Ben Sanders
Encyclopedia
Alexander Bennett "Ben" Sanders (February 16, 1865 – August 29, 1930) was an American
Major League Baseball
player, who pitched
a total of five seasons, for three different teams.
, Sanders debuted on June 6, with the Philadelphia Quakers
of the National League
. As a pitcher, he displayed good control, but he used an unorthodox delivery which ended with him off-balance, and with his back turned toward home plate. This made it difficult for him to react quickly on batted balls in his area of responsibility, particularly bunts. On September 18 of that rookie season, Sanders lost a perfect game
when his pitching opponent, Gus Krock
, singled
with one out in the 9th inning for the Chicago Colts
. Sanders still achieved a 6–0 shutout
victory.
He pitched two seasons for the Quakers, winning
38 games against 28 lossess, including a rookie season in which he won 19 games, a 1.90 E.R.A.
, and led the league in shutout
s with eight, and base on balls
per 9 innings.
For the season, Ben jumped to the newly created Players League
, and won 19 games and lost 18 for the Philadelphia Athletics who later joined the American Association
for the season. He finished his career with the Louisville Colonels
of the National League, playing his final game on October 14, 1892. He had a record of 12-19, but on August 22, 1892, he pitched a no-hitter
against the Baltimore Orioles, a 6–2 victory, the first no-hitter in the National League which the losing team in a no-hitter scored at least one run
.
, at the age of 65, and is interred at Sudley United Methodist Church Cemetery in his home town of Catharpin, Virginia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, who pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
a total of five seasons, for three different teams.
Career
Born in Catharpin, VirginiaCatharpin, Virginia
Catharpin is an unincorporated community in Prince William County, Virginia, in the United States. Catharpin lies on State Route 234 to the northwest of Manassas National Battlefield Park.-Geography:...
, Sanders debuted on June 6, with the Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. As a pitcher, he displayed good control, but he used an unorthodox delivery which ended with him off-balance, and with his back turned toward home plate. This made it difficult for him to react quickly on batted balls in his area of responsibility, particularly bunts. On September 18 of that rookie season, Sanders lost a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
when his pitching opponent, Gus Krock
Gus Krock
August H. Krock , was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played three seasons, from -, for the Chicago Cubs, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Washington Nationals, and Buffalo Bisons....
, singled
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
with one out in the 9th inning for the Chicago Colts
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Sanders still achieved a 6–0 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
victory.
He pitched two seasons for the Quakers, winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
38 games against 28 lossess, including a rookie season in which he won 19 games, a 1.90 E.R.A.
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, and led the league in shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s with eight, and base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
per 9 innings.
For the season, Ben jumped to the newly created Players League
Players League
The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League , was a short-lived but star-studded professional American baseball league of the 19th century...
, and won 19 games and lost 18 for the Philadelphia Athletics who later joined the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
for the season. He finished his career with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
of the National League, playing his final game on October 14, 1892. He had a record of 12-19, but on August 22, 1892, he pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Baltimore Orioles, a 6–2 victory, the first no-hitter in the National League which the losing team in a no-hitter scored at least one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
Post-career
Sanders died in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, at the age of 65, and is interred at Sudley United Methodist Church Cemetery in his home town of Catharpin, Virginia.