- Adonis Terry
Infobox MLB retired
name=Adonis Terry
position=Pitcher /Outfielder
birthdate=August 7 ,1864
city-state|Westfield|Massachusetts
deathdate=death date and age|1915|2|24|1864|8|7
city-state|Milwaukee|Wisconsin
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=May 1
debutyear=by|1884
debutteam=Brooklyn Grays
finaldate=April 27
finalyear=by|1897
finalteam=Chicago Colts
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat2label=ERA
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat1value=197-196
stat2value=3.74
stat3value=1,553
teams=
*Brooklyn Atlantics/Grays/Bridgegrooms/Grooms (by|1884–by|1891)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|1892)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1892–by|1894)
*Chicago Colts (by|1894–by|1897)
highlights=
*Pitched twono-hitter sWilliam H. "Adonis" Terry (
August 7 1864 –February 24 1915 ) was an AmericanMajor League Baseball player whose career spanned from his debut with the Brooklyn Atlantics in by|1884, to the Chicago Colts in by|1897. In his 13 seasons, he compiled a 197-196 win–loss record, winning 20 or more games in a season four different times.cite web| title = Adonis Terry's Stats | work = retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/T/Pterra101.htm | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] He was considered a clean living player and kept himself in great condition in a time when many players were known for their off-field (and sometimes on-field) drunken escapades including many Hall of Famers.cite web|url=http://adonisterry.tripod.com/index.html|title=William "Adonis" Terry - The Forgotten Legend of 19th Century Baseball|publisher=adonisterry.tripod.com|accessdate=2008-10-01]Career
Brooklyn
Born in
Westfield, Massachusetts , Terry began his professional career with the minor league Brooklyn Grays in by|1883, who won the Interstate Championship that season. The following season, the team was admitted into the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics, and he stayed with the team. In that by|1884 season, the team finished in ninth place, and his win/loss record reflected that. Although his record was 19 and 35, he did have a goodearned run average of 3.55, and struck out 230 hitters.cite web| title = 1884 Brooklyn Atlantics team | work = baseball-reference.com | url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1884.shtml | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ]Over the next three seasons, Terry had average to good seasons, had a combined record of 40 wins and 49 losses, even throwing a
no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns on July 24, 1886.cite web| title = The Dodger Enclyclopedia | work = by William McNeil | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=aKQ3CQYbYXkC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=%22adonis+terry%22+baseball&source=web&ots=Ttqa1Jv3XU&sig=c_b2JmAbSWzgS2YcCvZSxpIS_W4 | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] But it was not until by|1888 that he turned into a star pitcher. In that season, he had a 13-8 record, a 2.03 ERA, and tossed his second no-hitter, this time against theLouisville Colonels on May 27, 1888.In by|1889, the team won the American Association championship with Terry winning 22 games. He pitched five games, winning two, in the "World Series" after the season with the New York Giants, a series that Brooklyn lost six games to three. The Bridegrooms joined the
National League in by|1890, and again finished first behind Terry's 26-16 record and the team tied the Louisville team of the American Association in the World Series with three wins and three losses each and one tie. The by|1891 season turned out to be a disappointment for both Brooklyn and Terry, as the team finished in sixth place and Terry record fell to 6-16 and a 4.22 ERA.cite web| title = 1891 Brooklyn Grooms team | work = baseball-reference.com | url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1891.shtml | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ]Pittsburgh
On June 10, 1892, Brooklyn released Terry, and was quickly signed by the Baltimore Orioles on June 14. He played just one game for Baltimore, a complete games loss, and was then traded to the
Pittsburgh Pirates on June 17 in exchange forCub Stricker . He pitched well in his 2+ seasons for Pittsburgh, winning 18 games in by|1892 and 12 more in by|1893.Chicago
In by|1894, he changed teams for the last time. After pitching in one game for the Pirates, he was then picked up by the Chicago Colts and had moderate success in his four seasons with them. He went on to win 21 games in by|1895 and 15 more in by|1896.
On July 13, 1896, he had the unfortunate distinction of giving up all four
home run s to Philadelphia Phillie hall-of-FamerEd Delahanty in a game played at the oldWest Side Grounds . Pitching thecomplete game , he and his Colts were able to prevail, winning the game 9-8.cite web| title = Adonis Terry Chronology | work = baseballlibrary.com | url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Adonis_Terry_1864&page=chronology | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] cite web| title = Box Score of Four Home Run Game by Ed Delahanty | work = baseball-almanac.com | url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07131896.shtml | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] He played only one game the following season in by|1897, a complete game loss before his career came to end.His career totals include a 197 wins against 196 losses, a 3.74 ERA, and 1553 strikeouts in 3514.3 innings pitched. He was also a versatile player, often playing other positions including 216 games in the outfield, with games also played at
shortstop ,first base , andthird base .Post-career
Umpiring
After his Major League career was over, he became an umpire for 39 games in the by|1900
National League season. He had filled the umpire position from time to time during his playing days. In total, he umpired 51 games, 48 of them as the home plate umpire, as the custom was that there was only one umpire used in each game.Death
Adonis is the honoree of old-time baseball events that are held in his hometown of Westfield, such as the group Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Base Ball Club.cite web| title = Westfield on Weekends | work = westfieldonweekends.org | url=http://www.westfieldonweekends.org/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=11&month=07&year=2006 | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] Terry died in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 50 from an episode ofpneumonia ,cite web| title = The Dead Ball Era: Too Young To Die | work = thedeadballera.com | url=http://www.thedeadballera.com/tooyoung.html | accessdate = 2008-01-08 ] and was cremated.Arguments for his Hall of Fame induction
Several arguments have been brought forth for his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the number one starting pitcher for two Brooklyn teams that won league titles, won 20 or more games in a season three times and pitched two no-hitters. He also adapted successfully to constant rules changes that directly affected pitchers: these included seeing the
pitchers mound moved back 10 and half feet during the prime of his career. Supporters also point to career statistics that are similar to other Hall of FamersRube Waddell andJack Chesbro .ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
*List of Major League Baseball no-hitters References
External links
Persondata
NAME = Terry, Adonis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Terry, William H.
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Major League Baseball player
DATE OF BIRTH =August 7 1864
PLACE OF BIRTH =Westfield, Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH =February 24 1915
PLACE OF DEATH =Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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