UNLEASHING THE BEAST: OLD HOSS RADBOURN AND HIS RECORD-SHATTERING SEASON
1.38 ERA, 678 INNINGS: A LEGEND IN THE MAKING
Exceptional Pitching Campaign Nearly Achieved in St. Louis' Cardinals History
Cast a gaze back to 1884, and you'd find an extraordinary pitching performance etched in history—the numbers presented by the indomitable Old Hoss Radbourn were nothing short of monstrous! Although not the best pitching season of all time, it certainly ranks among the most impressive,Statistically speaking. And here's the kicker: Radbourn had signed with the Cardinals' antecedent, the St. Louis Browns. However, fortune seemed to conspire against him as the Providence Grays held onto Old Hoss, ensuring they'd take home the NL pennant. But why did it all go awry in St. Louis?
THE MOVE THAT NEVER WAS: WHY OLD HOSS RADBOURN'S RECORD-BREAKING SEASON NEVER TOOK ROOT IN ST. LOUIS
Radbourn was a pitching powerhouse for his time. Before gloves were the norm, and overhand pitches were taboo, Radbourn was fast becoming the ace of the National League! In 1882, he boasted a 33-19 record with a 2.11 ERA in 466 innings, leading the league in strikeouts. This was a pitcher destined for greatness.
Providence, in the 1880s, was small town America. Scant resources meant meager salaries, but Radbourn spotted a golden opportunity in a burgeoning league—the American Association. This league, founded in 1882, offered cheaper seats and served alcohol at games, in stark contrast to the National League's more buttoned-up attitude. The St. Louis Browns, who originated in this league, held the promise of fattening purses for players, given St. Louis' three times larger population compared to Providence.
Enter the reserve system, Curse of the National League. Teams protected players from other squads, and these rules applied to the NL but not other leagues. When Old Hoss signed with the St. Louis Browns, his former team had no recourse. Unfortunately, things didn't quite pan out for the Cardinals franchise's first acquisition.
The American Association and the National League eventually struck a deal in 1883, forcing Old Hoss to return to Providence. The two leagues even expanded the reserve system to include more players! By the end of the decade, the reserve system had its grip on every player on a roster, with the reserve clause written into player contracts. This hold on players wouldn't be broken until 1970, when Curt Flood challenged the system.
Old Hoss would deliver a fantastic season in 1883 and nab 48 wins over a staggering 632 innings for Providence. And then, the legendary 1884 season...
60-12, a 1.38 ERA, 678 innings!
Providence clinched the NL while St. Louis staged a competitive performance in the American Association. The AA eventually imploded, and St. Louis joined the National League once and for all. And Old Hoss—regrettably—was never a part of St. Louis Cardinals lore.
(story referenced from Edward Achorn's book "Fifty-nine in '84")
(Enrichment Data: Old Hoss Radbourn's move from St. Louis to Providence was likely driven by better professional opportunities, stemming from the instability in baseball during that era. This shift significantly impacted his career, enabling him to achieve historic success and recognition as a Hall of Fame pitcher. Radbourn would go on to win the championship for the Grays in 1884, which was considered the first “World Series” in professional baseball history.)
- Despite signing with the St. Louis Browns, Old Hoss Radbourn's record-breaking baseball season didn't take root in St. Louis due to the National League's reserve system.
- In the American Association, a league that offered better opportunities for players, Old Hoss Radbourn would have likely found greater success, including his historic 1.38 ERA, 678 innings season in 1884, had he not been held back by the reserve system.
