The Baseball Times
July 1st, 1882
Cardinals' Spalding Achieves Milestone 200th Win
Al Spalding, the venerable ace of the Cardinals, etched his name in baseball history yesterday as he secured his 200th career victory in a hard-fought battle against the Pittsburgh Predators. The game, held at Cardinals Ballpark, saw Spalding deliver a masterful performance despite a formidable challenge from the visiting team.
The Cardinals claimed a 7-4 victory over the Predators, with Spalding pitching a complete game. In his milestone win, the seasoned pitcher recorded 3 strikeouts over 9 innings, conceding 4 runs on 11 hits, and remarkably, surrendering no walks throughout the contest.
Reflecting on his achievement after the game, Spalding commented, "I tried to focus on each batter, but as the game goes by, I couldn't help but think about the possibility. 200 is a big number. It's an exclusive club and I'm honored to be a member."
Spalding's career statistics underscore his dominance on the mound. With a cumulative record of 200 wins and 170 losses, he boasts an impressive 2.87 earned run average across 363 career starts. His consistency and longevity have made him a cornerstone of the Cardinals' pitching staff, earning him admiration both from teammates and opponents alike.