Amos (Wilson) Rusie

Baseball pitcher, born in Mooresville, Indiana, USA. During his 10-year career (1889–1901), mostly with the New York Giants, he won 243 games. Three times, the right-hander won 30 or more games in a season, and he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977.

Amos Wilson Rusie (May 30, 1871 - December 6, 1942), nicknamed "The Hoosier Thunderbolt", was a hard-throwing right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher during the late 19th century. This is quantified by Rusie leading the league in strikeouts five times and walks five times.

Born in Moorseville, Indiana, Rusie was 17 when he made his major league debut with the National League Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1889 and posted a 12-10 record. Indianapolis disbanded at the conclusion of the season and Rusie was transferred to the New York Giants.

Rusie would remain with New York until 1900. In 1890, Rusie was the National League leader in strikeouts with a career-best 341. His 266 walks also led the league and Rusie finished that year with a losing record, 29-34.

From 1891-1894, Rusie was the best pitcher in baseball, winning at least 30 games in each of those seasons. In 1891, Rusie went 33-20, leading the league in strikeouts (337) and shutouts (6).

With the pitching area being moved back in 1893, Rusie’s strikeout total dropped from 288 to 208. The 1893 campaign was a truly extraordinary one for Amos Rusie.

In 1894, Rusie won pitching’s triple crown. He led the league in wins, going 36-13, strikeouts with 195, and a league best ERA of 2.78 (especially spectacular considering the league average that year was 5.32). Temple sponsored a trophy for the winner between the regular season 1st and 2nd place teams in the National League. Amos Rusie was virtually untouchable in the Temple Cup, giving up only one earned run while winning two complete games and compiling a 0.50 ERA; Amos Rusie’s win total that year was fourth best since the modern pitching distance of 60’-6” was established.

Amos Rusie won his last strikeout crown in the 1895 campaign with 201. However, he finished with a mediocre (by Rusie's standards) 23 wins and 23 losses. After a bitter contract dispute with Giants' owner Andrew Freedman, Rusie responded by publicly thumbing his nose at Mr. Freeman, which was the 19th century variant of the middle finger. Rusie refused to play until Freedman returned his money and ended up holding out for the entire 1896 season. Owners implored Rusie and Freedman to compromise; This was partially out of respect for Mr. Rusie.

Following the 1898 season, a combination of hearing damage from a line drive to the head, arm trouble, and personal problems kept him out of baseball for two years. In 1901, Rusie pitched poorly in three games before retiring.

Rusie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.