Welch was a 19th century pitcher born in Brooklyn who began his career in Troy, New York, when that was a major league franchise. He quickly established himself as a quality pitcher in three years with Troy. Economic realities being what they were and are, the franchise was shifted to New York City the next year, and Welch had a homecoming of sorts.
His 1884 and 1885 seasons were among the best of the time, though overshadowed by contemporaries like Old Hoss Radbourn. Welch's value lay more in consistency and reliability, hard to come by in those years when many aces pitched 500 innings a year...but not for very long. Mickey's arm was sturdier than most, with eleven straight years of at least 250 innings from 1880 through 1890.
Welch earned 136.79 ratings points.
Welch's stats: 307-210, 2.71 ERA, 525 complete games. posted by Shawn Weaver at 10:19 AM
