Pop Corkhill

John Stewart Corkhill

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut May 1, 1883
• Final Game July 13, 1892
• Born April 11, 1858 in Parkesburg, PA USA
• Died April 4, 1921 in Pennsauken, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“It would be impossible to describe the high regard in which Pop Corkhill is held by the Brooklyn patrons of the game. He is looked upon as a thorough gentleman and his every act meets with big applause.” - Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 12, 1889

Outfielder John "Pop" Corkhill sported one of the great mustaches in the history of humankind (as pictured above). He played ten seasons in the majors, mostly in the American Association with the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Pop made news before he ever played a major league game. He signed in 1882 with both the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Red Stockings, and the resulting situation made the newspapers; a buyout had to be arranged. Debuting with Cincinnati in 1883, Pop was a defensive whiz (for the times) in right field, among the league leaders in fielding percentage as well as, retroactively, advanced defensive metrics. In fact, a SABR article chose Corkhill as one of the three top outfielders for the 1880s in the American Association. He is also believed to be one of the first men to adapt the philosophy of sliding headfirst.

Pop was no slouch at the plate either. In 1887, he batted .311/.333/.414 with 97 RBI and 79 runs scored. The previous year, he had been second in the Association at driving runners in, with an identical 97. He also did some pitching in Cincinnati, saving 2 games in 17 appearances across five seasons. He played just about everywhere else except catcher.

In 1888, Corkhill was moved to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, becoming the center fielder for two pennant winners in two leagues: the 1889 crown in the American Association before the club leapt to the depleted National League in 1890 and came home first in a year of three leagues. His career came to a screeching halt with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1892, a year after taking an Ed Crane pitch to the jaw. He died in 1921 following an operation.

Notable Achievements

• AA Saves Leader (1888)

Related Sites

• Pop Corkhill at the SABR Bio Project