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Albert G. Spalding

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (September 2, 1850-September 9, 1915)
    Born in Byron, Illinois
    Pitcher for the Boston Red Stockings (1871-75) and Chicago White Stockings (1876-78)
    253-65 win-loss record
    2.14 ERA
    .313 batting average
    Manager (1876-77) and owner (1882-1902) of the White Stockings
    Helped draft the constitution of the National League (1876)
    With his brother, founded the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company (1876)
    Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1939)

Why he might be annoying:

    When he published the official National League rules for baseball, he stated only Spalding balls could be used.
    In 'Spalding's Official Baseball Guide,' he wrote that one type of catcher's mask -- which happened to be made by one of his competitors -- was 'liable to disfigure a player for life.'
    After White Stockings shortstop Ned Williamson injured his knee during a world tour organized by Spalding, Spalding fined him $800 for missed games the next season and an additional $500 for his wife's travel expenses during the tour (1899).
    He and his second wife had a son before marrying.
    He ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate (1910).
    He was the main promoter of the myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His .796 career winning percentage is the highest ever for a pitcher.
    He introduced the tradition of spring training when he sent the White Stockings to Hot Springs, Arkansas (1886).
    He was appointed US Olympic Commissioner by President McKinley (1900).
    He wrote 'America's National Game,' the first scholarly history of baseball (1911).
    His company produced the first American-made football, basketball, tennis ball, golf club and golf ball.
    The Baseball Hall of Fame called him the 'organizational genius of baseball's pioneer days.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 82 Votes: 51.22% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying