Pink Hawley was a 5’10” pitcher from Beaver Dam, WI. The right-handed, left-batting hurler was born on December 5th, 1872, and made his first professional appearance with the 1892 St. Louis Browns. He started 18 games and collected a total 6-14 record with a 3.19 ERA as the team went 56-94. 1893 was worse for him, as he posted a 5-17 record with a 4.60 ERA. The team went 57-75.

In 1894, Hawley went 19-27, leading the NL in losses as the Browns went 56-76. He also posted a career high 4.90 ERA. In January 1895, the Browns sent him packing to Pittsburgh for pitcher Red Ehret and $3,000.

1895 would see Hawley lead the NL with 56 appearances, four shutouts and 444.1 innings pitched. He improved his record to 31-22, posting a 3.18 ERA. His win total and ERA were both good for second best in the NL. He also ranked third with a 1.285 WHIP, sixth with 9.095 H/9, 10th with 2.471 BB/9, ninth with 2.876 K/9, second, with 50 starts and with 44 complete games. The Pirates 71-61 record had them finish seventh in the National League. He was also handy with the lumber, hitting .308 and tying for second on the team with five home runs. He also batted 42 in. It’s largely on the numbers he achieved in this season that he merits inclusion this high on the list, with an NL second best 10.4 WAR figure.

In 1896, Hawley went 22-21 with a 3.57 ERA. Despite his somewhat pedestrian W/L record, he still ranked fifth in the NL with a WAR of 7.8. He finished fourth in the circuit with 3.262 K/9, third with 49 games played, third with 378 innings pitched, second with 137 strikeouts, fourth with 43 games started and 37 games finished, and eighth with two shutouts. Unlike the prior season, he was merely average at the plate, hitting .239 with one home run and 21 RBI. The Pirates 66-63 record would see them hold down the sixth position in the National League, 24 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. (Not “those” Orioles, this team folded after the 1899 season).

1897 would see Hawley pitch an 18-18 season with a 4.80 ERA, ranking sixth in the league with 39 games started. The Bucs finished 32.5 games behind the Boston Beaneaters for the NL pennant, at 60-71. After the season ended, the Pirates traded him, along with fellow pitcher Mike Smith, with $1,500 to the Cincinnati Reds for left-infielder Bill Gray, left-fielder Jack McCarthy, pitcher Billy Rhines, catcher Pop Schriver, and second baseman Ace Stewart.

Over the next two seasons, Hawley accrued a 41-28 record with a 3.75 ERA for the Reds. He later played with the New York Giants (1900, 18-18, 3.53) before closing out his major league career with the American League’s Milwaukee Brewers (known today as the Baltimore Orioles, confusing?), going 7-14 with a 4.59 ERA.

All-Time Statline: three seasons, 71-61, 3.76 ERA, 145 games, 132 starts, 114 CG, six shutouts, one save, 1133.2 innings pitched, 1193 hits allowed, walked 373, struck out 367, 1.381 WHIP, 20.0 wins above replacement.

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