Ledell Titcomb

Ledell Titcomb
(Cannonball)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 6", Weight 157 lb.

• Debut May 5, 1886
• Final Game October 15, 1890
• Born August 21, 1866 in West Baldwin, ME USA
• Died June 8, 1950 in Exeter, NH USA

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Biographical Information

Ledell "Cannonball" Titcomb pitched five years in the major leagues. Although he started out 0-5 in 1886, he also had a 14-8 year in 1888 and a 10-9 year in 1890.

Standing at 5' 6" tall, he is one of the shortest players ever to pitch in major league baseball. However, Sporting Life in 1887 described him as 5' 9", and 157 pounds. The article said he played for Haverhill in 1884-1885.

Several players during the 1880s were given the nickname Cannonball, but Titcomb is the only one who is remembered with the name as his first name. He may have gotten the nickname because he threw a lot of strikeouts - in 1888, he was second in the league in strikeouts per nine innings (behind teammate Tim Keefe). Teammate Ed Crane is also remembered with the nickname Cannonball - Titcomb and Crane were called "The Cannonball Duo" as the New York Giants won the pennant in 1888 and also the post-season contest. Sporting Life, however, called him Ledell.

He was Opening Day starter in 1888. He threw a no-hitter in 1890.

A baseball card can be found here: Titcomb The Phillies Encyclopedia also has a photo of him.

"Two thousand throats gave Ledell Titcomb an ovation of which he should be justly proud on Saturday when he stepped in the pitcher's box to pitch his first game for Jersey City. And it is the verdict of all who saw the game that he is a 'dandy'. . . Tuesday Titcomb pitched his second game, and scored his second victory . . . Titcomb struck out eight men, and would have struck out as many more had Umpire Hoover understood the nature of a ball or strike. . ." - Sporting Life issue of May 25, 1887, written by their Jersey City correspondent

Related Sites

• Ledell Titcomb at the SABR Bio Project