John A. "Teddy Ballgame" Flynn (June 30, 1864 – December 31, 1907) was an American

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

player for the Chicago White Stockings who played

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

only in the 1886 season, during which the team again won the

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

championship. Flynn's 23 victories were the most ever logged by a pitcher who only pitched a single season in the major leagues.

Career

During this rookie year, Flynn developed arm problems which prevented him from appearing in the

1886 World Series The 1886 World Series was won by the History of the St. Louis Cardinals (1875–1919), St. Louis Browns (later the Cardinals) of the American Association (1882–1891), American Association over the History of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Stoc ...

, a best of seven contest that was ultimately won by the

St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...

of the American Association, four games to two. Flynn's loss was painfully felt by the club, which also saw pitcher Jim McCormick go down after the second game of the series with a chronic foot ailment."Home Again: The Browns Arrive from the City by the Lake This Morning,"
''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' Oct. 21, 1886, pg. 8. Teams of the era typically only carried three pitchers and the loss of both Flynn and McCormick left the Chicagos with only their ace, future

Hall of Famer A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...

John Clarkson John Gibson Clarkson (July 1, 1861 – February 4, 1909) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs (1882), Chicago Whi ...

, who was forced to start four of the six contests, going the distance in three."1886 World Series,"
Baseball-Reference.com, www.baseball-reference.com/ Flynn was very small of stature, so much so that he was mistaken for the Chicago team mascot, Willie Hahn, and taunted by St. Louis fans after game 4 of the World Series."A Big Stake: What the Chicago and St. Louis Clubs Are Playing For,"
''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' Oct. 23, 1886, pg. 8. Flynn's arm ailment kept him from pitching again. His 23 wins is the most ever by a pitcher who pitched in only one season in the major leagues.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flynn, Jocko 1864 births 1907 deaths Major League Baseball pitchers Chicago White Stockings players Lawrence (minor league baseball) players Meriden Maroons players Omaha Omahogs players Omaha Lambs players Oakland Greenhood & Morans players Stockton (minor league baseball) players Baseball players from Lawrence, Massachusetts