Based on my reading there are a myriad of differences between pitching in the 19th century what Jamie Moyer accomplished... Each team generally had one starting Pitcher until the early 1880's, when Anson began rotating (or "alternating") 2 starters. Starters back then -- and well into the 20th century -- almost never came out.
Things changed and became more familiar to what we think of as starting Pitching in the 1893, when the pitching area was moved back to its current place.
According to many sources this was because of Amos Rusie's pitching -- he threw really hard and struck out players at an unprecedented rate (and nearly killed Hugh Jennings).
Rusie didn't quite make the 250 club (245-174 lifetime) but, like Count Mullane he missed critical time because of slary disputes with ownership. Unlike the Count and Bobby Mathews and many other bigger winners, Rusie made the Hall of Fame....
He was also part of what was probably the most one-sided trade in baseball history (I'm saying this a Cub fan who knows about Lou Brock!) ...
In 1900, after Rusie's arm was dead the Giants traded him to the Reds for a young and unremarkable pitcher, Christy Mathewson, who the Giants had already tried and returned to the minors.
Rusie did nothing for the Reds - he pitched poorly in a few games in 1901. Matty won 373 games for the Giants not including his World Series' victories.
Last edited by Misunderestimated; 06-03-2009 at 06:34 PM.
Reason: grammar
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06-03-2009, 06:27 PM
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