Scott Stratton

Stratton was born in Campbellsburg, Kentucky, in 1869. He started his professional baseball career in 1888.[1] Primarily a pitcher, Stratton sometimes played in the outfield on days he didn't pitch because of his hitting and fielding skills.

Stratton's best season was his third, in 1890. Playing for Louisville as a 20-year old, he had 431 innings pitched, a 34–14 win–loss record, a 2.36 earned run average (ERA), a 164 ERA+, and 207 strikeouts.[2] He led the American Association in ERA and ERA+ and set a major league record by starting 25 consecutive games that his team won. Louisville won the pennant. There were three major leagues in 1890, and the AA was the weakest of the three. In the 1890 World Series, Stratton made three starts and went 1–1.[2]

Stratton's statistics were never as good before or after the 1890 season, though he did win 21 games in 1892. His major league career ended in 1895. In his major league career, Stratton had a 97–114 record, a 3.87 ERA, 570 strikeouts, and a .274 batting average. Afterwards, he played in the minor leagues as an outfielder until 1900.[1]

Stratton was a Sabbatarian, and for most of his career, he refused to play baseball on Sundays. He married Bessie Anderson in 1890, and the couple had a son in 1891 and a daughter in 1893. Stratton's brother-in-law was Bill Anderson.[3]

Stratton died in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1939.[2]

• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
• List of Major League Baseball single-season wins leaders

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scott Stratton.

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Scott Stratton at Find a Grave