Paul Radford
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| Paul Radford | |
|---|---|
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 1, 1883, for the Boston Beaneaters | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1894, for the Washington Senators | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .242 |
| Home runs | 13 |
| Runs batted in | 462 |
| Stolen bases | 346 |
| Teams | |
| |
Paul Revere Radford (October 14, 1861 – February 21, 1945) was an American
Early life
Paul Radford was born on October 14, 1861, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to parents Benjamin and Anna (Hale) Radford. Six of Radford's siblings died in childhood and he was the youngest of four boys to survive until adulthood. In 1865, the Radford family relocated to the town of Hyde Park, where his father was employed as superintendent of construction at the American Tool and Machine Company. Radford grew up in suburban Hyde Park, a streetcar suburb 10 miles southwest of Boston, amid middle-class prosperity in a house on Fairmount Avenue, as his father advanced to general manager at American Tool. Coming from a religious family, Radford believed in the Sabbath and due to his faith, did not do anything on Sundays, save for keeping the day holy. This included not playing baseball.
In 1882, Radford signed on to play with Hyde Park's semi-pro baseball team. It was during that season that Hyde Park played two exhibition games against the Boston Beaneaters. While not impressed with his hitting, Beaneaters management was impressed with the fact that Radford pitched as well, and could be used as a relief pitcher during a time in baseball where the regulars rarely came out of the game, barring injury.[1]
Pro career
Radford made his MLB debut with the
Radford was released at the end of the season and was claimed off league waivers by the Providence Grays. Just as he'd been the previous season, Radford was a light hitting outfielder who played for a team that won the championship. The Grays defeated the New York Metropolitans of the rival American Association, thus claiming a victory in an early version of the World Series. Radford was viewed as a good luck charm, as Radford always had with him his "lucky horseshoe". Radford had kept the horseshoe with him the previous season in Boston as he had done in Providence. However, that season Providence did not win a championship, and Radford was released.[2]
Since the National League did not play on Sundays, Radford's strict observation of the Sabbath did not hamper his baseball career. However, after one season with the
In 1895, Radford was a member of the Scranton Coal Heavers of the Eastern League. Radford was released, but not because of his on field performance, it was because the eastern League played ball on Sundays and management demanded that Radford play as well, despite his objections.[1] Despite an official end to his career in 1897, Radford remained in baseball, making occasional one time appearance. He played semi-pro baseball and in 1903, he even played for the Hyde Park team, where his journey had begun some 20 years prior. In 1904, he was in place to make an emergency appearance for the Chicago Cubs. Even though Radford was 43 years old, Cubs manager Frank Selee needed an extra man on the bench because starting shortstop Joe Tinker was injured. Selee had wanted to use Radford over the utility infielder Shad Barry. However, Barry played in the first game of what was supposed to be a double header. Radford and the Cubs were getting ready to take the field when the second contest was called due to rain. After Tinker was able to return, Radford left the Cubs and returned to playing semi-pro baseball, finishing where he started, as Radford played for Hyde Park in 1907 atage 44. Radford enjoyed one more moment on the baseball diamond. In 1922, at the age of 60, Radford played in a charity National League Old-Timers game that was used to raise money for Boston Children's Hospital.
Post career
In October 1885, Paul Radford married Mary Blair. After his baseball career was over, and even as he played semi-pro, Radford worked as a machinist and through his baseball career, had made enough money so that he was financially stable enough to buy a home. Radford remained in Hyde Park for the majority of the rest of his life. In 1912, Hyde Park was absorbed into the city of Boston. In January 1930 the Newspaper Enterprise Association produced a syndicated article about Radford and his lucky horseshoe, since the Boston Red Sox were interested in its whereabouts. The horseshoe hadn’t been seen since 1894 when the South End Grounds burned down.
On February 21, 1945, Paul Radford died at his home. Radford was buried in the Rookdale Cemetery, which is located in Dedham.
See also
References
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)