1. Overview
Edward Nicholas Crane (1862-1896), widely known by his nickname "Cannonball," was an American right-handed pitcher and outfielder who played for eight seasons in Major League Baseball. His career spanned multiple teams including the Boston Reds, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, Washington Nationals, New York Giants (NL), New York Giants (PL), Cincinnati Kelly's Killers, Cincinnati Reds, and Brooklyn Grooms. Crane holds the distinction of being the first pitcher in major league history to record four strikeouts in a single inning, an achievement he accomplished with the New York Giants in 1888. He is also notable for being one of the few players to have competed in four different major leagues: the Union Association, the National League, the Players' League, and the American Association.
Born in Boston, Crane was renowned for his extraordinary physical strength, described in his prime as "a giant in physical strength and proportions." He was reportedly capable of throwing a baseball an impressive 135 yd, a distance unmatched by any other player of his era. Following the conclusion of his playing career, Crane died under circumstances officially ruled an accidental overdose, though alternative reports suggested suicide. His life and career, particularly the mystery surrounding his death, have been re-examined in modern literature.
2. Early Life and Background
Edward Nicholas Crane was born on May 27, 1862, in Boston, Massachusetts. From an early age, Crane was recognized for his uncommon physical strength and imposing stature. During his peak, he was characterized as "a giant in physical strength and proportions," a description that highlighted his robust build. His powerful physique was also evident in his ability to throw a baseball an exceptional distance, reportedly reaching 135 yd, a feat that surpassed the throwing capabilities of his contemporaries in the sport.
3. Playing Career
Edward Crane's professional baseball career spanned eight seasons, during which he showcased his versatility as both a pitcher and an outfielder across various leagues and teams. His career was marked by periods of remarkable success, pioneering achievements, and later, a decline influenced by personal struggles.
3.1. Debut and Early Career (1884-1887)
Crane began his professional baseball journey in April 1884, making his debut with the Boston Reds of the Union Association. In his rookie season, he played in 101 games, demonstrating his versatility by appearing in 57 games as an outfielder and 42 as a catcher. He quickly established himself as a formidable hitter, ranking among the Union Association's league leaders in several batting categories. He finished second in the league with 12 home runs, fourth in slugging percentage with .451, fourth in total bases with 193, and fifth in extra-base hits with 41. He also recorded 59 runs (seventh in the UA), 122 hits (eighth in the UA), and maintained a .285 batting average (tenth in the UA).
Following this promising rookie year, Crane transitioned to the National League in 1885, where he played for the Providence Grays and Buffalo Bisons. However, his playing time was limited, as he appeared in only 14 games, exclusively as an outfielder. In 1886, Crane joined the Washington Nationals, playing in 80 games, with 68 appearances in the outfield and 10 as a pitcher (70 innings). His batting performance significantly declined, with his average plummeting to .171 and 54 strikeouts. As a pitcher, he struggled, posting a 1-7 record with a high earned run average of 7.20.
After a challenging 1886 season, Crane did not secure a major league spot in 1887. Instead, he moved to Canada, where he had an exceptional season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the International League. In 1887, he won the International League batting title with an impressive .428 average, a statistic influenced by the league's rule at the time that counted bases on balls as hits. This .428 average remains the highest batting average ever recorded by a pitcher in professional baseball. Furthermore, Crane set an all-time Maple Leafs record with 33 wins, leading the team to their first International League pennant. During one notable instance in 1887, Crane won both games of a Saturday doubleheader and hit the game-winning home run in the second game.
3.2. New York Giants and Major Achievements (1888-1890)
After his stellar performance with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Crane signed with the New York Giants, playing for them in 1888 and 1889. In the 1888 season, Crane recorded a 5-6 record for the Giants, who were the champions of the pre-modern World Series. During this year, Crane achieved two significant baseball firsts. On September 27, 1888, he became the first player in New York Giants history to throw a no-hitter. In a seven-inning game against the Senators, which was called due to darkness, Crane held the opposition hitless in a 3-0 victory at the Polo Grounds. He retired six batters on ground balls to himself and struck out five Senators. The following week, on October 4, 1888, Crane made history again by becoming the first pitcher in major league history to strike out four batters in one inning.
In the 1889 season, Crane's performance improved significantly. He pitched in 29 games, starting 25 of them, and compiled a 14-10 record with an earned run average of 2.43 over 230 innings. Crane's career reached its peak in the 1889 World Series, where he excelled both as a pitcher and a batter. On the mound, he started five games, winning four, and pitched 38 innings with a 3.79 ERA. At the plate, Crane contributed significantly with five RBIs, a .611 slugging percentage, three runs scored, a double, a triple, and a home run. An October 1889 newspaper account in The World described his World Series performance: "Ed Crane, fat and jolly, went into the pitcher's box for New York... Ed shot them in with terrific speed and brought joy to the New Yorkers, who saw the Grooms [i.e., Brooklyn Bridegrooms] succumb, one after another, to his invincible 'curves' and 'shoots'."
3.3. Spalding World Tour and Alcohol Dependence
After reaching the pinnacle of his career in the 1889 World Series, Edward Crane's life took a downturn that autumn. Following the 1889 season, Crane participated in the renowned Spalding World Tour, an extensive exhibition trip organized by Albert Spalding that featured 20 of baseball's best players. The tour, which covered Asia and Europe, lasted until early April 1890. It was during this tour that Crane developed a taste for alcohol. A newspaper account noted, "Until then, he never drank, but when the aggregation reached Paris Crane fell. . . . When he reached America again not only could he drink champagne but he had acquired a taste for less expensive drinks." The world tour was reportedly the "turning point" in Crane's life, as his increasing alcohol dependence eventually left him "without employment and incapacitated for work." A detailed account of Crane's experiences on the Spalding World Tour can be found in Mark Lamster's book, "Spalding's World Tour: The Epic Adventure that Took Baseball Around the Globe-and Made It America's Game."
3.4. Later Career and League Movements (1891-1893)
Upon his return from the Spalding tour, Crane joined the Players' League movement, a competing league formed by players in 1890. He played for the newly established New York Giants of the Players' League alongside many of his former teammates. In 1890, he posted a record of 16-19 with an ERA of 3.68 over 330 and one-third innings. However, starting in 1890, Crane's pitching control began to falter significantly, as he issued walks at a historic rate. In that year, he gave up 210 bases on balls, which ranked as the 13th highest single-season total in major league history. This trend continued with 203 walks in 1891 and 189 in 1892, both years also placing among the highest single-season totals of all time.
In 1891, Crane played for the Cincinnati Kelly's Killers and led the American Association with a 2.45 ERA and 25 complete games in 250 innings. He concluded the 1891 season with the Cincinnati Reds, finishing the year with an 18-22 record. In 1892, he returned to the New York Giants and recorded a 24-loss season. His major league career came to an end in 1893, when the 31-year-old Crane split his final season between the Giants and the Brooklyn Grooms.
3.5. Final Years of Playing Career (1894-1896)
After his release from the Brooklyn Grooms, Edward Crane continued his playing career with minor league teams, including stints with Toronto, Providence, and Rochester. The 1896 season proved to be his last in professional baseball. While playing for Rochester, he "proved to be a failure but played the season out." According to his obituary, his "arm was in poor shape," leading to his release from the Rochester team. He was subsequently picked up by Springfield, where he "fared no better." Following his playing days, he briefly served as an umpire for a few games in Rochester but was eventually released by the league president.
4. Personal Characteristics and Nickname
Edward Crane was a physically imposing figure, widely recognized for his immense strength and large build. In his prime, he was described as "a giant in physical strength and proportions," reflecting his powerful physique. His exceptional strength was also evident in his ability to throw a baseball an extraordinary 135 yd, a distance that reportedly surpassed any other player of his era.
His notable physical size led to his enduring nickname, "Cannonball." Standing at 5 ft 10 in and weighing 204 lb (204 lb), his nickname aptly captured his formidable presence. Beyond his athletic prowess, Crane was also known for his prodigious appetite. He was described as a "prodigious eater," with a particularly famous snack preference: "an order of a dozen soft-boiled eggs served in a soup bowl, which he liked to top off with an order of two dozen clams."
5. Death
After his final release from professional baseball, the 34-year-old Edward Crane spent the last few weeks of his life traveling the country, taking on odd jobs, and increasingly struggling with alcohol dependence, described as "drinking harder and harder." The day before his death, he received notice that he would need to vacate his room in a Rochester, New York hotel the following day. He had been drinking heavily throughout that day and appeared "very gloomy" when he retired for the night. The next morning, on September 20, 1896, Crane was found dead in his bed.
A coroner's inquest was conducted to determine the cause of death. The official verdict declared it an "accidental death from taking a chloral prescription for nervousness." However, despite the coroner's findings, other reports emerged suggesting that Crane had committed suicide by drinking acid. Edward Crane was survived by his wife and child.
6. Re-examination in Literature
Edward "Cannonball" Crane's life and career, particularly the enigmatic circumstances surrounding his death, have been reinterpreted in modern literature. In 1996, Canadian poet Bruce Meyer published his book "Goodbye Mr. Spalding." This collection includes a story titled "Sunlight Park," named after the first baseball park in Toronto.
Meyer's narrative chronicles Crane's remarkable performance in 1887, when he led the Maple Leafs to Toronto's first baseball championship pennant. The story intertwines Crane's historical achievements with a contemporary plotline involving a grieving father. Unable to cope with the death of his teenage son, the father becomes consumed by a desire to uncover the truth behind Cannonball Crane's final days. His quest to unravel this historical mystery transports him through time to an imagined meeting with Crane. Through this "interview," the mystery of Crane's apparent suicide is resolved, which in turn helps the father come to terms with the death of his own son.