Albert Spalding MLB Hall of Fame 1939

Albert G Spalding was inducted into the fourth MLB Hall of Fame class in 1939 along with Cap Anson, Edward Collins, Charles Comiskey, Candy Cummings, Buck Ewing, Lou Gehrig, Wee Willie Keeler, Old Hoss Radbourn and George Sisler. Spalding was a RHP\OF\1B with eight seasons MLB experience playing with the Boston Red Stockings (1871-1875) and Chicago White Sockings (1876-1878). For his MLB career he hit .313/.323/.379 with 2 HR, 338 RBI, 417 R, 18 SB in 411 games. For his MLB career as a pitcher he was 252-65 with a 2.13 ERA, 248 K, 1.19 WHIP, 13 SV, 279 complete games, 24 shut outs in 2886.1 IP over 347 games. 

I believe his best three seasons were 1875 when he was 54-5 with a 1.59 ERA, 75 K, 1.04 WHIP, 9 SV, 52 complete games, 7 shut outs in 570.2 IP over 72 games, 1874 when he was 52-16 with a 1.92 ERA, 31 K, 1.25 WHIP, 65 complete games, 4 shut outs in 617.1 IP over 71 games and 1876 when he was 47-12 with a 1.75 ERA, 39 K, 1.07 WHIP, 53 complete games, 8 shut outs in 528.2 IP over 61 games. Spalding still holds the MLB best career winning percentage of .795.

However it was his position of baseball pioneer and executive that warranted the inclusion of Spalding to the Hall of Fame. Spalding aided in the formation of the National League. He helped the owner of the Chicago White Stockings William Hulbert initially recruit players from other teams to join the team. Then he helped Hulbert secretly meet with other team owners in New York where they signed the league constitution.

Spalding was also influential to the game through the sporting goods company he owned with his brother. They helped push the use of gloves in the game. Spalding helped raise the exposure of the product as one of the more successful players in the game. He also published the first official guide for baseball which declared that only Spalding baseballs could be used. 

Hall of Fame page