Joe Borden
Joe Borden | |
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Pitcher | |
Born: Jacobstown, New Jersey, U.S. | May 9, 1854|
Died: October 14, 1929 Yeadon, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 75)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 24, 1875, for the Philadelphia White Stockings | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 19, 1876, for the Boston Red Caps | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 13–16 |
Earned run average | 2.56 |
Strikeouts | 43 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Joseph Emley Borden, aka Joe Josephs, (May 9, 1854 – October 14, 1929), nicknamed "Josephus the Phenomenal", was a starting pitcher in professional baseball for two seasons. Born in the Jacobstown section of North Hanover Township, New Jersey, he was playing for a Philadelphia amateur team when he was discovered by the Philadelphia White Stockings of the National Association (NA) in 1875. The White Stockings needed a replacement for a recently released pitcher, and were awaiting the arrival of a replacement. During his short, seven-game stint with the team, he posted a 2–4 win–loss record, both victories recorded as shutouts. On July 28 of that season, he threw what is thought to be the first no-hitter in professional baseball history.
When the NA folded after the 1875 season, Borden signed a three-year contract with the
Early life
Joseph Emley Borden was born on May 9, 1854, in Jacobstown in North Hanover Township, New Jersey into a wealthy family.[1][2] The fourth of John H. and Sarah Ann (Emley) Borden's six children, his father was a shoe manufacturer. Borden moved to Philadelphia in 1870. He joined the J.B. Doerr club by 1875, an amateur baseball club that played several teams around Philadelphia.[3] It is claimed that his family would have been embarrassed that their son was playing baseball for money, and would have disapproved.[2][4] To hide his playing career, he assumed several various last names, such as Josephs and Nedrob, which is Borden spelled backwards.[2]
Career
1875 season
The
In his next start, on July 28 against the
1876 season
After the 1875 season concluded, the league, and subsequently the Philadelphia White Stockings, folded, allowing the NL to form, becoming the first "Major" league.
On May 23, Borden pitched a two-hit 8–0 shutout victory against the
Two days after his near no-hitter, on May 25, Borden and the Red Caps faced the Reds again; this time against Cherokee Fisher, resulting in a scoreless game through nine innings.[10] The Red Caps scored four runs in tenth inning for a 4–0 victory.[10] Unfortunately for Borden, his pitching effectiveness declined rapidly after this, and at one point he reportedly lost his temper during a game in response to his own ineffectiveness, admonishing his teammates, even the well-liked and good-natured future Hall of famer George Wright.[11] Due to his erratic pitching and behavior, he was released from the team by August.[10][11] In 29 games pitched during the 1876 season, he started 24, completed 16, and recorded two shutouts. Additionally, he had an 11–12 win–loss record, a 2.89 earned run average in 218⅓ innings pitched, and led the league in allowing 51 bases on balls.[1]
Post-baseball career
Though the Red Caps had released him as a player, he was still under contract, so they had him work in various other capacities, such as a ticket-taker and
It was mistakenly claimed that he died in May 1889 during the Johnstown Flood, the same disaster that had stranded the entire Louisville Colonels team.[14] The Sporting Life magazine corrected the error in its June 19 issue, stating he was alive and living in Philadelphia. On February 7, 1891, Borden married Henrietta S. Evans, the daughter of publisher Henry S. Evans. The couple had two children, Richard, who died as a baby, and Lavinia. Borden worked as a banker with the Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Philadelphia representative for the U.S. Shipping Board. He was an amateur boxer and trained at Philadelphia Boxing Academy. He also kept hunting dogs and won exhibitions.[3] Borden died in Yeadon, Pennsylvania at the age of 75, and is interred at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania.[1][15]
References
- General
- Connor, Floyd (2006). Baseball's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of the National Pastime's Outrageous Offenders, Lucky Bounces, and Other Oddities. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 1-57866-157-9.
- Cook, William A. (2005). The Louisville Grays scandal of 1877: the taint of gambling at the dawn of the National League. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-2179-7.
- Macdonald, Neil W. (2004). The league that lasted: 1876 and the founding of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1755-2.
- Nemec, David; Dave Zeman (2004). The baseball rookies encyclopedia. Brassey's. ISBN 1-57488-670-3.
- Purdy, Dennis (2010). Kiss 'em Goodbye: An ESPN Treasury of Failed, Forgotten, and Departed Teams. Random House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-345-52012-8.
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e "Joe Borden". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Cook, p. 42
- ^ a b c Weatherby, Charlie (2015). "Joe Borden (Early Baseball Player)". West Chester University. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Nemec, Zeman, p. 7
- ^ a b "No Hitters Chronologically". retrosheet.org. Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ a b "1876". baseballlibrary.com. The Idea Logical Company, Inc. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Macdonald, p. 95
- ^ Macdonald, p. 74
- ^ a b c d Cook, p. 50
- ^ a b c d e f g Cook, p. 52
- ^ a b Macdonald, p. 120
- ^ Connor, p. 7
- ^ Purdy, p. 38
- ^ Cook, p. 166
- ^ "Joseph Emley Borden (9 May 1854 – 14 Oct 1929)". oaklandscemetery.org. The Oaklands Cemetery. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Joe Borden at Find a Grave