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Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-23-2009, 02:33 PM

Offseason Retirements

Four Hall of Fame-eligible players retired during the offseason: John Hatfield, Steve King, NFN O'Rourke, and George Zettlein.

Hatfield was a starting second baseman in the early 1870s with the Mutual club of New York, but as the game became more modern he just never really caught up with things. He logged a few games with several National League teams in recent years, including the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the Providence Grays, the Troy Trojans, and most recently the Worcester Ruby Legs. However, he never really did much, and retires with a lifetime .288 average in 545 at-bats, most of which came between 1871-73.

Steve King, by contrast, was one of base ball's early stars. He played left field for the Mutuals in the 1870s, and went west to Cincinnati when the Mutuals folded, where he had a serious back injury almost immediately. He returned to play two more seasons in Cincinnati but was not really the same player and never again starred. In recent years he had something of a resurgence as an outfielder with the Detroit Wolverines, but he turned 40 this past season and batted only .183, so he decided to call it quits. King retires with 601 career hits, 30th on the all-time list.

NFN O'Rourke, despite his lack of a first name, made a name for himself (ha-ha) by winning 42 games as a pitcher for the 1873-74 Brooklyn Atlantics. He went west after the founding of the National League and caught on with a couple different St. Louis clubs, but never really regained his old prominence. His last season as a major contributor was an 8-14 campaign with Worcester in 1880. He retires with 65 wins and 50 losses, the former total good enough for a tie for 15th on the all-time list.

George Zettlein was one of base ball's first great pitchers, along with Asa Brainard and Dick McBride. Zettlein logged 124 wins by the end of the 1877 season, and then lost his starting job when the Hartford Dark Blues folded and never really caught on again as a full-time player. Most recently, he filled in a little for the AA's Baltimore Orioles. Zettlein retires with the sixth-most wins all-time, behind only Pud Galvin, McBride, Foghorn Bradley, J. O'Neill and Bobby Mitchell.

The current list of HoF eligible retirees for the first voting class is:

John Hatfield
Steve King
NFN O'Rourke
Joe Start
Jimmy Wood
George Zettlein

(The Hall of Fame is scheduled to open at the start of the 20th century.)

03-23-2009, 02:33 PM	#386 (permalink)
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 5,514 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42x in 30 posts	Offseason Retirements Four Hall of Fame-eligible players retired during the offseason: John Hatfield, Steve King, NFN O'Rourke, and George Zettlein. Hatfield was a starting second baseman in the early 1870s with the Mutual club of New York, but as the game became more modern he just never really caught up with things. He logged a few games with several National League teams in recent years, including the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the Providence Grays, the Troy Trojans, and most recently the Worcester Ruby Legs. However, he never really did much, and retires with a lifetime .288 average in 545 at-bats, most of which came between 1871-73. Steve King, by contrast, was one of base ball's early stars. He played left field for the Mutuals in the 1870s, and went west to Cincinnati when the Mutuals folded, where he had a serious back injury almost immediately. He returned to play two more seasons in Cincinnati but was not really the same player and never again starred. In recent years he had something of a resurgence as an outfielder with the Detroit Wolverines, but he turned 40 this past season and batted only .183, so he decided to call it quits. King retires with 601 career hits, 30th on the all-time list. NFN O'Rourke, despite his lack of a first name, made a name for himself (ha-ha) by winning 42 games as a pitcher for the 1873-74 Brooklyn Atlantics. He went west after the founding of the National League and caught on with a couple different St. Louis clubs, but never really regained his old prominence. His last season as a major contributor was an 8-14 campaign with Worcester in 1880. He retires with 65 wins and 50 losses, the former total good enough for a tie for 15th on the all-time list. George Zettlein was one of base ball's first great pitchers, along with Asa Brainard and Dick McBride. Zettlein logged 124 wins by the end of the 1877 season, and then lost his starting job when the Hartford Dark Blues folded and never really caught on again as a full-time player. Most recently, he filled in a little for the AA's Baltimore Orioles. Zettlein retires with the sixth-most wins all-time, behind only Pud Galvin, McBride, Foghorn Bradley, J. O'Neill and Bobby Mitchell. The current list of HoF eligible retirees for the first voting class is: John Hatfield Steve King NFN O'Rourke Joe Start Jimmy Wood George Zettlein (The Hall of Fame is scheduled to open at the start of the 20th century.) __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out The Olde Tyme Base Ball Simulator! Last edited by Eckstein 4 Prez; 03-23-2009 at 02:36 PM.