Jim Tyng

Jim Tyng
Pitcher
Born: (1856-05-27)May 27, 1856 Philadelphia
Died: October 30, 1931(1931-10-30) (aged 75) New York City
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 23, 1879, for the Boston Red Caps
Last MLB appearance
June 13, 1888, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1-2
Earned run average	4.94
Batting average	.333
Teams
Boston Red Caps (1879) Philadelphia Phillies (1888)

James Alexander Tyng (May 27, 1856 – October 30, 1931) is known as the first baseball player to wear a catcher's mask while playing for Harvard College in 1877. The team manager, Fred Thayer, received a patent for the mask in 1878.

Early life

Tyng was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 27, 1856.

Baseball career

In 1879, Tyng became the first Harvard player selected to play in the majors, when he was picked up by Harry Wright and the Boston Red Caps as an emergency pitcher. Tyng defeated the first-place Providence Grays to draw the Red Caps within two games of the Grays. It was the only victory in his major league career. Tyng continued to pitch as an amateur for the Staten Island Athletic Club and repeatedly turned down offers to play in the major leagues. Later, in 1888, he pitched in one game for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tyng, back row second from right, with his Harvard teammates in 1877. Golf course architect Herbert Leeds stands back row far left.

Amateur golf career

Tyng was also an accomplished amateur golfer. He played in the 1897 U.S. Open held at the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois. He shot rounds of 86-91=177 finishing near the middle of the field. He managed to beat several professionals, chief among them Bert Way and Robert White.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
• Baseball Almanac – Harvard University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues
• Baseball Almanac – Jim Tyng page
• Harvard Magazine: Home-plate Security, article by Stephen Eschenbach, July–August, 2004