| Albert Goodwill Spalding | |
|---|---|
 Spalding the businessman at 60, 1910 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 2, 1849 Byron, Illinois, U.S. | |
| Died: September 9, 1915 (aged 66) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 5, 1871, for the Boston Red Stockings | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 31, 1878, for the Chicago White Stockings | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 252–65 |
| Earned run average | 2.14 |
| Strikeouts | 248 |
| Batting average | .313 |
| Hits | 613 |
| Runs batted in | 338 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1939 |
| Election method | Old-Timers Committee |
Albert Goodwill Spalding (September 2, 1849 – September 9, 1915) was an American pitcher, manager, and executive in the early years of professional baseball, and the co-founder of the Spalding sporting goods company. He was born and raised in Byron, Illinois, yet graduated from Rockford Central High School in Rockford, Illinois. He played major league baseball between 1871 and 1878. Spalding set a trend when he started wearing a baseball glove.
After his retirement as a player, Spalding remained active with the Chicago White Stockings as president and part-owner. In the 1880s, he took players on the first world tour of baseball. With William Hulbert, Spalding organized the National League. He later called for the commission that investigated the origins of baseball and falsely credited Abner Doubleday with creating the game.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.[1]
- ^ "Spalding, Al". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 19 November 2013.