List of Providence Grays Opening Day starting pitchers

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Monte Ward was the Providence Grays Opening Day starting pitcher four times. John M. Ward baseballcard.jpg
Monte Ward was the Providence Grays Opening Day starting pitcher four times.

The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team that was based in Providence, Rhode Island and played in the National League from 1878 through 1885. [1] The Grays used four Opening Day starting pitchers in their eight years as a Major League Baseball franchise. The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starter is an honor that is often given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season, [2] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. [3] The Grays had a record of five wins and three losses in their Opening Day games.

Contents

The first game in Providence Grays history was played on May 1, 1878 against the Boston Red Caps (now known as the Atlanta Braves). [4] Fred Corey was the Opening Day starting pitcher in that game, which the Grays lost by a score of 1–0. [4] The Grays' last Opening Day game was played on May 2, 1885 against the Philadelphia Phillies. [5] Charles Radbourn was the Grays' Opening Day starting pitcher in that game, which the Grays won by a score of 8–2. [5]

Four pitchers made Opening Day starts for the Grays. Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Ward made four Opening Day starts in the Grays' eight seasons. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Radbourne, also a Baseball Hall of Famer, made two Opening Day starts for the Grays. [11] [5] [12] Thus, in six of the Grays' eight seasons (75%), the Grays' Opening Day starting pitcher was a Baseball Hall of Famer. Corey and Charlie Sweeney each made one Opening Day start for the Grays. [4] [13]

In their history, the Grays won two National League championships, in 1879 and in 1884. [1] In 1884, the Grays went on to win the 19th century version of the World Series. [14] In both years, the Grays' Opening Day opponent was the Cleveland Blues. [6] [13] In 1879, Ward was the Grays' Opening Day starting pitcher, in a game the Grays won by a score of 15–4. [6] In 1884, Radbourn – who was the Grays' Opening Day starting pitcher in both 1883 and 1885 – started 73 of the Grays 114 games. [12] [14] However, the Grays Opening Day starting pitcher in 1884 was Sweeney, not Radbourn. [13] The Grays lost their Opening Day game that year by a score of 2–1. [13]

Key

SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Grays season.
WWin
LLoss
TTie game
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Grays won game
ND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Grays lost game
(W)Grays won game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
(L)Grays lost game; no information on starting pitcher's decision
Final scoreGame score with Grays runs listed first
LocationStadium in italics for home game
(#)Number of appearances as Opening Day starter with the Grays
**Grays were National League Champions
†Grays were World Series Champions

Pitchers

Charles Radbourn, shown with the Boston Beaneaters, was the Grays Opening Day starting pitcher twice. Radbourne charles 1.jpg
Charles Radbourn, shown with the Boston Beaneaters, was the Grays Opening Day starting pitcher twice.
SeasonPitcherDecisionFinal
Score		OpponentLocation (Stadium)References
1878 Fred Corey (L)0–1 Boston Red Caps Messer Street Grounds [4]
1879** Monte Ward (W)15–4 Cleveland Blues National League Park [6]
1880 Monte Ward (2)(W)8–0 Boston Red Caps Messer Street Grounds [7]
1881 Monte Ward (3)(L)2–4 Boston Red Caps Messer Street Grounds [8]
1882 Monte Ward (4)(W)9–3 Troy Trojans Messer Street Grounds [9]
1883 Charles Radbourn (W)4–3 Philadelphia Phillies Recreation Park [11]
1884† Charlie Sweeney (L)1–2 Cleveland Blues Messer Street Grounds [13]
1885 Charles Radbourn (2)(W)8–2 Philadelphia Phillies Recreation Park [5]

Related Research Articles

Charles Radbourn American baseball player (1854–1897)

Charles Gardner Radbourn, nicknamed "Old Hoss", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for Buffalo (1880), Providence (1881–1885), Boston (1886–1889), Boston (1890), and Cincinnati (1891).

The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from 1878 until 1885. The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in 1879 and 1884. Following the 1884 season, they won the first World Series over the New York Metropolitans of the American Association. The team folded after the 1885 season.

Charlie Sweeney American baseball player

Charles Joseph Sweeney was an American Major League Baseball pitcher from 1883 through 1887. He played for the Providence Grays, St. Louis Maroons, and Cleveland Blues, and is best known for his performance in 1884, when he won 41 games.

Cyclone Miller American baseball player

Joseph H. "Cyclone" Miller was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He played just two seasons in the majors, but did play with four teams in three leagues. He stood at 5'9".

Hardie Henderson American baseball player

James Harding "Hardie" Henderson was an American Major League Baseball pitcher from 1883 to 1888. He played for the Philadelphia Quakers, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Grays, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys, and he had a win–loss record of 81–121.

The Providence Grays went 84–28 during the 1884 season to win the National League championship. The team started out with two main pitchers, Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn and Charlie Sweeney. After Sweeney jumped to the Union Association in mid-season, Radbourn pitched most of the Grays' remaining games and led the team to the pennant. Radbourn won 60 games by himself, setting a Major League Baseball record that has never been broken.

Arthur Charles Hagan was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for two seasons; Philadelphia Quakers of the National League in 1883, and with the Buffalo Bisons in both 1883 and 1884.

Providence Grays all-time roster List of baseball players

The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball franchise based in Providence, Rhode Island from 1878 to 1885. During the team's eight seasons in the National League (NL), which then comprised eight teams, they finished third place or higher in the final standings seven times, and won the league championship in both 1879 and 1884. Providence played their home games at the Messer Street Grounds, which was located in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. The Grays were officially organized on January 16, 1878 by Benjamin Douglas, who became the team's general manager. Henry Root was hired as the team president‚ and Tom Carey was initially hired to be the on-field captain, whose duties were similar to the modern-day manager. On January 21, 1878, Providence applied for membership in the NL, and was officially approved on February 6. On April 10, Root took over ownership of the team, fired Douglas for incompetence and insubordination, and hired Tom York to replace Carey as captain.

Edgar Eugene Smith was an American professional baseball outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1883 to 1885 and then again in 1890. He stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (73 kg). Smith batted and threw right-handed.

References

  1. 1 2 "Providence Grays Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  2. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum tapped for Jays' Opening Day". MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  3. ↑ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers may not start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "1878 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "1885 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "1879 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  7. 1 2 "1880 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  8. 1 2 "1881 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  9. 1 2 "1882 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  10. ↑ "Monte Ward". Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  11. 1 2 "1883 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  12. 1 2 "Old Hos Radbourn". Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "1884 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet . Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  14. 1 2 "1884 Providence Grays". Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
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