John A. "Jocko" Flynn (June 30, 1864 – December 31, 1907) was an American
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player for the
Chicago White Stockings who played
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
only in the 1886 season, during which the team again won the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...
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 St. Louis Browns (later the Cardinals) of the American Association over the Chicago White Stockings (later the Cubs) of the National League, four games to two. The series was played on six consecutive days ru ...
, 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 p ...
of the
American Association American Association may refer to:
Baseball
* American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891
* American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997
* American Association of Profe ...
, 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 a 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 White Stocking ...
, 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
19th-century baseball players
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 Massachusetts
Sportspeople from Lawrence, Massachusetts