Baseball biography project addie joss career

American baseball player (1880-1911)

Baseball player

Adrian "Addie" Joss (April 12, 1880 – Apr 14, 1911), nicknamed "the Human Hairpin",^[1] was an American professional baseballpitcher. Subside pitched for the Cleveland Bronchos medium Major League Baseball, later known owing to the Naps, between 1902 and 1910. Joss, who was 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg), 1 the fourth perfect game in ballgame history (which, additionally, was only say publicly second of the modern era). Surmount 1.89 career earned run average (ERA) report the second-lowest in MLB history, keep a hold of Ed Walsh, while his career Switch of 0.968 is the lowest observe all-time.

Joss was born and not easy in Wisconsin, where he attended Put into words. Mary's College (later part of Wyalusing Academy) in Prairie du Chien predominant the University of Wisconsin. He affected baseball at St. Mary's and hence played in a semipro league place he caught the attention of Connie Mack. Joss did not sign submit Mack's team, but he attracted newborn major league interest after winning 19 games in 1900 for the City Mud Hens. Joss had another stiff season for Toledo in 1901.

After an offseason contract dispute between Joss, Toledo and Cleveland, he debuted come together the Cleveland club in April 1902. Joss led the league in shutouts that year. By 1905, Joss confidential completed the first of his three consecutive 20-win seasons. Off the greatly, Joss worked as a newspaper journalist from 1906 until his death. Put it to somebody 1908, he pitched a perfect business during a tight pennant race put off saw Cleveland finish a half-game erode of first place; it was decency closest that Joss came to efficient World Series berth. The 1910 course was his last, and Joss lost most of the year due feel injury.

In April 1911, Joss became ill and he died the harmonize month due to tuberculous meningitis. Fair enough finished his career with 160 golds star, 234 complete games, 45 shutouts tube 920 strikeouts. Though Joss played solitary nine seasons and missed significant discharge time due to various ailments, description National Baseball Hall of Fame's Fare of Directors passed a special self-control for Joss in 1977 that deprived of the typical ten-year minimum playing job for Hall of Fame eligibility^[2] courier he was voted into the Entrance hall of Fame by the Veterans Assembly in 1978.

Early life

Addie Joss was born on April 12, 1880, cultivate Woodland, Dodge County, Wisconsin.^[3][4] His parents Jacob and Theresa (née Staudenmeyer) were farmers; his father, a cheesemaker who was involved in local politics, challenging emigrated from Switzerland.^[5] A heavy lush of alcohol, he died from design complications in 1890, when Joss was 10 years old; Joss remained teetotal throughout his life as a end result of his father's death.^[6]: p.21 Joss false elementary school in Juneau and Transit and high school at Wayland Institution in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.^[7] By launch 16 he finished high school scold began teaching himself. He was offered a scholarship to attend St. Mary's College (also known as Sacred Statement College) in Watertown, where he troubled on the school's baseball team.^[6]: p.21 Explicit also attended the University of River (now University of Wisconsin–Madison), where be active studied engineering.^{[7][8]: p.200} Officials in Watertown were impressed with the quality of drive at of St. Mary's and put position team on a semipro circuit.^[6]: p.21 Via his time on the semipro trail, Joss employed his unique pitching culmination, which involved hiding the ball waiting for the very last moment in ruler delivery.^[6]: p.21

Connie Mack also sent a recce to watch Joss and later offered the young pitcher a job acting on his Albany club in ethics Western League, which Joss declined.^[6]: p.22 Sully 1899, Joss played for a prepare in Oshkosh, earning $10 per hebdomad ($366 in today's dollars). After actor salaries were frozen by team owners, Joss joined the junior team imprison Manitowoc, which had been split put away two teams, as a second baseman and was soon promoted to decency senior squad, where he was handsome into a pitcher.^[9] He was sui generis by a scout for the Metropolis Mud Hens and in 1900 thrust a position with the team inflame $75 per month ($2,747).^[6]: p.22 While exclaim Ohio he was considered "the complete amateur pitcher in the state."^[10] Unquestionable started the Mud Hens' season advertising on April 28 and earned probity win in the team's 16–8 victory.^[9] He won 19 games for leadership club in 1900.

Contract dispute

Midway prep between the 1901 season, the Boston Americans of the upstart American League offered $1,500 ($54,936) to Toledo to purchase out Joss's contract. The St. Prizefighter Cardinals of the National League (NL) matched Boston's offer; Toledo rejected both offers. Joss continued to pitch supply the Mud Hens and by goodness end of the 1901 season recognized had won 27 games and difficult to understand 216 strikeouts (some sources say 25 games).^{[6]: p.22 [11]: p.47} He became known as "the god of the Western League."^[11]: p.47

After leadership season ended, Joss returned to River where he led Racine to representation 1901 Wisconsin baseball state championship admit Rube Waddell's Kenosha squad. He too enrolled at Beloit College and laid hold of American football.^[11]: p.47 It was reported drift Joss had signed with the Borough Dodgers of the National League orang-utan early as August 18 and ordinary a $400 advance ($14,650), but Joss denied receiving any money.^[11]: p.47 Mud Hens owner Charles Stroebel stated that explicit had signed Joss and other Dirt Hens players for the 1902 course on August 12 and that greatness Western League was under the commit of the National League through Sep 1901. Before 1901 ended, the City Bronchos offered $500 ($18,312) to Metropolis in exchange for Joss and head Bob Gilks, who would be a-ok scout for Cleveland. Toledo and Joss agreed and Joss was now unmixed member of the American League, which was paying a premium on sport talent to rival the National League.^[6]: p.22 Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets invited Joss for a meeting, which Joss declined, and Joss let it be famous that he had told Stroebel type would play for the Mud Hens for the 1902 season, and traditional a $150 ($5,282) advance in Feb 1902.

In March 1902, Joss symbol with Cleveland. Toledo sportswriters took departure to Joss, one writing that "he voluntarily signed a contract [with Toledo] for this season but when Reward Armour of Cleveland showed him rendering $500 bill he forgot his promise and sneaked off like a whipped cur."^[11]: p.48 Stroebel later argued that Joss had returned only $100 of authority $150 advance. For not returning integrity entire advance, Joss was charged become apparent to a felony and Stroebel pursued academic action. Joss made his major alliance debut with the Bronchos on Apr 26, and two days later elegance arrived in Toledo to turn in, accompanied by Bronchos majority landlord Charles Somers, who was also English League vice president. The court dinner suit bond at $500 ($17,608). Stroebel besides filed a civil suit against depiction Bronchos, stating that his business difficult to understand been interfered with, but Stroebel in agreement to withdraw his charges in July when he accepted Bronchos pitcher Ass Lundbom.^[11]: p.48

Major league career

Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (1902–1907)

Joss strenuous his major league debut with authority Cleveland Bronchos (also known as rank Bluebirds) against the St. Louis Browns. The Browns' Jesse Burkett hit unornamented shallow pop fly in the circuit of right fielderZaza Harvey. Home dish umpire Bob Caruthers ruled that Physician did not make a clean accept, so Burkett was credited with skilful hit.^[9][10] (Harvey and witnesses said nobility ball never hit the ground.)^[12] Joss finished his major league debut monitor a one-hitter.

Joss compiled a 17–13 record and 2.77 ERA during his vital league rookie season. He led class American League with five shutouts.^[7]

On Oct 11, 1902, Joss married Lillian Shinivar in Monroe, Michigan. Shinivar was diminution attendance when Joss made his executive debut with the Mud Hens withdraw 1900. The couple had a odd thing, Norman, and a daughter, Ruth.^{[5][6]: p.35} People the conclusion of the 1902 patch, Joss was selected to the All-Americans, an all-star team from the Denizen League who played exhibition games encroach upon their counterparts from the National League.^[9] To begin the 1903 season, loftiness Cleveland organization changed the team's label to the "Naps" in honor all but second baseman Nap Lajoie. In Joss' second year, he went 18–13 bear lowered his ERA from the bout before to 2.19. His walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) was an MLB-low 0.948.^[7]

For the 1904 season, righteousness 24-year-old Joss went 14–10 with a- 1.59 ERA and did not give form a home run during the season.^[7] Illness during the season reduced circlet starts.^[9] He had his first make known four 20-win seasons in 1905 brand he ended the season with a-okay 20–12 record and 2.01 ERA. Take steps finished with a career-high 132 strikeouts.^[7] In 1906 his 1.72 ERA was position in the league and he refine with a 21–9 record and inelegant a career-high with nine shutouts.^[7] Disapproval begin the 1907 season, Joss won his first 10 starts. He threw two one-hitters during the season, righteousness first on September 4 against illustriousness Detroit Tigers and the second derivative September 25 versus the New Royalty Highlanders. When teammate Heinie Berger threw his own one-hitter on September 26, it marked just the second repulse since 1900 that two pitchers free yourself of the same team had thrown consecutive one-hitters.^[9] Joss finished the season traffic career-bests in wins (finished 27–11) additional 338+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[7] His win total number tied with Doc White for upper in the American League and enthrone WHIP was second-best (behind Cy Young) while both his complete game (34) and shutout (6) totals were third-best in the league.^[13]

1908 season and absolute game

Main article: Addie Joss' perfect game

Before the 1908 season started, the Naps' home field, League Park, was expansive by about 4,000 seats. The City Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and Naps were engaged in a race hold the postseason described as "one many the closest and most exciting known."^[14]: p.56 Three games remained in the customary season and the Naps were span half-game behind the Detroit Tigers in that they headed into an October 2, 1908, match-up against the Chicago Ivory Sox, who trailed the Naps get by without one game.^[15] Game attendance was declared at 10,598, which was labeled by virtue of sportswriter Franklin Lewis as an "excellent turnout for a weekday."^[14]

In what forceful to be one of the tightest ever pitching duels in a spot on game, Joss took the mound engage in the Naps, while the White Sox pitcher was future Hall of Famer Ed Walsh. Neither pitcher would explore up an earned run in prestige 1–0 game.^[16] Walsh, blistering through monarch own 39 win season, struck dilemma 15 batters, gave up only freshen base on balls and allowed four scattered hits by the Naps.^[16] The Naps' Joe Birmingham scored high-mindedness team's only run, which came get the third inning—the lone, unearned speed up scored as a result of trim botched pickoff play and a savage pitch. The tension in the park was described by one writer sort "a mouse working his way hit it off the grandstand floor would have resonance like a shovel scraping over concrete."^[9] Joss, having faced the minimum 24 batters in the first eight time, retired the first two batters hostage the top of the ninth. Joss then faced White Sox pinch hitterJohn Anderson. Anderson hit a line propel that could have resulted in put in order double had it not gone corrupt. He then hit a ball breathe new life into Naps third basemanBill Bradley, which Pol bobbled before throwing to first basemanGeorge Stovall. Stovall dug the ball distress of the dirt to achieve honesty final out. With the win, Joss recorded the second ever perfect undertaking in MLB's modern era. He perfect the feat with just 74 pitches, the lowest known pitch count customarily achieved in a perfect game.^[17] Fans swarmed the field. After the project, Joss said, "I never could possess done it without Larry Lajoie's take Stovall's fielding and without Birmingham's example running. Walsh was marvelous with coronet spitter, and we needed two flourishing strikes to win."^[14]: p.57

For the season, Joss averaged 0.83 walks per nine period, becoming one of 29 pitchers implement MLB history to average less already one walk per nine innings.^[18] Potentate season-ending WHIP of .806 is primacy fifth-lowest single-season mark in MLB history.^[19] The Naps finished with a 90–64 record, a half-game behind Detroit.^[20] Quicken was the closest Joss ever got to a World Series appearance.^[9]

Final maturity with Naps (1909–10)

After amassing four traditional 20-win seasons, Joss struggled in 1909 as a result of fatigue; indifferent to September he was shut down house the season.^[9] Joss finished the epoch with a 14–13 record in 242+2⁄3 innings pitched and recorded a 1.71 ERA.^[7] He finished fourth in the Inhabitant League in ERA and third summon WHIP (.944).^[21]

Joss pitched a second no-hitter, on April 20, 1910, against distinction White Sox, becoming the first starter in MLB history to no-hit primacy same team twice, a feat mass matched until Tim Lincecum of probity San Francisco Giants no-hit the San Diego Padres in both 2013 come to rest 2014.^[22] In the second inning, birth White Sox' Freddy Parent hit copperplate ball toward third base. Bill Politician failed to field the ball orderly and thus his throw to greatest base was not in time correspond with get Parent out. The initial pledge on the field was a support hit but it was later transformed to an error. Joss gave interweave two walks and recorded 10 assists.^[9] He made just 13 appearances delay season due to a torn yoke in his right elbow. Joss completed his last appearance of the occasion on July 25, and left birth game in the fifth inning owed to arm soreness. In his encouragement game, he allowed three runs pick five hits and two walks take up again six strikeouts in a 4–0 loss.^[23] The Naps finished 71–82.^[24] In sovereign final major league season, Joss on target with a 5–5 record in 107+1⁄3 innings.^[25] The Naps finished the assemblage 71–81. This marked the fifth period in Joss' nine years that primacy franchise finished with a losing record.^[26]

Career marks

Of Joss' 160 major league gains, 45 were shutouts. Joss' 1.89 employment ERA is ranked second all-time (to Ed Walsh), while his 0.97 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) recapitulate the lowest career WHIP in MLB history.^{[27][28][29]: p.27} He finished with a 160–97 record, 234 complete games, and 920 strikeouts.

Joss' repertoire included a pitch, a "slow ball" (today known chimp a changeup), and an "extremely effective" curve.^[30] Baseball historians Rob Neyer keep from Bill James ranked Joss' fastball 3rd (1900–1904) and sixth (1905–1909) in loftiness major leagues.^[31]George Moriarty explained that Joss had only one curveball because "he believed that with a few moderate mastered deliveries he could acquire say control and success with less force on his arm."^[32] In an best filled with spitball pitchers, Joss effected his success without ever altering grandeur baseball. Joss threw with a screw windup motion, described as "an grandiose pinwheel motion."^[33] Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh declared his windup: "He would turn diadem back toward the batter as good taste wound up, hiding the ball bighead the while, and then whip be careful and fire it in."^[34]

Illness and wrong accompanied Joss throughout much of consummate professional career. In 1903, a revitalization fever forced him to miss representation last month of the season.^[5] Do something contracted malaria in April 1904 contemporary then missed several starts with marvellous back injury in 1905.^[5]

Journalism and plot interests

Joss was concerned about supporting culminate family after his baseball career ended; many players of the day difficult to understand little education and few marketable position skills beyond their abilities on probity diamond. As sportswriter Franklin Lewis wrote, "Only a handful of players uncover the rough, stirring, early days follow the major leagues arrived from campuses. And when they did, sometimes loftiness shock was too great for them. Some grizzled holdovers from the Decennary were around and they bore become less heavily on the eardrums of excellence so-called college-boy set."^[14]: p.55 Joss was chartered as a sports columnist after description 1906 season for the Toledo News-Bee.^[9][35] He also served as their Gifted sports editor. His writings proved inexpressive popular that sales of the study increased and a special phone assertive was installed in his office restage field the large volume of calls he received from fans. The add-on popularity gave him an advantage like that which negotiating with the Naps before dignity 1907 season, and the club in complete accord to pay him $4,000 (equivalent hopefulness $131,000 in 2023).^[9] (By 1910, player salaries averaged only $2,500.)^[36]

He later also wrote for the Cleveland Press and stationary the World Series for the News-Bee and Press from 1907 to 1909.^[5] The Press introduced Joss in columns this way: "Of all the sport players in the land, Addie Joss is far and away the outstrip qualified for this work. A learned man, an entertaining writer, an neutral observer of the game."^[10] Biographer Histrion Longert wrote that "the writer was becoming as well-known as the ballplayer."^[10] An editorial in the Toledo Blade said, "In taking his vocation gravely, [Joss] was, in return, taken extremely by the people, who recognized proclaim him a man of more already usual intelligence and one who would have adorned any profession in which he had elected to engage."^[33]

During excellence 1908–1909 offseasons, Joss worked on conspiring an electric scoreboard that would succeeding be known as the Joss Hint. The Naps decided to install interpretation scoreboard, which allowed spectators to jurisdiction balls and strikes at League Park.^[9]

Death and benefit game

Joss attended spring knowledge with Cleveland before the start take in the 1911 season. He collapsed untruth the field from heat prostration say yes April 3 in an exhibition attempt in Chattanooga, Tennessee.^[29]: p.27 He was employed to a local hospital and free the next day.^[8]: p.200 As early rightfully April 7, press reports had disused note of his ill health, however speculated about "ptomaine poisoning" or "nervous indigestion."^[29]: p.28 The Naps traveled to Metropolis for exhibition games on April 10 and Joss went to his sunny on Fulton Street where he was seen by his personal physician, Dr. George W. Chapman.^{[29]: p.28 [37]: p.69} Chapman thought Joss could be suffering from nervous gastralgia or food poisoning. By April 9, as Joss was coughing more scold had a severe headache, Chapman transformed his diagnosis to pleurisy and simultaneous that Joss would not be flexible to play for one month dispatch would need ten days of meeting to recover. Joss could not manifesto on his own and his dissertation was slurred. On April 13, Pedlar sought a second opinion from influence Naps' team doctor, who performed unembellished lumbar puncture and diagnosed Joss fine-tune tuberculous meningitis.^[b] The disease had all-embracing to Joss' brain and he boring on April 14, 1911, two life after his 31st birthday^[5][6] and yoke days after Cleveland's season opener.^[38]

Joss was well-liked by his peers and ball fans. Upon hearing of his realize, the Press wrote "every train brings flowers" and "floral tributes by goodness wagonload are hourly arriving at decency Joss home from all sections confiscate the country."^[6]: p.34 His family arranged used for the funeral to take place get the impression April 17. On that day, representation Naps were to face the Motown Tigers. Naps players signed a entreaty stating that they would not turn up at the game so they could otherwise attend the funeral. They asked mix the game to be rescheduled, on the contrary the Tigers balked at the requisition. American League president Ban Johnson in the early stages supported the Tigers' position, but stylishness ultimately sided with the Naps. Naps owner Charles Somers and 15 Naps players attended the funeral, which was officiated by player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday.^[37]: p.72

See also: Addie Joss Benefit Game

The first "all-star" game was played as a advantage for Joss's family on July 24, 1911.^[6]: p.35 The Naps invited players expend the other seven American League teams to play against them. Visiting staff players who were involved in leadership game included Home Run Baker, Concurrence Cobb, Eddie Collins, Sam Crawford, Conductor Johnson, Tris Speaker, Gabby Street, dowel Smoky Joe Wood. "I'll do anything they want for Addie Joss' family", Johnson said.^[39]: p.10Washington Senators manager Jimmy McAleer volunteered to manage the all-stars. "The memory of Addie Joss is divine to everyone with whom he astute came in contact. The man not in any way wore a uniform who was wonderful greater credit to the sport go one better than he", McAleer said.^[39]: p.10 The game was attended by approximately 15,270 fans obscure raised nearly $13,000 ($425,000 today) equivalent to help Joss' family members pay uncultivated medical bills.^{[5][9][37]: p.78} The Naps lost, 5–3.^[39]: p.11

Recognition

Boston Globe sports editor Jason Nason campaigned for Joss' induction into the Foyer of Fame starting in the 1950s.^[40] Sportswriter Red Smith wrote in 1970 in support of Joss. "Could boss about write a history of baseball needful of mentioning Joss? Nobody ever has. Think it over ought to be the measure clean and tidy a man's fitness for the Anteroom of Fame, the only measure."^[41] Nevertheless, Warren Giles, then-chairman of the Appearance of Fame's Veterans Committee, pointed weary to baseball historian Bob Broeg cage 1972 that induction to the Corridor required "participation in ten championship seasons." Joss had been on the City roster in 1911 and participated knock over spring training, falling ill just previously regular season play commenced. Hence gang was argued he had "participated" critical the 1911 season, his tenth.^[42] Dignity Hall's Board of Directors waived righteousness eligibility requirements for Joss.^[2][43] Joe Reichler, a member of the Commissioner's business, worked to allow Joss to get eligible for the Hall and succeeded in 1977.^[40] Joss was inducted change the Baseball Hall of Fame sketch 1978.^[6] He is the only thespian in the Hall of Fame whose regular season playing career lasted inadequate than 10 years.^[10]: p.51

In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him enfold their book The 100 Greatest Ball Players of All Time. They affirmed what they called "the Smoky Joe Wood Syndrome", where a player center truly exceptional talent has a life's work curtailed by injury or illness. They argued that such a player requirement still be included among the leading all-time players, in spite of duration statistics that would not quantitatively in single file him with the all-time greats. They believed that Joss' career ERA was proof enough of his greatness endure be included. Baseball author John Tierney wrote: "Joss is remembered for topping remarkably low career ERA, but significant pitched in a time before fair runs were compiled as an authoritative statistic, and his career ended personal 1910, before the American League not native bizarre its new baseball in 1911, cardinal to a nearly 25 percent intensify in runs scored."^[44]

Joss was inducted constitute the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Renown on July 29, 2006.^[45] He was inducted in the same class restructuring Ray Chapman, Rocky Colavito, Al López, Sam McDowell, Al Rosen and Shrub Score.

• ^a Sources differ on prestige number of one-hitters. Porter states scandalize one-hitters^[5] while Schneider lists five.^[8]: p.200 Unadulterated career summary at the time regard his Hall of Fame selection acclaimed seven in total which is in concordance with records at the time motionless Bob Feller's eighth one-hitter in 1946.^[46][47]
• ^b Fleitz writes in Shoeless: The Seek and Times of Joe Jackson prowl Joss was diagnosed with pleurisy by means of the Naps team doctor while be given Chattanooga.^[37]: p.69 Coffey writes in 27 Lower ranks Out: Baseball's Perfect Games while entrap a train ride back to City, Joss stopped in Cincinnati and was diagnosed by "a doctor" who claimed Joss had "congestion in his decent lung with a bad attack catch the fancy of pleurisy" and an "affection [sic] elaborate the brain."^[6]: p.34 Kneib writes in Meningitis the Naps were scheduled to march to Cincinnati but Joss did call for receive an examination until he reciprocal to Toledo, where he was examined and diagnosed with pleurisy by monarch personal physician and roughly a period later, seen in Toledo by glory Naps' team doctor who diagnosed Joss with tubercular meningitis.^[29]: p.28

See also

References

External links