Old Hoss Radbourn
Pitcher · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1880-1891)
Old Hoss Radbourn was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1880 to 1891 for 5 teams, including the Buffalo Bisons, a span of 12 seasons. Across 527 career appearances, he went 310-194 with a 2.68 ERA and 1,830 strikeouts. He also batted .235 with 9 home runs. Old Hoss Radbourn was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and was a Pitching Triple Crown. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 21217.9.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'9" / 168 lb
- Died
- 2/5/1897 in Bloomington, IL, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1880-05-05
- Last Game
- 1891-08-11
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1939 (Veterans)
- Awards
- Pitching Triple Crown
Full name: Charles Gardner Radbourn
Career Pitching Statistics
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 | PRO | NL | 25 | 11 | 41 | 36 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 325.1 | 309 | 88 | 64 | 117 | 2.43 | 2.77 (+12%) | 1553.8 |
| 1882 | PRO | NL | 33 | 19 | 54 | 51 | 50 | 6 | 0 | 466.0 | 422 | 109 | 51 | 201 | 2.11 | 2.80 (+25%) | 5258.1 |
| 1883 | PRO | NL | 48 | 25 | 76 | 68 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 632.1 | 563 | 144 | 56 | 315 | 2.05 | 3.22 (+36%) | 10006.8 |
| 1884 | PRO | NL | 60 | 12 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 11 | 1 | 678.2 | 528 | 104 | 98 | 441 | 1.38 | 3.11 (+56%) | 7017.9 |
| 1885 | PRO | NL | 28 | 21 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 445.2 | 423 | 109 | 83 | 154 | 2.20 | 3.03 (+27%) | 2057.0 |
| 1886 | BSN | NL | 27 | 31 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 509.1 | 521 | 170 | 111 | 218 | 3.00 | 3.37 (+11%) | 167.0 |
| 1887 | BSN | NL | 24 | 23 | 50 | 50 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 425.0 | 505 | 215 | 133 | 87 | 4.55 | 4.17 (-9%) | -3983.2 |
| 1888 | BSN | NL | 7 | 16 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 207.0 | 187 | 66 | 45 | 64 | 2.87 | 2.95 (+3%) | -1501.6 |
| 1889 | BSN | NL | 20 | 11 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 277.0 | 282 | 113 | 72 | 99 | 3.67 | 3.93 (+7%) | 873.2 |
| 1890 | BSP | PL | 27 | 12 | 41 | 38 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 343.0 | 352 | 126 | 100 | 80 | 3.31 | 3.88 (+15%) | 1481.5 |
| 1891 | CIN | NL | 11 | 13 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 218.0 | 236 | 103 | 62 | 54 | 4.25 | 3.52 (-21%) | -1712.7 |
| Career · 11 seasons | 310 | 194 | 527 | 502 | 488 | 35 | 2 | 4,527.1 | 4,328 | 1,347 | 875 | 1,830 | 2.68 | — | 21,218 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 653 | 2,487 | 308 | 585 | 64 | 11 | 9 | 259 | 26 | 158 | 244 | .235 | .283 | .281 | .564 | -3,232 |
Career AVG .235 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — 7.0% below league average.
Career OBP .283 vs. league average .307 across their career seasons — 7.7% below league average.
Career SLG .281 vs. league average .340 across their career seasons — 17.5% below league average.
Career OPS .564 vs. league average .647 across their career seasons — 12.9% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | BFN | NL | 6 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .143 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1881 | PRO | NL | 72 | 270 | 27 | 59 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 15 | .219 | .260 (-16%) | .290 (-15%) | .338 (-26%) | .628 (-21%) | -739.1 |
| 1882 | PRO | NL | 83 | 326 | 30 | 78 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 12 | 22 | .239 | .248 (-4%) | .275 (-4%) | .329 (-14%) | .605 (-9%) | -358.4 |
| 1883 | PRO | NL | 89 | 381 | 59 | 108 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 48 | 0 | 14 | 16 | .283 | .257 (+10%) | .285 (+8%) | .345 (+2%) | .631 (+5%) | 346.1 |
| 1884 | PRO | NL | 87 | 361 | 48 | 83 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 26 | 42 | .230 | .243 (-5%) | .278 (+1%) | .327 (-20%) | .606 (-10%) | -370.3 |
| 1885 | PRO | NL | 66 | 249 | 34 | 58 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 36 | 27 | .233 | .244 (-5%) | .287 (+15%) | .325 (-12%) | .613 (avg) | 201.9 |
| 1886 | BSN | NL | 66 | 253 | 30 | 60 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 36 | .237 | .246 (-4%) | .302 (-6%) | .331 (-13%) | .634 (-10%) | -319.1 |
| 1887 | BSN | NL | 51 | 175 | 25 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 21 | .229 | .270 (-16%) | .331 (-7%) | .373 (-25%) | .705 (-17%) | -409.5 |
| 1888 | BSN | NL | 24 | 79 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 14 | .215 | .238 (-10%) | .290 (-10%) | .319 (-29%) | .610 (-20%) | -195.2 |
| 1889 | BSN | NL | 35 | 122 | 17 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 19 | .189 | .263 (-29%) | .334 (-23%) | .357 (-38%) | .691 (-31%) | -569.7 |
| 1890 | BSP | PL | 45 | 154 | 20 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 20 | .253 | .260 (-3%) | .336 (-11%) | .351 (-17%) | .687 (-14%) | -342.7 |
| 1891 | CIN | NL | 29 | 96 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 11 | .177 | .254 (-30%) | .331 (-32%) | .343 (-30%) | .675 (-31%) | -475.4 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 653 | 2,487 | 308 | 585 | 64 | 11 | 9 | 259 | 26 | 158 | 244 | .235 | — | — | — | — | -3,232 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .100 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | WS | PRO | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | .100 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 22.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0.00 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 8 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2B | 6 | 0 | 13 | 22 | 7 | 3 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 119 | 0 | 130 | 24 | 37 | 5 |
| P | 527 | 0 | 230 | 942 | 111 | 39 |
| SS | 16 | 0 | 15 | 55 | 12 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | BFN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1880 | BFN | OF | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1881 | PRO | OF | 25 | 0 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| 1881 | PRO | P | 41 | 0 | 25 | 71 | 10 | 2 |
| 1881 | PRO | SS | 13 | 0 | 14 | 43 | 9 | 6 |
| 1882 | PRO | OF | 32 | 0 | 49 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1882 | PRO | P | 54 | 0 | 22 | 92 | 11 | 3 |
| 1882 | PRO | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1883 | PRO | 1B | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1883 | PRO | OF | 20 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| 1883 | PRO | P | 76 | 0 | 33 | 139 | 15 | 3 |
| 1884 | PRO | 1B | 5 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1884 | PRO | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1884 | PRO | OF | 7 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1884 | PRO | P | 75 | 0 | 21 | 119 | 17 | 1 |
| 1884 | PRO | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1885 | PRO | 2B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1885 | PRO | OF | 16 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| 1885 | PRO | P | 49 | 0 | 18 | 115 | 9 | 7 |
| 1886 | BSN | OF | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1886 | BSN | P | 58 | 0 | 39 | 107 | 12 | 8 |
| 1887 | BSN | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1887 | BSN | P | 50 | 0 | 15 | 69 | 15 | 3 |
| 1888 | BSN | P | 24 | 0 | 14 | 37 | 6 | 1 |
| 1889 | BSN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1889 | BSN | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1889 | BSN | P | 33 | 0 | 19 | 58 | 2 | 6 |
| 1890 | BSP | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1890 | BSP | OF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1890 | BSP | P | 41 | 0 | 16 | 99 | 8 | 4 |
| 1891 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1891 | CIN | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1891 | CIN | P | 26 | 0 | 8 | 36 | 6 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 527 |
| First Base | 8 |
| Second Base | 6 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 16 |
| Left Field | 15 |
| Center Field | 12 |
| Right Field | 93 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | Pitching Triple Crown |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Old Hoss Radbourn (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Old Hoss Radbourn
Old Hoss Radbourn: the record in brief
May 5, 1880 and August 11, 1891 bracket Old Hoss Radbourn's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. By club, Radbourn's seasons break down as the Buffalo Bisons (1880), the Providence Grays (1881 to 1885), the Boston Beaneaters (1886 through 1889), the Boston Reds (1890), and the Cincinnati Reds (1891). Radbourn is listed as a pitcher at 168 pounds on a 5-foot-9 frame. Radbourn threw and hit right-handed, per the bio block. The recorded birth is December 11, 1854, in Rochester, NY, USA. Radbourn's death is recorded on February 5, 1897, in Bloomington, IL, USA. Old Hoss Radbourn was the playing name; the full given name is Charles Gardner.
The pitching table credits Radbourn with a 310-194 record and a 2.68 ERA in 527 games. The totals include 1,830 strikeouts, 488 complete games, and 35 shutouts. The leagues Radbourn pitched in allowed 3.43 earned runs per nine over those seasons, so the career ERA was 21.8% better than average.
Frequently Asked Questions about Old Hoss Radbourn
- What years did Old Hoss Radbourn play?
- Old Hoss Radbourn played in Major League Baseball from 1880 to 1891.
- Was Old Hoss Radbourn a pitcher?
- Yes. Old Hoss Radbourn pitched in the major leagues, recording 310 wins and 1830 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Old Hoss Radbourn hit?
- Old Hoss Radbourn hit 9 career home runs with 585 hits.
- Is Old Hoss Radbourn in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Old Hoss Radbourn was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.
- What teams did Old Hoss Radbourn play for?
- Old Hoss Radbourn played for 5 teams: the Buffalo Bisons (1880), the Providence Grays (1881–1885), the Boston Beaneaters (1886–1889), the Boston Reds (1890), and the Cincinnati Reds (1891).
- What awards did Old Hoss Radbourn win?
- Old Hoss Radbourn won the pitching Triple Crown (1884).
- What were Old Hoss Radbourn's career stats?
- In 527 games, Old Hoss Radbourn went 310-194 with a 2.68 ERA, 1,830 strikeouts, 4,527.1 innings pitched, and 2 saves. At the plate he had 585 hits and 9 home runs.
- What position did Old Hoss Radbourn play?
- Old Hoss Radbourn played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Old Hoss Radbourn and how much did he weigh?
- Old Hoss Radbourn was listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 168 pounds.
- What was Old Hoss Radbourn's career ERA?
- Old Hoss Radbourn finished with a 2.68 career ERA, going 310-194 with 1,830 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Old Hoss Radbourn have?
- Old Hoss Radbourn recorded 1,830 career strikeouts.