Lady Baldwin

Baldwin was born in 1859 in Oramel, Allegany County, New York, approximately 60 miles southeast of Buffalo. As a boy, he moved with his family to Barry County in western Michigan, first to Johnstown Township and then to Hastings. His battery-mate on the Hastings team was Deacon McGuire, with whom he would later play as a member of the Detroit Wolverines. ==Professional baseball career==

Grand Rapids Baldwin began his professional baseball career in 1883 playing for the Grand Rapids, Michigan, team in the Northwestern League. Milwaukee Brewers In 1884, at age 25, Baldwin played for the Milwaukee Brewers of the Northwestern League. He compiled a 9–10 record in 22 games in the Northwestern League despite having an impressive 1.17 earned run average (ERA). The Northwestern League disbanded during the 1884 season, and the Brewers became part of the Union Association, considered a major league, toward the end of the season. Baldwin made his major league debut with the Brewers on September 30, 1884. He compiled a 1–1 record and 2.65 ERA in two games in the Union Association. Nickname Baldwin was given the nickname "Lady" because of his "quiet ways" and his refusal to swear or to come into contact with either tobacco or liquor. Detroit Wolverines During the 1885 season, Baldwin was acquired by the Detroit Wolverines of the National League. He appeared in 21 games for Detroit in 1885 and, despite an impressive 1.86 ERA, managed only an 11–9 record for a team that finished in sixth place with a 41–67 record. In 1886, the Wolverines acquired "The Big Four" (Dan Brouthers, Deacon White, Hardy Richardson, and Jack Rowe) from Buffalo and improved to second place and an 87–36 record. Baldwin accounted for nearly half of Detroit's victories in 1886. He compiled a record of 42–13 with a 2.24 ERA in 487 innings pitched, striking out 323 of 1,936 batters faced. Baldwin also completed 55 of 56 games, seven of which were via shutout. Another was a one-hitter against Washington in June 1886 in which he struck out 13 batters. Baldwin's 42 wins in 1886 set a major league record for a left-handed pitcher and remains the second highest single season total by a southpaw. Baldwin was also "reputed to be the first southpaw hurler to master the curve." In 1887, the Wolverines won the National League pennant and the 1887 World Series. However, a shoulder injury sidelined Baldwin during the season, and he was "sent home without pay" in late July. Baldwin was also a strong hitting pitcher. During Detroit's 1887 championship year, Baldwin compiled a respectable .271 batting average and a .354 on-base percentage. Brooklyn and Buffalo Baldwin attempted a comeback in 1890. He split the 1890 season between the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the National League and the Buffalo Bisons of the Players' League. He compiled a 3–5 record and 4.78 ERA in nine games for the two teams. ==Family and later years==

By 1890, Baldwin had returned to his hometown of Hastings, Michigan, and taken up farming. At the time of the 1900 Census, Baldwin was living in Hastings with his wife Dora E. Baldwin. He remained in Hastings for the remainder of his life and became a successful orchard owner and farmer. In 1910, he was seriously injured when he fell from a hay mow, breaking his collarbone. The injury deprived Baldwin of the full use of his right arm, and he underwent surgery at the University of Michigan Hospital to correct the problem. In 1914, he was again seriously injured after falling from a ladder and was unable to walk for months. He later went into the real estate business in Hastings. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Hastings. ==See also==