Career Victories Leader Retires From League
Edmund Parker has quit the game of baseball after twenty six seasons in the League.
Parker, who spent his entire career with Blackburn Rovers since their entry into the League in 1888, has never been the greatest pitcher in the game at any time during his career, but he was the most durable, and the proof of this is that he leaves baseball having won the most games of any pitcher in the annals of the League. In 24 years in the top flight Parker recorded 356 victories, and in the final two years in the second tier he won thirteen more, for a total of 369 League wins, far and away the most by any pitcher. Jesse Morgan has 286 victories, and he is believed to continue pitching next year as well.
By dint mainly of his longevity, Parker holds many career records. He has pitched the most games, 725; the most innings, 5,502; he has given up the most base hits and the most home runs. He is second in career losses (266); second in strikeouts (2,174); but he ranks only 47th in earned runs average (2.85). Again, he is a very good pitcher, but not necessarily a great pitcher. Nevertheless, Parker has had a notable career for the accomplishments he achieved.
Parker won three championships with Rovers in the 1890’s. He led his division in strikeouts three times, and in earned runs average once.