Candy Cummings

Candy Cummings autograph
Birthdate 10/18/1848
Death Date 5/17/1924
Debut Year 1876
Year of Induction 1939
Teams Dark Blues
Positions Executive, Pitcher, Right Field

Candy Cummings is in the Hall of Fame largely for his invention of the curveball. Others like hurler Fred Goldsmith claim otherwise.

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In the collection:

1936 letter to HoF about Candy Cummings

1936 letter to HoF about Candy Cummings

Jesse Morrill was a sort of early baseball historian. In the collection is this handwritten letter from Morrill to Alexander Cleland, the man who along with Ford Frick, is largely responsible for the origins of the Hall of Fame. In the letter Morrill purports to have proof that Candy Cummings was re
Letter from Morrill

Letter from Morrill "confirming" Cummings as inventor of curveball

Alexander Cleland replied to Morrill’s letter regarding Cummings and agreed on Cummings place in baseball history. In this response, Morrill writes, “I note that you say that both Spink and Spaulding (sic) give credit for being the first to throw a curved ball which confirms
Fred Goldsmith's handwritten assertion that he invented the curveball

Fred Goldsmith's handwritten assertion that he invented the curveball

Candy Cummings gained immortality when he was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. His election was based in large part on the assertion that he invented the curveball. According to many repeated baseball historians, Cummings was not responsible for
According to Connie Mack Hammond Avery was the first to throw the curveball

According to Connie Mack Hammond Avery was the first to throw the curveball

Was Hammond Avery the first to actually throw the curveball in a game? Connie Mack asserted this to be true in his book, My 66 Years in the Big Leagues (Philadelphia: Winston, 1950). Mack recalls, “The first man to pitch a curve-
Page two with signature of Hammond Avery

Page two with signature of Hammond Avery

Page two of this letter has the signature of Hammond Avery, purportedly the first man to throw a curveball in a game. The signature is exceedingly rare. In fact this is the only one we’ve ever seen. Though the origin of the curveball mainly comes down to Candy
Candy Cummings Hall of Fame plaque

Candy Cummings Hall of Fame plaque

Candy Cummings was born in 1848 and played form 1872-1877. He played for six teams, four in the National Association and two in the National League. With a death date of 1924 Cummings remains elusive for even the most advanced autograph collectors. His autograph

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

~Jacques Barzun, 1954