A. G. Spalding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albert Goodwill Spalding |
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Spalding the businessman at 60, 1910
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 2, 1849 Byron, Illinois |
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| Died: September 9, 1915 (aged 66) San Diego, California |
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| debut | |||
| May 5, 1871, for the Boston Red Stockings | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 31, 1878, for the Chicago White Stockings | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 252–65 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.14 | ||
| Strikeouts | 248 | ||
| Batting average | .313 | ||
| Hits | 613 | ||
| Runs batted in | 338 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1939 | ||
| Election Method | Veterans Committee | ||
Albert Goodwill Spalding (born September 2, 1849 – died September 9, 1915) was a very important person in early professional baseball. He was a great pitcher, a team manager, and a smart businessman. He even helped start the famous A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.
Spalding was born in Byron, Illinois, and played major league baseball from 1871 to 1878. He was one of the first players to wear a baseball glove.
Contents
A Baseball Star and Innovator
Early Days on the Field
Albert Spalding started his baseball journey playing for the Rockford Forest Citys. He became a professional player in 1871 with the Boston Red Stockings. As a pitcher, he was incredibly good. He led the league in wins for six years in a row, from 1871 to 1876!
He helped the Boston Red Stockings win the National Association pennant four times. This was a big championship back then. Later, he moved to the Chicago White Stockings. There, he helped them win the first-ever National League pennant in 1876.
Beyond the Field: A Business Mind
After he stopped playing in 1878, Spalding didn't leave baseball. He became the president and a part-owner of the Chicago White Stockings. He was also a very successful businessman. He co-founded the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. This company made baseballs, bats, and other sports equipment. It became very famous.
A World Tour and New Rules
In the 1880s, Albert Spalding did something amazing. He took baseball players on the first-ever world tour! They traveled around the globe, showing people in other countries how to play baseball. This helped make baseball popular worldwide.
Spalding also worked with William Hulbert to create the National League. This league is still a major part of baseball today. He also helped write the first official rules for baseball. He even called for a special group to figure out how baseball started. This group later said that Abner Doubleday created the game.
Hall of Fame
Albert Spalding's contributions to baseball were huge. Because of his amazing career as a player, manager, and businessman, he was honored. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. This is one of the highest honors in baseball.
