Matt Kilroy
Encyclopedia
Matthew Aloysius Kilroy (June 21, 1866 - March 2, 1940) was an American
left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
. He started
68 games, completing
66 of them while throwing 583 innings
. Although he had a disappointing record of 29 wins
and 34 losses, he set a mark that was unequalled in major league pitching. Kilroy struck out
513 batters that season, the most ever in a single season and far ahead of second-place Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn
's total of 441 in . However, in that season there were many differences in game play from the modern rules, such as a base on balls
being awarded after seven balls
rather than the modern four, and the pitcher being located 50 feet from home plate rather than the modern 60 feet 6 inches; it was also the last season in which batters could request either a high pitch or a low pitch. Because of these numerous subsequent rule changes, pitching records from that era are not officially compared to those of the modern era, which is variously regarded as beginning in 1893 (when the modern pitching distance was established) or 1900.
On August 20, Kilroy and Cyclone Miller
of the Philadelphia Quakers
hurled opposing one-hitters, the first time this ever occurred, though it has since been duplicated four times. Baltimore won that game 1-0 on first-inning errors
‚ but didn't get a hit
until the ninth. During this remarkable rookie season, he hurled 5 shutout
s, 3 one-hitters, and 4 two-hitters, but on October 6 he pitched the only 9-inning no-hitter
of his career. He pitched his gem against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys
, a 6-0 victory.
from 3.37 to 3.07, resulting in an outstanding win/loss record of 46 and 19. During his sophomore year he started 69 games, completing 66 while throwing 589 1/3 innings with 6 shutouts. He had this success even though his strikeout total dropped dramatically to 217. He pitched and won both games of a doubleheader
twice during the 1887 season, once on July 26 and the other on October 1. On September 2, he umpired
his only game.
The season was Kilroy's comeback season, and unfortunately his last productive season as a pitcher. He completed 55 of his 56 starts, while also pitching in 3 relief
appearances, the first of his career. He had a 29-25 record and 5 shutouts in 480 2/3 innings. On July 29 of that season, he pitched his second no-hitter, this time a 7-inning affair against the St. Louis Browns
that ended in 0-0 tie. It was Kilroy's own baserunning error that negated the only run scored, when he missed third base in the 3rd inning and was called out.
That season was his last for Baltimore, as he jumped to the new Players League
for the season. He had a disappointing season, winning only 9 games against 15 losses in 217 2/3 innings. He only completed 18 of 27 starts for the Boston Reds, and only struck out 48. After the Players League folded, he traveled around, playing for three teams during the next four seasons, never pitching more than 45 1/3 innings. After the season he disappeared from the majors until returning in , when he played his final season with the Chicago Orphans
. He finished his career with 141 wins and 133 losses in 303 games pitched.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left-handed pitcher
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 was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Rookie season
Kilroy starred as a rookie during the season for the last-place Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
. He started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
68 games, completing
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...
66 of them while throwing 583 innings
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...
. Although he had a disappointing record of 29 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 34 losses, he set a mark that was unequalled in major league pitching. Kilroy struck out
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....
513 batters that season, the most ever in a single season and far ahead of second-place Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn
Charles Radbourn
Charles Gardner Radbourn , nicknamed "Old Hoss", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the Buffalo Bisons , Providence Grays , Boston Beaneaters , Boston Reds , and Cincinnati Reds...
's total of 441 in . However, in that season there were many differences in game play from the modern rules, such as a 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...
being awarded after seven balls
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
rather than the modern four, and the pitcher being located 50 feet from home plate rather than the modern 60 feet 6 inches; it was also the last season in which batters could request either a high pitch or a low pitch. Because of these numerous subsequent rule changes, pitching records from that era are not officially compared to those of the modern era, which is variously regarded as beginning in 1893 (when the modern pitching distance was established) or 1900.
On August 20, Kilroy and Cyclone Miller
Cyclone Miller
Joseph H. "Cyclone" Miller was an American Major League Baseball player born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He played just two seasons in the majors, but did play with four different teams in three different leagues...
of 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...
hurled opposing one-hitters, the first time this ever occurred, though it has since been duplicated four times. Baltimore won that game 1-0 on first-inning errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
‚ but didn't get a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
until the ninth. During this remarkable rookie season, he hurled 5 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, 3 one-hitters, and 4 two-hitters, but on October 6 he pitched the only 9-inning 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"...
of his career. He pitched his gem against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, a 6-0 victory.
Second season
Kilroy followed the success of his rookie season with another productive year in . Baltimore began to score more runs, finishing in a respectable third place; in addition, Kilroy lowered his earned run averageEarned 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...
from 3.37 to 3.07, resulting in an outstanding win/loss record of 46 and 19. During his sophomore year he started 69 games, completing 66 while throwing 589 1/3 innings with 6 shutouts. He had this success even though his strikeout total dropped dramatically to 217. He pitched and won both games of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
twice during the 1887 season, once on July 26 and the other on October 1. On September 2, he umpired
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
his only game.
Later career
After opening his career with two outstanding seasons, he pitched fewer innings and had less success in . Baltimore finished in fifth place, and Kilroy had a 17 and 21 record in only 40 games. He did complete 35 of those starts and recorded 2 shutouts. Earlier, before the season started and after signing his contract with the team, he married Fanny Denny, although he did spend the honeymoon training with the Orioles.The season was Kilroy's comeback season, and unfortunately his last productive season as a pitcher. He completed 55 of his 56 starts, while also pitching in 3 relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances, the first of his career. He had a 29-25 record and 5 shutouts in 480 2/3 innings. On July 29 of that season, he pitched his second no-hitter, this time a 7-inning affair against 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...
that ended in 0-0 tie. It was Kilroy's own baserunning error that negated the only run scored, when he missed third base in the 3rd inning and was called out.
That season was his last for Baltimore, as he jumped to the new 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...
for the season. He had a disappointing season, winning only 9 games against 15 losses in 217 2/3 innings. He only completed 18 of 27 starts for the Boston Reds, and only struck out 48. After the Players League folded, he traveled around, playing for three teams during the next four seasons, never pitching more than 45 1/3 innings. After the season he disappeared from the majors until returning in , when he played his final season with the Chicago Orphans
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...
. He finished his career with 141 wins and 133 losses in 303 games pitched.
Retirement
After his baseball career he returned to his hometown of Philadelphia, where he died at the age of 73; he was buried at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Wyncote, PennsylvaniaWyncote, Pennsylvania
Wyncote is a census-designated place in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2010 census...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions