Stump Weidman

George Edward "Stump" Weidman (February 17, 1861 – March 2, 1905) was an American professional baseball player from 1880 to 1893. He played nine years in Major League Baseball, principally as a pitcher and outfielder, for five different major league clubs. He appeared in 379 major league games, 279 as a pitcher and 122 as an outfielder, and his longest stretches were with the Detroit Wolverines (288 games, 1881–1885, 1887) and the Kansas City Cowboys (51 games, 1886).

As a pitcher, Weidman compiled a 101–156 (.393) win–loss record with a 3.61 earned run average (ERA) in innings pitched. He led the National League in 1881 with a 1.80 ERA and totaled 45 wins in the 1882 and 1883 seasons. He pitched more innings for the Wolverines (1,654) than any other pitcher in the club's history.

Early years Weidman was born in Rochester, New York, in 1861. He attended University of Rochester and was a pitcher on the baseball team there in 1880.

Professional baseball career

Buffalo Weidman made his major league debut with the Buffalo Bisons on August 26, 1880. In the final weeks of the 1880 season, Weidman started 13 games for the Bisons and appeared in another four games as a relief pitcher. He compiled a 0–9 record and 3.40 earned run average (ERA) in innings pitched. Weidman and Trott made their debut for Detroit on September 3, 1881, a 4–3 loss against Buffalo.

Kansas City After the 1885 season, Weidman was released by the Wolverines to league control and then obtained by the newly formed Kansas City Cowboys. He appeared in 51 games as a starting pitcher for the Cowboys, including 48 complete games, and also appeared in three games as an outfielder. He compiled a win–loss record of 12–36 (.250) and a −1.4 WAR rating with a 4.52 ERA in inning pitched. He led the National League in both losses (36) and earned runs allowed (549). The Kansas City club compiled a 30–91 record and disbanded after the 1886 season.

New York In early August 1887, Weidman was sold by Detroit to the New York Metropolitans for a price estimated at between $800 and $1,000. Weidman remained in Canada in 1885, playing for the Hamilton Hams of the International League. He concluded his professional baseball career in 1893 with the Providence Clamdiggers of the Eastern League.

By early 1905, Weidman developed a tumor which was believed to be throat cancer. He traveled to New York City where he met with medical specialists and underwent an operation that resulted in his death. He died in a New York hospital in March 1905 at age 44. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York. In an obituary, the Sporting Life wrote: "Weidman was a clean-cut, honest and well behaved ball player, and a credit to his profession at all times. Peace to his ashes."