| Joe Start | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born: October 14, 1842 New York City, U.S. | |
| Died: March 27, 1927 (aged 84) Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 18, 1871, for the New York Mutuals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 9, 1886, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .299 |
| Hits | 1,417 |
| Runs | 852 |
| Teams | |
| |
Joseph Start (October 14, 1842 – March 27, 1927), nicknamed "Old Reliable",[1] was one of the most durable regulars of baseball's earliest era, and one of the top first basemen of his time. He began his playing career in 1859, before the formation of organized leagues and before ballplayers received payment for their services. He continued to play regularly until 1886, when he was 43. Start's career spanned countless innovations that transformed the game in fundamental ways, but he adjusted and continued to play at a high level for almost three decades. Baseball historian Bill Ryczek said that Start "was the last of the pre–Civil War players to hang up his cleats."[2]
- ^ Caldwell, Jay, "William White, Defining Race in America", NegroLeaguesHistory.com, November 13, 2017
- ^ Ryczek, William, "My Favorite Nineteenth Century Player: Joe Start", Society of American Baseball Research 19th Century Committee, Summer 2018