Jim Creighton

Who was Jim Creighton?

James Creighton, Jr. was an American baseball player during the game's amateur era, and is considered by historians to be its first superstar. He played for the Excelsior of Brooklyn from 1860 to 1862, as well as local amateur and professional cricket matches.

As a pitcher in baseball's amateur era, Creighton's pitching style changed the sport from a game that showcased fielding into a confrontation between the pitcher and batter. During his era, a pitcher was required to deliver the ball in an underhand motion with a stiff arm/stiff wrist movement. The speed with which Creighton was able to pitch the ball had previously been thought of as impossible without movement of his elbow or wrist. If there were any movements in his elbow or wrist, they were imperceptible, but he was accused by some opponents and spectators of using an illegal delivery. However, due to the competitive advantage of this delivery, and his success as a pitcher, eventually led others to emulate his technique.

In October 1862, at the height of his popularity, he injured himself in a game when he suffered a ruptured abdominal hernia hitting a home run. The rupture caused internal bleeding, and he died four days later. Diagnosis' differ as to cause of death; ranging from a strain to a ruptured bladder, but modern medical understanding of the symptoms suggest that it was most likely a ruptured inguinal hernia. His death created an emotional connection to the sport, propelling its popularity much closer to cricket.