Charlie Sprague
Born: 10/10/1864 in Cleveland, OH, USA
Died: 12/31/1912 in Des Moines, IA, USA
MLB Debut: 1887-09-17 | Final Game: 1890-10-10
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 150 lbs
Full name: Charles Wellington Sprague
Biography
Charlie Sprague was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the late 19th century, a time when the game was still evolving rapidly in terms of rules and playing style. Born in 1864, Sprague's career spanned from 1887 to 1890, during which he was known for his competitive spirit on the mound. He recorded a win-loss record of 10-7 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 4.51, showcasing his ability to compete against the era's hitters. Over his relatively brief career, he struck out 76 batters, demonstrating his potential as a strikeout pitcher during a period that was not dominated by such statistics.
Sprague's contributions to the game came during a transitional phase between the deadball era and the more modern approach to pitching and hitting. While he did not record any saves, his role as a starting pitcher allowed him to be a part of a team's rotation, contributing to the overall strategy of the game. His career, though not extensive, reflects the challenges and developments of baseball at the time, as players like Sprague laid the groundwork for future generations of pitchers.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 161.7 | 162 | 81 | 1 | 101 | 76 | 4.51 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22.0 | 24 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 4.91 | - |
| 1889 | CL4 | NL | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 8.47 | -106.5 |
| 1890 | TL2 | AA | 9 | 5 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 122.7 | 111 | 53 | 78 | 59 | 3.89 | -1321.1 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 219 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 0.228 | 0.293 | 0.320 | 0.613 | -289.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 | CHC | NL | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1889 | CL4 | NL | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1890 | TL2 | AA | 55 | 199 | 25 | 47 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 0.236 | -289.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 41 | 0 | 53 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| P | 24 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 | CHN | P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1887 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1889 | CL4 | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1890 | TL2 | P | 19 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 1890 | TL2 | OF | 40 | 0 | 53 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 24 |
| Left Field | 24 |
| Center Field | 11 |
| Right Field | 6 |