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23. John Clarkson

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23. John Clarkson
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 1, 1861 in Cambridge, MA USA
  • Weight: 155 lbs.
  • Height: 5'10"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: May 02, 1882
  • Final Game: July 12, 1894
  • Pitching Triple Crown - 1889
 
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Cap Anson was the player/manager for the Chicago White Stockings, and he saw future greatness in John Clarkson, who was playing for Saginaw in the Northwest League, and he would urge Chicago ownership to purchase his contract.  Clarkson won 10 games for the team in what was left of the season, and he would become the elite Pitcher of the National League in 1885 leading the league in Wins (53), Innings Pitched (623.0), bWAR (12.9) and posting an ERA of 1.85.  He would go 36 and 17 in 1886, and in 1887 his 38 Wins would again lead the NL as did his 14.9 bWAR.  While he was clearly a dominating Pitcher, he was known to need constant coddling and was high maintenance.  He was sold to the Boston Beanneaters for the then grandiose sum of $10,000, where he continued to be one of the best Pitchers in the game.

Clarkson would be chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 by the Veteran’s Committee and to the Cubs Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Purchased from Saginaw (Northwest) 8/24/84.
  • Departed: Sold to the Boston Beaneaters for $10,000 4/3/88.
  • Games Played: 199
  • Notable Statistics: 137 Wins
    57 Losses
    2.39 ERA
    197 Games Started
    186 Complete Games
    15 Shutouts
    2 Games Finished
    1,730.2 Innings Pitched
    960 Strikeouts
    3.03 FIP
    1.053 WHIP 
    3.20 SO/BB
    36.5 bWAR

    6 Playoff Games
    2 Wins
    3 Losses
    1.44 ERA
    6 Games Started
    5 Complete Games
    1 Shutout
    45 Innings Pitched
    43 Strikeouts
    1.11 WHIP
    3.31 SO/BB
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Highest bWAR for Pitchers (1885 & 1887)
    Most Wins (1885 & 1887)
    Highest SO/9 (1884)
    Most Games Pitched (1885 & 1887)
    Most Innings Pitched (1885 & 1887)
    Most Strikeouts (1885 & 1887)
    Most Games Started (1885 & 1887)
    Most Complete Games (1885 & 1887)
    Most Shutouts (1885)
    Highest SO/BB (1886)
    Lowest FIP (1887)
    Most Putouts by a Pitcher (1887)
    Most Assists by a Pitcher (1885, 1886 & 1887)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Pitcher (1884)
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