

At the time Clarkson retired from the game, he was the winningest pitcher in National League history. though Bill James ranks him lower at number 42 in his The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.

Clarkson's election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 was by the Veterans Committee.

Early years

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson was one of five sons of a prosperous jeweler. Clarkson had two brothers who were also major league pitchers: Dad Clarkson and Walter Clarkson. The three Clarkson brothers rank third in wins by brothers behind the Niekro and Perry brothers. Another brother, T. Henry Clarkson, was a golf and billiards player. The Clarkson's also had two maternal cousins, Walter Hackett and Mortimer "Mert" Hackett who played professional baseball.

After attending business school and playing semipro ball, Clarkson signed as a free agent with Worcester of the National League in 1882. Clarkson played his first major league game at age 20 on May 2, 1882. He played in three games for the Ruby Legs, finishing with a 1–2 record in 24 innings. The Worcester team folded after the 1882 season, and Clarkson pitched in the minors the following two years.

His 68 complete games is the seventh highest single season total in MLB history.
His 70 games started is the eighth most in MLB history.
His 632 innings pitched is the eighth most in MLB history.

A 36-win season in 1886

In 1886, Clarkson shared the pitching load with Jim McCormick and Jocko Flynn, each of whom won at least 23 games and pitched over 250 innings. Clarkson had a record of 36–17, with 50 complete games and an ERA of 2.41 (Adjusted ERA+ of 150) in innings pitched. He also led the league with a career-high 313 strikeouts. On August 8, 1886, Clarkson struck out a team-record 16 batters against Kansas City.

The 1886 White Stockings finished with a record of 90–34 with a winning percentage of .726 that ranks as one of the highest in baseball history. After winning the National League pennant by games over the Detroit Wolverines, the White Stockings faced the St. Louis Browns in the World Series for the second consecutive year.

Clarkson pitched four games (three of which were complete games) in the 1886 World Series. He had a record of 2–2 with 28 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.04 in 31 innings pitched.

The sixth game, at St. Louis, was considered one of the greatest games ever played to that time. With the Browns ahead three games to two, Anson called on Clarkson to start his fourth game in six days. Clarkson responded with seven shutout innings, but gave up three runs in the eighth inning, and the game went to extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Browns' center fielder Curt Welch singled (only the fourth hit off Clarkson) and moved to third on a sacrifice. Welch and Browns’ third base coach Arlie Latham tried to distract Clarkson with heckling and faking moves toward home. When Welch finally attempted the steal, Chicago's catcher, King Kelly, had called for a pitchout, but Clarkson threw a wild pitch, and Welch scored the World Series winning run.

Later years in Boston

Clarkson became involved in the players' rebellion in 1890, but then opted to remain with the Beaneaters.

Cleveland Spiders (1892–1893)

On June 30, 1892, after 16 starts and an 8–6 record, Clarkson was released by Boston's new manager, Frank Selee. He was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Spiders. Clarkson went 17–10 for the remainder of the 1892 season, for a season record of 25–16. (The Spiders’ pitching staff included Cy Young, who won 36 games in 1892 and 34 games in 1893.)

In 1893, Clarkson had the first losing record of his career, finishing 16–17 with a career-high ERA of 4.45.

After the 1893 season, Clarkson went on a hunting trip with his close friend Charlie Bennett, who had been his catcher from 1888 to 1890. Bennett got off the train in Wellsville, Kansas and when he tried to reboard, Bennett slipped and fell under the train's wheels. Bennett lost both of his legs in the accident. Clarkson witnessed the incident, and it was said to have severely affected his already unstable nature.

In 1894, his final year in the major leagues, Clarkson went 8–10 in 18 starts for the Spiders. He played his last major league game on July 12, 1894.

Life after baseball

After his baseball career ended, Clarkson moved to Bay City, Michigan and ran a cigar store there until 1906.

In either 1905

Notable Achievements

National League pitching Triple Crown (1889)
National League ERA leader (1889)
National League wins leader (1885, 1887 and 1889)
National League winning percentage leader (1889)
National League innings pitched leader (1885 and 1887–1889)
National League strikeouts leader (1885, 1887 and 1889)
National League complete games leader (1885, 1887 and 1889)
Six 30-win seasons (1885–1889 and 1891)
Two 40-win seasons (1885 and 1889)
53 wins in 1885 is second most in MLB history
Two seasons with 600 innings pitched (1885 and 1889)
Two 300 strikeout seasons (1885 and 1886)