| Arthur Irwin, SS, Bats Left, Throws RH; 5'8 1/2", 158lbs. Worchester Brown Stockings (NL); Providence Grays (NL) Philadelphia 1886-89, 1894; Boston (AA) 1890-91 ...Born 2/14/1858 Toronto, Ontario - Died 7/16/1921 Atlantic Ocean Arthur Irwin started his major league career in 1880 with the Worchester Brown Stockings, who were at this time in the National League. When the Worchester left the NL in 1882, Irwin signed with the Providence Grays and batted a career high of .283, lining 22 doubles and 7 triples in 1883. While playing for the Providence Grays, Art Irwin teamed with third baseman Jerry Denny to form the top fielding left-side of the infield in the National League. Arthur Irwin played 1,010 games at shortstop in 13 years in the major leagues. Our baseballhistorian.com Archives note Arty Irwin was a scrappy but durable infielder and in his final year with Providence, while nursing a broken finger, devised a padded glove - a first for fielders. During this era only catchers and first basemen wore padded gloves and infielders just wore skin-tight hand-shoes. Irwin continued to use the padded glove and soon that style of glove became common-place among infielders. In 1891, he managed and played for the Boston of the AA and led them to the pennant. Arthur Irwin career: .241 BA, 934 hits in 1,010 games, 552 runs, 396 RBI, .299 on-base-pct. Baseballhistorian.com Archives | 
