Art Hagan Explained

Art Hagan
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Unknown
Throws:Right
Birth Date:17 March 1863
Birth Place:Providence, Rhode Island
Death Place:Providence, Rhode Island
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 30
Debutyear:1883
Debutteam:Philadelphia Quakers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 13
Finalyear:1884
Finalteam:Buffalo Bisons
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:2–18
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:5.36
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:50
Teams:

Arthur Charles Hagan (March 17, 1863 – March 25, 1936) was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched for two seasons; Philadelphia Quakers of the National League in, and with the Buffalo Bisons in both 1883 and .[1]

On August 21, 1883, when the Quakers traveled to Providence, Rhode Island to play the Providence Grays, Manager Bob Ferguson, needed to increase ticket sales on the road because the American Association entry in Philadelphia had forced the Quakers to reduce prices to 25 cents a game. He gave the starting pitcher duties to Art, who was a Rhode Island native, with the idea the appearance of Hagen would draw the locals.[2] The strategy worked as the fans came in large numbers. However, Hagen surrendered 28 runs and the Quakers made 20 errors behind him, as Philadelphia lost in the most lopsided shutout in major league history, 28–0. Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn was the winning pitcher.[3] [4]

Art died at the age of 73 in his hometown of Providence, and is interred at St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston, Rhode Island.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Art Hagan. retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. May 20, 2008.
  2. Web site: 19th century baseball: Players: Bob Ferguson . 19cbaseball.com . 2008-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517011124/http://www.19cbaseball.com/players-bob-ferguson.html. 17 May 2008 . live.
  3. Web site: Charlton's 1883 Chronology . baseballlibrary.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20070206205029/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1883 . dead . February 6, 2007 . May 20, 2008.
  4. Web site: The 1883 Providence Grays Regular Season Game Log. retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. January 7, 2011.