Tuesday Trivia: Two-Way WAR monger

[G1911]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

Greg, you are correct!

John Montgomery "Monte" Ward accumulated 34.3 WAR as a batter and 28.1 as a pitcher.

Along the way, he led the League with a 1.51 ERA as a Rookie in 1878, and led the League in Wins (47), Winning % (71.2) and strikeouts (239) in his sophomore effort.

Though not a great hitter (career OPS+ of 92) he did the League in steals twice.

Not sure how many other players led the League in ERA and steals during their career.

But more importantly to the game than his achievements on the field, were his trailblazing and personal accomplishments off the field. From SABR: "Ward organized the first major-league players union in 1885 and was a tireless advocate for players’ rights. He also authored the first popular How-To manual for youngsters wishing to take up the game. But first and foremost, Ward is remembered as the driving force behind the employee-controlled Players League, the audacious but short-lived challenger to the preeminence of the National League and American Association....At various times, Ward was a high-visibility Broadway bon vivant, a distinguished New York City attorney, a Long Island country squire and community pillar, and a major figure in Northeastern amateur golfing circles. Although there are other worthy contenders for the laurel, John Montgomery Ward may well have been the most accomplished man ever to play major-league baseball. "

I am surprised he finished below the league in OPS+.

Bryan Di Salvatore wrote a very good full-length book on his life, "A Clever Base-Ballist", for those into 19th century baseball history. I have no career contemporary card of him to show after trading my Ginter away (oops!) .