Pud Galvin

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Pud Galvin baseball card, 1887

James Francis "Pud" Galvin (December 25, 1856 – March 7, 1902), an American professional baseball pitcher, was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner. The nickname "Pud" supposedly originated because he made the hitters "look like PUDding", a popular phase in the 1880s (like having "legs of jello" when you see a nasty looking pitch heading your way). Galvin was also nicknamed "The Little Steam Engine" in tribute to his durability.

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Pud played in an era where 2-man pitching rotations were common - hence his 6,003 innings pitched and 646 complete games, both of which are second only to the career totals of Cy Young. Incredibly, Pud pitched over 70 complete games in both 1883 and 1884 and 65 in 1879. He is the only player in baseball history to win 20 or more games in 10 different years without winning a pennant, finishing his career with a total of 364 wins and 310 losses.

Galvin pitched for St Louis (NA), Buffalo in the International Association and NL; Pittsburgh or Allegheny, Pennsylvania in the AA, NL, and PL; and St Louis (NL).

Pud Galvin
is a member of
the Baseball
Hall of Fame

Pud Galvin died at age 45, on March 7, 1902 in the Pittsburgh suburb of Allegheny, Pennsylvania and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965 by the Veterans Committee.

[edit] Trivia

On August 20, 1880, Galvin became the first major league pitcher to throw a no-hitter on the road, leading his Buffalo Bisons to a 1-0 victory over the Worcester Worcesters.