Charlie Ferguson (1880s pitcher)

For other people of the same name, see Charlie Ferguson.
Charles Ferguson
Pitcher
Born: (1863-04-17)April 17, 1863
Charlottesville, Virginia
Died: April 29, 1888(1888-04-29) (aged 25)
Philadelphia
Batted: Both Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 1884, for the Philadelphia Quakers
Last MLB appearance
October 8, 1887, for the Philadelphia Quakers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 99-64
Earned run average 2.67
Strikeouts 728
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • Threw a no-hitter on August 29, 1885
  • 4 20-win seasons

Charles J. "Charlie" Ferguson (April 17, 1863 – April 29, 1888) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire four-year career for the Philadelphia Quakers (who were later renamed the Phillies). When not pitching, he increasingly played in the outfield and – in his final season – at second base.[1]

Career

Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, he played college baseball and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1883. After graduation, he played for the Virginia representative in the Eastern League, with his team winning the championship.[2] Ferguson made his major league debut with the Quakers in 1884. Philadelphia finished 6th in the National League that season, and Ferguson had a win/loss record of 21-25.[3] That was the only season in which he produced a losing record, and he had his highest earned run average with 3.54.[1]

The next season, his record improved to 26-20, and his ERA dropped to 2.22,[1] while Philadelphia improved in the standings, finishing third in 1885.[4] On August 29, he pitched a no-hitter against the Providence Grays, a 1-0 victory.[5]

He continued his dominance in the 1886 season, winning 30 games and again lowering his ERA, this time to 1.98,[1] good for second in the NL behind Henry Boyle of the St. Louis Maroons.[6] In 1887, he won 22 games and had a 3.00 ERA. That same season, he played 27 games at second base, and had 264 at bats. Along with his 22 victories, he led the team in runs batted in with 85, and his .337 batting average would have led his team as well had his total plate appearances been enough to qualify for the batting title.[7]

Death

Before the 1888 baseball season, he contracted typhoid fever and subsequently died in Philadelphia.[2] He is interred in Maplewood Cemetery in his hometown of Charlottesville.[1] For the 1888 season, the Quakers, Washington Nationals, New York Giants and Boston Beaneaters wore a black crepe on their left sleeves to commemorate Ferguson.[8] In 1931, Wilbert Robinson rated Ferguson as the fifth-best player to that point in baseball history.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Charlie Ferguson's Stats". retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  2. 1 2 "Charlie Ferguson's Obit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 30, 1888. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  3. ↑ "1884 Philadelphia Quakers team page". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  4. ↑ "1885 Philadelphia Quakers team page". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  5. ↑ "List of No-Hitters and Perfect Games". hickoksports.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  6. ↑ "1886 National League leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  7. ↑ "1887 Philadelphia Quakers team page". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  8. ↑ "Dressed To The Nines: Misc. Uniform Markings". exhibits.baseballhalloffame.org. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
  9. ↑ "Ever Hear of Charlie Ferguson?". baseball-fever.com. Retrieved 2008-02-15.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
John Clarkson		 No-hitter pitcher
May 1, 1886 		Succeeded by
Al Atkinson
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