J. Lee Richmond (1971) - Hall of Fame - Brown University Athletics

J. Lee Richmond

Induction:
1971
Class:
1880

J. Lee Richmond '80
Sport: Baseball
Year Inducted: 1971
Other Sports Played: Football

J. Lee Richmond '80 pitched the first perfect game in major league history, hurling a 1-0 victory for Worcester over Cleveland in a National League game on June 12, 1880. There wasn't another perfect game in the Senior Circuit until 1964. As Brown's only hurler in 1879, Richmond pitched the Bears to the collegiate baseball championship. Between starts for the Bruins he pitched for Worcester, then a minor league team, and tossed a pair of no-hitters, one against Pop Anson's Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game. Baseball historians generally credit Richmond with being the first pitcher to have any great amount of success with the curve ball. He had a 32-32 record with Worcester in 1870 and continued to pitch in the majors until 1886. He completed 161 of the 179 games he started, had a 75-100 record with a 3.06 ERA, struck out 552 and walked 269. the 5-10, 142-pound Richmond also was a member of Brown's first football team in the fall of 1878.