Bill Hawke
Encyclopedia
William Victor "Bill" Hawke (April 28, 1870 – December 11, 1902) was an American
Major League Baseball
player who pitched
for three seasons, all in the National League
, with a career record of 32 wins
and 31 losses.
, he began his major league career with the St. Louis Browns
in . He pitched in 14 games that first season, with a 5-5 win/loss record and threw one shutout
. Bill split season between the Browns and the Baltimore Orioles
. It was for that latter, that he pitched a no-hitter
, 5-0 victory against the Washington Senators
on August 16, 1893. It was the first no-hitter at the new distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate
. For the 1893
season, the mound was moved from 50 feet to 60 feet 6 inches, the distance that is still used to this day. He finished his career the following season, with a 16-9 record for the National League champion Baltimore Orioles.
at the age of 32 in Wilmington, Delaware
, and was interred at Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington.
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...
for three seasons, all in 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...
, with a career record of 32 wins
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...
and 31 losses.
Career
Born in Elsmere, DelawareElsmere, Delaware
Elsmere is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 6,131.-Geography:Elsmere is located at ....
, he began his major league career with the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in . He pitched in 14 games that first season, with a 5-5 win/loss record and threw one 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....
. Bill split season between the Browns and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
. It was for that latter, that 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"...
, 5-0 victory against the Washington Senators
Washington Senators (1891-1899)
The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
on August 16, 1893. It was the first no-hitter at the new distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. For the 1893
1893 in baseball
-National League final standings:-Events:*August 16 – Bill Hawke of the Baltimore Orioles pitches a no-hitter against the Washington Senators in a 5–0 win. It is the first no-hitter thrown from the modern-day pitching distance of 60'6"....
season, the mound was moved from 50 feet to 60 feet 6 inches, the distance that is still used to this day. He finished his career the following season, with a 16-9 record for the National League champion Baltimore Orioles.
Post-career
On December 11, 1902, he died of carcinomaCarcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
at the age of 32 in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, and was interred at Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery in Wilmington.