Charlie Ferguson (ferguch01)

Charles J. Ferguson

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut May 1, 1884
• Final Game October 8, 1887
• Born April 17, 1863 in Charlottesville, VA CSA
• Died April 29, 1888 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

1887 baseball card for Charlie Ferguson

Pitcher Charlie Ferguson won more than 20 games in each of his four seasons in the majors but died of typhoid fever shortly after turning 25 years old.

He was not only a very good pitcher, but also an excellent hitter. His manager all four years was Harry Wright, in his first years managing the Philadelphia Quakers. He pitched a no-hitter in 1885.

He umpired one National League game in 1886.

His obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer says he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1882 and then pitched a team to the Eastern League championship. However, registration records from Penn disprove that he ever was a student there. He is also said to have played for the University of Virginia team (based in his hometown of Charlottesville, VA, but if he did, it was without ever registering as a student there. He died with a widow but no children, as he had buried an infant daughter the previous year.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time NL Saves Leader (1886 & 1887)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 4 (1884-1887)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1886)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1884-1887)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1884-1886)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1884 & 1885)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1886)

Related Sites

• Charlie Ferguson at the SABR Bio Project
• Obituary