gold star for USAHOF

Charlie Buffinton began his career with the Boston Red Stockings in 1882 and in the following year when the team renamed themselves the Beanaters Buffinton became a star Pitcher where he would win 20 Games each year from 1883 to 1885.  The sinkerball specialist had an incredible 1884 campaign where he went 48 and 16 with a 2.15 ERA and he was third overall in bWAR for Pitchers.  It should also be mentioned that Buffinton was a good hitter who would bat .255 for Boston over his career.  Boston thought that Buffinton was done after a bad 1886 season and they sold him to the Philadelphia Quakers where he rebounded and would go on to win 233 Games.

74. Charlie Buffinton

As much as we keep studying Baseball, we can’t help but be amazed by the staggering amount of innings pitched by the pre-1900 hurlers. Would they look at us with a puzzled look if we went back in time and suggested a “pitch count”?