* In the mid-1880s, Charles 'Silver' King brought a new pitching weapon into the majors. Generally regarded as the first-ever sidearm pitcher in professional baseball history, he helped the old St Louis Browns to two straight American Association pennants... going 32-12 with a 3.78 earned run average and collected a resounding 45-21 record with a stingy 1.64 ERA.

With his sidearm pitch that baffled hitter, Silver King blazed his way to 142 major league wins in a four year span - averaging over 35 wins per/season.

* Way back when players played like 'junk yard dogs,' outfielder Tom York was renowned as a mild manner nice-guy, both on and off the field. His strong accurate arm and sure hands in the outfield along with a steady batting eye enabled him to play 15 major league seasons - 1871-1885.

After York retired after the 1885 season, he began umpiring the following year but quit during mid-season... his reason being: 'I would rather live on a dollar a day than stand the backguarding and abuse which every umpire is subject to.'

Later, he returned to baseball as a press box in Yankee Stadium. And, when Tom York died in 1936, at age 85, he was one of only four surviving players from the National League's first season.

Baseballhistorian.com - Major League Baseball History

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