| Jack Stivetts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher / Outfielder | |
| Born: March 31, 1868 Ashland, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: April 18, 1930 (aged 62) Ashland, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 26, 1889, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 12, 1899, for the Cleveland Spiders | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 203–132 |
| Earned run average | 3.74 |
| Strikeouts | 1,223 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Elmer Stivetts (March 31, 1868 – April 18, 1930) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning from 1889 to 1899. He played in the American Association (AA) with the St. Louis Browns, and in the National League (NL) with the Boston Beaneaters and Cleveland Spiders. "Happy Jack" (nicknamed due to his pleasant demeanor) was born to German immigrants and raised in Ashland, Pennsylvania.[1][2] He initially followed his father into the coal mining industry before playing professional baseball. After playing 2+1⁄2 seasons in minor league baseball, he was signed by the Browns. Over the next few seasons, he was regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
He led the AA in earned run average (ERA) in his first MLB season, and then in strikeouts two seasons later. In the years spanning from 1890 through 1896, he posted 20 or more victories in a season six times; two in which he won more than 30. In 1892, he won a career-high 35 games, and on August 6, he threw a no-hitter. During his seven seasons with the Beaneaters, he was part of four NL championships, and pitched alongside future Hall of Fame members John Clarkson and Kid Nichols. He was among the best hitting pitchers of his era, and was often used at other positions when he was not pitching. His season total of seven home runs in 1890 stood as the record for pitchers until 1931. He compiled a .298 lifetime batting average, hit 35 home runs, and delivered 357 runs batted in (RBIs).
In his last season in the major leagues, he played for the Spiders, widely considered to be one of the worst teams in MLB history. After his baseball career, he returned to his hometown of Ashland. He worked for the area coal mines as a brewery wagon driver and carpenter, and died there at 62 years of age.
- ^ "Jack Stivetts". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ Caruso, pp. 243