Our mailbox is always full of esoteric questions from our readers. So every week, we pass along some of their most interesting queries to baseball historians who know the answers.
» Have a question? Ask the experts at BOLexperts@idealog.com! (Due to the volume of mail received, we cannot guarantee a response.)
» Are you an expert? Let us know by writing to BOLexperts@idealog.com.
LOSERS
Q: What is the worst winning percentage in baseball history?
-- Jill Gardner
A: In 1899, the Cleveland Spiders won 20 and lost 134, for a .130 winning percentage, the worst ever. The post-1900 record is held by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, who went 36-117 for a .235 percentage.
Q: My brother-in-law recently acquired two vintage ball gloves. One is an old catcher's mitt, with no markings and not in very good shape. The other is a fielder's glove with the name Indiana Brand and Al Tyson on it. Can you enlighten me at all as to any information on either the brand name or the name Al Tyson?
-- Nancy Robbins
A: Tyson did have a model glove and depending on the condition would be worth in the $40 range. "Indiana Brand" is unknown to me. My guess is that it is a brand that originated in either a hardware store, department store, or something like that.