~ The National League Providence Grays won the first World Series beating the New York Metropolitans of the American Association 3 games to 0 in 1884. Providence pitcher, Old Hoss Radbourn, won 59 games in the regular season and all three World Series games.
~ The term "Bullpen" was created by the NL Providence Grays. The bullpen was originally created to park carriages of well to do patrons.
~ Paul Hines of the NL Providence Grays was the first player to wear sunglasses during a game and completed the first ever unassisted triple play in a major league game.
~ The NL Providence Grays were the first team ever to use a turnstile to control fans entering the ballfield and the first team to wear gray uniforms.
~ April 30, 1879. Providence Grays pitcher and future Hall of Famer, John Ward saves his own shutout by backing up home plate on a throw from the outfield. (First recorded instance of this play.)
~ Providence Grays’ George Wright is the first victim of Baseball’s reserve system when he turns down Providence’s final offer and cannot sign with Worcester.
~ John Lee Richmond, Brown University baseball star, makes his pro debut with the Worcester Ruby Legs by no-hitting Chicago in a 7 - inning game 11 - 0. Major League’s first no-hitter. June 2, 1879. (Richmond comes back to Brown and beats Yale, 3-2, for the College Baseball Championship on June 9th, 1879.
~ Woonsocket born Gabby Hartnett holds the Guinness Book of World Records for catching a baseball from the highest level, 800 ft. He did it twice. The balls were thrown from a blimp in Los Angeles on April 1st, 1930.
~ Rhode Island hosted the only professional team ever to end a season with a losing record (0 - 1) without ever playing a game. (Woonsocket Trotters/Prodicals - 1908.)
~ Cranston native, Hugh Duffy, still holds the ML's highest batting average at .440 set in 1894.
~Duffy, Hartnett and Nap Lajoie are Rhode Islanders who have been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. There have been 96 Rhode Islanders who have played in the Majors. (Does not include Mike Stenhouse and Harry Partee.)
