Books and articles about Al Orth

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A durable hurler, Orth won 202 games without ever throwing a curve. Instead, The Curveless Wonder changed speeds masterfully on his fastball. For the 1899 Phillies, he led the National League with a 2.49 ERA. His control was among the best; he walked 19 in 145 innings that season, and with the 1902 Senators allowed just 40 walks in 324 innings. He fell to 10-22 in 1903, and in 1904 was traded to the New York Highlanders. There he picked up the spitball from Jack Chesbro, and in 1906 he led the AL with 27 wins, 36 complete games, and 339 innings pitched. In 1907 he lost a league-high 21 games. A fine hitter, he ranks seventh all-time among pitchers with 389 career hits. He sometimes played in the field and was used 78 times as a pinch hitter. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 19, 1900: In the NL opener at Boston, 10,000 fans watch the Phils win 19-17 in 10 innings, the highest scoring season opener in history. Boston scored nine runs, including a major-league record three by pinch hitters, in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 17 apiece. At one point, Philadelphia led 16-4. The record of three pinch runners will be matched four times in the 20th century, all in the 9th inning. Buck Freeman and Lave Cross match homers. Al Orth goes all the way for the Phils, while Vic Willis starts for Boston with Kid Nichols in relief. » August 20, 1901: Umpire Bob Emslie becomes ill before the 2nd game of the Superbas-Phils twin bill and Phils P Al Orth and Superbas C Jim McGuire fill in for him. However, it is a close game, and Orth is needed as a PH in the 9th. Doc White then becomes the 2nd umpire as Orth hits a single and scores a run. Brooklyn holds on for a 3-2 win. » April 21, 1902: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, reversing a lower court's decision, grants a permanent injunction (effective only in Pennsylvania) barring jumpers Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser, and Bill Bernhard from playing for the A's, or any team but the Phillies. Not mentioned, but covered by the decision, are: Elmer Flick, Monte Cross, and Bill Duggleby of the A's; Ed Delahanty, Al Orth, Harry Wolverton, and Jack Townsend of Washington; Ed McFarland (White Stockings) and Red Donahue (Browns). » April 22, 1903: At Washington, before 11,950, the New York Highlanders play their first game, losing 3–1. Washington elects to bat first, but the New Yorkers score in the bottom of the opening inning to take a 1–0 lead. Each starter gives up six hits with Jack Chesbro, the National League's top winner last year (28-6) taking the loss. Al Orth, in his second season with Washington, is the winner. » January 23, 1904: The Highlanders send pitchers Long Tom Hughes and Bill Wolfe to Washington for Al Orth (10–22). Hughes (20–7) came to New York in December swap with the Boston Pilgrims, who received Jesse Tannehill. » July 13, 1904: The Highlanders, looking for help acquire hurler Al "the Curveless Wonder" Orth from Washington. The 10-year veteran, (3–4) who was 10–21 last year, is swapped for pitchers Long Tom Hughes (7–11) and Bill Wolfe (0-3). » July 20, 1904: The Yankees trade pitchers Long Tom Hughes (7-11) and Barney Wolfe (0-3) to the Senators for Al Orth (3-4). Orth will regain his form in New York, going 11–6 this year and will win 27 games in 1906. » July 25, 1904: Before 1,522 in New York, vet Al Orth makes his first start for the Highlanders and matches zeroes with Chicago's Yip Owen. In the bottom of the 9th Patsy Dougherty leads off with a triple and scores on Willie Keeler's bouncer through the infield. » September 15, 1904: Boston edges New York, 3-2, to move back into first place in the AL. Jesse Tannehill allows nine hits in besting Al Orth. The nitecap is called after nine innings with the score 1-1. » April 11, 1907: At Washington, a record crowd of 12,902 watch the Highlanders' Al Orth beat his old team, the Nationals, 3-2. Long Tom Hughes, one of the players New York traded for Orth, is the losing pitcher. Hal Chase skips the opener because of a salary disagreement, and George Moriarty plays 1B for New York. » May 26, 1907: Chicago's Ed Walsh hurls a rain-shortened 5-inning no-hitter against New York. In a steady drizzle, New York is down 4-1 when Manager Clark Griffith lifts starter Al Orth and inserts himself. Hoping to have the game washed out, Griffith loads the bases and then serves a cripple to Walsh, who drives in two runs. The Sox figure two can play that game and, Billy Sullivan, who was on first with a walk, loafs home from 3rd and is tagged out. Umpire Jack Sheridan threatens a forfeiture if the shenanigans continue. Chicago scores two more in the 6th before rain washes out the game and the Sox win 8-1. » June 12, 1907: The Highlanders make it easy for the Tigers by committing 11 errors in the 14-6 win by Detroit. Shortstop Kid Elberfeld leads the bobble gang with four errors; 1B Hal Chase, 3B Frank LaPorte, 2B Jimmy Williams, LF Wid Conroy, and pitchers Al Orth and Bill Hogg each add a miscue. Following the game, New York manager Clark Griffith gets into a fracas with a fan and is charged with assault. Griffith later argues self defense and receives a fine. » September 28, 1993: After three unsuccessful attempts, Dennis Martinez of the Expos picks up his 100th National League victory, defeating the Marlins, 3-2. He becomes the 7th pitcher in history to win 100 games in each league, joining Cy Young, Nolan Ryan, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Jim Bunning. and Al Orth.