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. Some baseball historians believe that distinction belongs to Fred Goldsmith.

Here is an interesting piece linked to the curveball — a handwritten letter from Goldsmith detailing his invention of the curveball. Goldsmith, who died the same year Cummings gained induction writes, “Originator of first curveball. Made a public demonstration at the old Capitoline Grounds, N.Y. on Aug 27, 1870.”

Though the curveball debate continues with many advocating for recognition of Goldsmith, it is Cummings is remembered in Cooperstown.

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 curveball game was Charles Hammond Avery, Yale 1871-75, popularly called Ham Avery, and the first curve-pitched college game was played between Yale and Harvard at Saratoga, New York, June 14, 1874, the week of the college boat races. Avery pitched for Yale and won by the score of 4-0, the first shutout ever scored against Harvard.”

In the collection is this exceeding rare handwritten letter from Avery dated March 10, 1910. The letter is on the letterhead of Avery’s law offices.

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 Cummings or Fred Goldsmith, people in both camps assert that Avery was the first to actually throw it in a game

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 responsible for the invention of the “curved ball”. An interesting read to be sure.

Alexander Cleland replied to Morrill’s letter regarding Cummings and agreed on Candy 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 all the data I have in regards to Cummings.”

Many still believe Fred Goldsmith has been slighted in the invention of the curve. Whatever the reality, Cummings has a plaque in the Hall of Fame.

Shown here is a lineup card from the June 21, 1881 filled out entirely in the hand of Hall of Famer Harry Wright. Batting 7th is Fred Goldsmith who went 1-for-4. He also got the win as the Chicago White Stockings bested Wright’s Providence Grays 8-2.

Notice two Cooperstown men in the Chicago lineup. Outfielder Mike “King” Kelly bats third followed by Cap Anson, the first man to amass 3,000 hits. Hitting fifth is Ned Williamson, owner of the single-season record for homers from 1884-1919.

More scorecards from Harry Wright’s personal collection can be seen by clicking here.