Welcome Gaston

Welcome Thornburg Gaston

• Bats Unknown, Throws Left

• Debut October 6, 1898
• Final Game April 28, 1899
• Born December 19, 1874 in Senecaville, OH USA
• Died December 13, 1944 in Columbus, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

" 'Welcome' Gaston appears to 'fit like a glove' on the new Brooklyn team. With 'Gas' in the box and 'Dan' McGann on first it would look quite familiar to Torontonians." - Sporting Life, April 15, 1899

Welcome Gaston had a good ERA and also a top slugging percentage in the three major league games he played in 1898-99. The 1898 Brooklyn team finished last while the 1899 Brooklyn team finished first. He also played well with Toronto in 1897-98, going 13-8 and then 16-12 for the team (while also spending part of each year with another team).

He played for a local team from Cambridge, OH called " Caseys Colts", managed by a Frank S.Casey in 1895. Welcome pitched against Fort Wayne in the last game of 1896 and held Fort Wayne scoreless for nine innings. Other members of the team were Guy Hecker, Joe Delahanty, Dick Padden, and Cy Swaim. In the latter part of 1895 Win Mercer and Cy Young played some. From the History of Guernsey County, Ohio.

In 1917 he was umpiring in the Western League.

He was sometimes referred to as W. T. Gaston, and should not be confused with W. D. Gaston (William David Gaston), who played over a decade in the minors and also managed. W. D., although he once played in Ohio, which was Welcome Gaston's home state, mostly played in the South.

He holds the major league record for most career walks (13) without a strikeout.