George Hodson
Encyclopedia
George S. Hodson was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Boston Beaneaters
in 1894 and the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1895. He also pitched in the minor leagues for 17 seasons and won 20 or more games six times. Hodson was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.
in 1868. He started his professional baseball career in 1888 with the International Association
's Buffalo Bisons. Over the next several seasons, he bounced around the minor leagues. He had a win–loss record of 11-9 while playing in the Eastern Interstate League in 1890. In 1892, he had a big season for the Altoona Mountaineers of the Pennsylvania State League
, going 21-12 with a 1.33 earned run average
; he led the league in wins, complete game
s (32), innings pitched
(319), walks
(98), and strikeout
s (223).
Hodson stayed in the Pennsylvania State League for a few years until he was purchased by the National League
's Boston Beaneaters in August 1894. He made 11 late-season starts for Boston, going 4-4 with a 5.84 ERA. Early in the following season, he went 1-2 with a 9.53 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies; that was his last major league experience. He finished the season pitching for the Eastern League
's Providence Grays
and would stay with the club until 1898. In 1895, he won 20 games for them, and in 1897, he won 21. Playing for the Connecticut State League's New Haven Blues in 1900, Hodson had another good campaign and led the league in wins (22), complete games (32), and innings pitched (315).
After 1900, Hodson moved west and pitched two seasons for Oakland of the California League. He won 13 games in 1901 and then won 23 games in 1902 to help Oakland capture the league championship. In 1903, he played for the San Francisco Seals of the new Pacific Coast League
. He won the franchise's first-ever game on March 26. Hodson pitched 399.2 innings that year in 50 appearances, and he went 20-24 with a 3.42 ERA. He then spent one season in the Western League
before retiring from baseball.
Hodson died in San Rafael, California
, in 1924.
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...
in 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...
. He played for the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1894 and the Philadelphia Phillies
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...
in 1895. He also pitched in the minor leagues for 17 seasons and won 20 or more games six times. Hodson was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.
Career
Hodson was born in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1868. He started his professional baseball career in 1888 with the International Association
International Association
The International Association of Professional Base Ball Players was the name for two separate Canadian-American baseball leagues that operated from 1877 through 1880 and also from 1888 until 1890...
's Buffalo Bisons. Over the next several seasons, he bounced around the minor leagues. He had a win–loss record of 11-9 while playing in the Eastern Interstate League in 1890. In 1892, he had a big season for the Altoona Mountaineers of the Pennsylvania State League
Pennsylvania State League
The Pennsylvania State League played from 1892-1895, then changed into the first Atlantic League.-Cities represented:*Allentown, PA: Allentown Colts 1892-1893; Allentown Kelly's Killers 1894; Allentown Goobers 1895; Allentown 1895...
, going 21-12 with a 1.33 earned run average
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...
; he led the league in wins, complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (32), innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(319), walks
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...
(98), and strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (223).
Hodson stayed in the Pennsylvania State League for a few years until he was purchased by 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...
's Boston Beaneaters in August 1894. He made 11 late-season starts for Boston, going 4-4 with a 5.84 ERA. Early in the following season, he went 1-2 with a 9.53 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies; that was his last major league experience. He finished the season pitching for the Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
's Providence Grays
Providence Grays (minor league)
The minor league Providence Grays was the name of several minor league baseball teams between and . These teams were unconnected to the Major League Baseball Providence Grays....
and would stay with the club until 1898. In 1895, he won 20 games for them, and in 1897, he won 21. Playing for the Connecticut State League's New Haven Blues in 1900, Hodson had another good campaign and led the league in wins (22), complete games (32), and innings pitched (315).
After 1900, Hodson moved west and pitched two seasons for Oakland of the California League. He won 13 games in 1901 and then won 23 games in 1902 to help Oakland capture the league championship. In 1903, he played for the San Francisco Seals of the new Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He won the franchise's first-ever game on March 26. Hodson pitched 399.2 innings that year in 50 appearances, and he went 20-24 with a 3.42 ERA. He then spent one season in the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
before retiring from baseball.
Hodson died in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, in 1924.
External links
- George Hodson at Find a Grave