Charles Radbourn
Inducted:
1939
Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn was one of the most dominant and durable pitchers in early baseball history. Born in 1854, he played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1881 to 1891, primarily with the Providence Grays and Boston Beaneaters.
Radbourn’s legacy is defined by his incredible 1884 season, where he pitched an unfathomable 678.2 innings, winning 59 games—a record that still stands. Known for his resilience and fierce competitiveness, Radbourn helped lead the Grays to the 1884 championship, winning all three games in the World Series.
His career total of 310 wins and 1,830 strikeouts earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.
He was a symbol of baseball’s rugged early era and remains one of the sport’s most legendary figures.
Radbourn's Awards and Records
- Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1939)
- 1884 National League Triple Crown (Wins, ERA, Strikeouts)
- MLB single-season wins record: 59 (1884)
- 309 career wins
- 1,830 career strikeouts
- 3x 40+ win seasons
- Won 1884 World Series (pre-modern era)
MLB Records
- Triple Crown (1884)
- 2× NL wins leader (1883, 1884)
- NL ERA leader (1884)
- 2× NL strikeout leader (1882, 1884)
- Pitched a no-hitter on July 25, 1883
- MLB record 60 wins, single season
MLB Teams:
Buffalo Bisons (1880)
Providence Grays (1881–1885)
Boston Beaneaters (1886–1889)
Boston Reds (1890)
Cincinnati Reds (1891)
MLB Stats
Games Pitched
528
Wins
310
Losses
194
Complete Games
488
Shutouts
35
Saves
2
Innings Pitched
4,535.1
Earned Run Average (ERA)
2.68
Strikeouts
1,830
Walks
875
WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched)
1.15