Cummings, "Candy" (William A.)
Baseball
b. Oct. 17, 1848, Ware, MA
d. May 16, 1924
Despite a losing record as a major league pitcher, Cummings is in the hall of fame because he is known as the inventor of the curve ball. That claim has occasionally been disputed, but it's now generally accepted by baseball historians.
Only 5-foot-9 and 120 pounds, Cummings supposedly got the idea for a new pitch when he threw a clamshell, saw it curve, and decided to try doing it with a baseball. After hours of practice, he perfected the pitch.
His most impressive performances came before the major leagues were established. Cummings played for the Brooklyn Excelsiors, one of the best amateur teams of the day, in 1866 and 1867. He soon won the nickname "Candy" which meant "the best" in the vernacular of the period.
In 1868, he joined the Brooklyn Stars, who called themselves the "championship team of the United States and Canada." Cummings beat the New York Mutuals in 1868 and 1871, and the Mutuals signed him in 1872. It was Cummings' debut as a professional.
The Mutuals belonged to the National Association, the first truly professional league. However, it's not considered a major league for statistical purposes. Cummings went 33-20 and led the league with 3 shutouts in his first season. He was the shutout leader again with 7 in 1875, when he pitched for Hartford. In four seasons, he won 124 games and lost 72.
The association was replaced by the National League in 1876. Cummings, still with Hartford, had a 16-8 record that season, but he was only 5-14 with Cincinnati in 1877. He later played briefly with some semi-pro and amateur teams, but poor health forced him to give up the sport after 1884.