Tom Lovett

Thomas Joseph Lovett

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 162 lb.

• Debut June 4, 1885
• Final Game July 9, 1894
• Born December 7, 1863 in Providence, RI USA
• Died March 19, 1928 in Providence, RI USA

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Biographical Information

Tom Lovett pitched six seasons in the major leagues. His most impressive year was 1890, when he went 30-11 and led the league in winning percentage. His 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms won the 1890 National League pennant.

Tom was born and died in Providence, RI. Art Hagan and John Cattanach were born the same year in the same city. Tom wasn't the first major leaguer with the last name Lovett, as Len Lovett - who also played pitcher and outfielder - was up in 1873 and 1875.

Tom had been at Waterbury in 1884 before he broke into the majors in 1885. He came up in the American Association in 1885 and later in 1889, before going to the National League for the rest of his major league career. When he pitched with the 1885 Philadelphia Athletics, the star pitcher on the team was 33-year-old Bobby Mathews who went 30-17. Tom's seven wins tied for second best on the team.

In between his first and second stints in the American Association, Tom played in the minors. In 1886, he led the New England League in wins (32), strikeouts (300) and ERA (1.27) for a pitching Triple Crown. In 1887, he was 21-3 for Oshkosh, leading the Northwest League with 1.48 ERA. The next season, he won 30 games for the Omaha Omahogs. He led the Western Association in both wins and strikeouts (273).

When Tom came back up in 1889, he went 17-10, third best on the team behind Bob Caruthers who won 40 games and Adonis Terry who won 22. The team won the pennant.

After his best year in 1890, Tom came back with 23 victories in 1891, which was the highest total on a below-.500 team. Caruthers won 18 while Terry won 6. In 1892 he apparently held out all season.

After his major league days Tom continued to pitch in the minors. In 1895 he went 24-13 for his hometown, Providence. In 1904 he was an umpire in the Connecticut State League.

"When Tom Lovett demanded $3500 and refused to sign a contract for $2800 offered by the Brooklyn Club, he did not display much judgment. The club tried to compromise with him, offering him $3200, but he turned a deaf ear. After laying off a whole year, Lovett came back for $2400, and lasted about one month. I cannot see where Lovett gained by his stubbornness . . ." - Sporting Life, August 8, 1896, quoting Dave Foutz

Notable Achievements

• NL Winning Percentage Leader (1890)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1890 & 1891)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1890)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1889-1891)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1890 & 1891)