gold star for USAHOF
 

27. John Clarkson

Mar 25, 2020
Published in Top 50 Chicago Cubs
27. John Clarkson
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.
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14. John Clarkson

Jun 27, 2019
Published in Top 50 Atlanta Braves
14. John Clarkson

Prior to his arrival in Boston, John Clarkson was considered one of the best Pitchers in the National League.  With the Chicago White Stockings (which would later be named the Chicago Cubs), he finished first in Wins twice (1885 & 1887) and was considered an elite Pitcher.  The Boston Beaneaters sure thought so, and they purchased him from Chicago for $10,000, which was a fortune in 1888!  This proved to be a decent choice, and Clarkson had a good 1888 with a 33 Win season (2nd overall), but exploded the following season with what has to be considered one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

In 1889, John Clarkson finished first in Wins (49), Earned Run Average (2.73), Games Pitched (73), Innings Pitched (620), Strikeouts (284), WHIP (1.277) and bWAR for Pitchers (16.7).  That 16.7 is the fifth-highest EVER by Pitchers in any season.  Clarkson would have won an award for a Pitcher had there been one in existence back then.  He would have two more good seasons for Boston before he was surprisingly released midway through the 1892 season.

His overall resume with the Beaneaters included a 149-82 record and a 2.82 ERA.

Clarkson would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963 by the Veterans Committee.

 

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