John Clarkson: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American baseball player (1861–1909)}}

|birth_place=[[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], U.S.

|death_place=[[Belmont, Massachusetts]], U.S.

'''John Gibson Clarkson''' (July 1, 1861 – February 4, 1909) was aan 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 (1870–89)|Chicago White Stockings]] (1884–1887), [[Boston Beaneaters]] (1888–1892), and [[Cleveland Spiders]] (1892–1894). Clarkson pitched the first known [[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning|immaculate inning]] in MLB history on June 4, 1889 vs the [[Philadelphia Phillies#Philadelphia Quakers (1883–1889)|Philadelphia Quakers]] in the 3rd inning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKenna |first=Brian |title=John Clarkson |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-clarkson/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Aside from being a great pitcher, Clarkson was also a fair hitter. His 24 career home runs (in the deadball era) ranks 7th on the [[List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers]]. He also had 232 career RBIs and 254 runs scored.

Born in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], Clarkson was one of five sons of a prosperous jeweler.<ref name="bleedcubbieblue.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/story/2007/1/30/91847/7000|title=The Top 100 Cubs Of All Time - #20 John Clarkson|date=January 30, 2007 }}</ref> 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 Worcesters|Worcester]] of the [[National League (baseball)|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.<ref name="bleedcubbieblue.com"/>

Clarkson pitched five great seasons for Boston. He was 33–20 in 1888, starting 54 games and pitching 53 complete games with an ERA of 2.76.

During a game that carried into the dusk hours, Clarkson once pitched a lemon to the plate to persuade the umpire, [[Jack Kerins]] to call the game due to darkness. Kerins called the lemon a strike, and when shown by Boston's catcher that he had called a lemon a strike, Kerins finally called the game.<ref name="bleedcubbieblue.com"/><ref>[httphttps://www.baseballlibrarybaseballbiography.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=John_Clarkson_1861 The Ballplayers –john-clarkson-1861 John Clarkson | BaseballLibraryBaseballbiography.com<!-- bot-generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018205859/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=John_Clarkson_1861 |date=October 18, 2007 }} at www.baseballlibraryBaseballbiography.com</ref>

On June 30, 1892, after 16 starts and an 8–6 record, Clarkson was released by Boston's new manager, [[Frank Selee]], released Clarkson. 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.)

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, Clarkson pitched his final year in the major leagues, playingClarkson hiswent last8–10 gamein on18 Julystarts 12,for 1894,the andSpiders. finishingHe 8–10played inhis 18last startsmajor forleague thegame Spiderson July 12, 1894.

{{succession box | title=[[ListNational ofLeague (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball no-hittersTriple Crown|No-hitterPitching Triple pitcherCrown]] | before= [[SamTim KimberKeefe]] | years= July 27, 18851889 | after= [[Charlie Ferguson (1880s pitcher)|CharlesAmos FergusonRusie]]}}

[[Category:Baseball players from Cambridge, Massachusetts]]

[[Category:Worcester Ruby LegsWorcesters players]]