165 replies to this topic

[BaltBird 24]

Oh how I miss Al Spalding and his 0.44 K/9 and career ERA of 2.14 in 2,890 innings pitched.

[BaltBird 24]

Spalding started 69 games in 1874 and completed 65 of them. I'd love to sit and watch a game with him while throwing back a few cold ones. I'd love to see his reaction to a starting pitcher getting yanked in the 5th inng after signs of being tired at 83 pitches.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Spalding started 69 games in 1874 and completed 65 of them. I'd love to sit and watch a game with him while throwing back a few cold ones. I'd love to see his reaction to a starting pitcher getting yanked in the 5th inng after signs of being tired at 83 pitches.

 

Except he'd probably drop dead from shock the first time he saw a pitch faster than 80 MPH.  Or a slider.

[BaltBird 24]

Except he'd probably drop dead from shock the first time he saw a pitch faster than 80 MPH. Or a slider.

Spalding probably had a 134 MPH splitter.

[russsnyder]

Spalding started 69 games in 1874 and completed 65 of them. I'd love to sit and watch a game with him while throwing back a few cold ones. I'd love to see his reaction to a starting pitcher getting yanked in the 5th inng after signs of being tired at 83 pitches.

I'd love to see his reaction to 21st Century society. He probably wouldn't make it to the ballpark after he discovered porn on the internet!

[jamesdean]

Spalding started 69 games in 1874 and completed 65 of them. I'd love to sit and watch a game with him while throwing back a few cold ones. I'd love to see his reaction to a starting pitcher getting yanked in the 5th inng after signs of being tired at 83 pitches.

You don't have to go back too far in the past when a starter was expected to go 9 innings. To be honest, I used to think these guys were just wimps but as hard as they're throwing today and the excessive wear and tear on their arms, they'd never last more than a few years trying to complete games.