Albert Spalding

Albert Goodwill Spalding
Spalding the businessman at 60, 1910
Pitcher
Born: September 2, 1849 Byron, Illinois, U.S.
Died: September 9, 1915(1915-09-09) (aged 66) San Diego, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 5, 1871, for the Boston Red Stockings
Last MLB appearance
August 31, 1878, for the Chicago White Stockings
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	252–65
Earned run average	2.14
Strikeouts	248
Batting average	.313
Hits	613
Runs batted in	338
Teams
National Association of Base Ball Players Rockford Forest Citys (1866–1870)   League Player Boston Red Stockings (1871–1875) Chicago White Stockings (1876–1878)   League Manager Chicago White Stockings (1876–1877)
Career highlights and awards
4× NA pennant (1872–1875) NL pennant (1876) 6× Wins leader (1871–1876) Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1939
Election method	Old-Timers Committee

Albert Goodwill Spalding (September 2, 1849 – September 9, 1915) was an American pitcher, manager, and executive in the early years of professional baseball, and the co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company. He was born and raised in Byron, Illinois, yet graduated from Rockford Central High School in Rockford, Illinois. He played major league baseball between 1871 and 1878. Spalding set a trend when he started wearing a baseball glove.

After his retirement as a player, Spalding remained active with the Chicago White Stockings as president and part-owner. In the 1880s, he took players on the first world tour of baseball. With William Hulbert, Spalding organized the National League. He later called for the commission that investigated the origins of baseball and falsely credited Abner Doubleday with creating the game.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.^[1]