Hardie Henderson

James Harding Henderson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 194 lb.

• Debut May 2, 1883
• Final Game May 24, 1888
• Born October 31, 1862 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 6, 1903 in Philadelphia, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Hardie Henderson, from Philadelphia, PA, pitched six years in the majors, mostly in the American Association. He won 27 games in 1884 with a league-leading strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio of 7.09. He also led the league in a number of negative categories the following season with the Baltimore Orioles: bases on balls, hits allowed, losses, earned runs and wild pitches.

Known as a serious drinker, he was involved in a number of off-field incidents while playing for the Orioles. In September, 1883, he got into a wrangle over a girl at a masked ball at Kernan's Theater in Baltimore, MD and was arrested along with two teammates; he was fined $150 for public drunkenness, although the fine seemed to have had little effect on his tippling habits. He was arrested again in July of 1884 when a number of players from the Orioles and the St. Louis Browns were involved in a drunken brawl at a private party in St. Louis, MO. He apparently behaved so badly on the trip to the police station that "extreme measures" had to be used to restrain him and Fred Lewis of the Browns. He was issued another $150 fine by manager Bill Barnie.

He is the only major leaguer remembered with the first name "Hardie", although Lou Hardie had it for a last name. Henderson was a National League umpire for parts of 1895 and 1896; he had also worked on A.A. game in 1889. In an ironic yet unfortunate turn of events, the former Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers pitcher died after being run over by a trolley car.

Notable Achievements

• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1884 & 1885)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1883-1886)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1883-1885)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1884 & 1885)
• 500 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1885)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 2 (1884 & 1885)
• 300 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1884)