Jay Hughes

For the American football player, see Jay Hughes (American football).

Jay Hughes
File:Jay Hugh Sporting News.jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1874-01-22)January 22, 1874 Sacramento, California
Died: Sacramento, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1898, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1902, for the Brooklyn Superbas
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	83–41
Earned run average	3.00
Strikeouts	370
Teams
Baltimore Orioles (1898) Brooklyn Superbas (1899, 1901–1902)
Career highlights and awards
NL wins leader (1899) Pitched a no-hitter on April 22, 1898

James Jay Hughes (January 22, 1874 – June 2, 1924) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, who played four seasons from 1898 to 1902.

Hughes was born in Sacramento, California. He attracted attention in 1897 when he threw a three hit shutout during a west coast exhibition game against the famed Baltimore Orioles, a team featuring such notable baseball stars as Wilbert Robinson, John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, Willie Keeler, and Joe Kelley. Orioles Manager Ned Hanlon hired him and brought him east, where he had four excellent seasons, including a league-leading 28-6 mark with the 1899 Brooklyn Superbas.

He pitched a no-hitter on April 22, 1898 (another no-hitter, by Cincinnati's Ted Breitenstein, was thrown the same day, marking the first time that two no-hitters were thrown on the same day). Hughes was transferred to the Brooklyn Superbas in 1899; the Orioles and Superbas were both owned by the same group of individuals. Jennings, Keeler, and several other key Orioles were transferred, including manager Ned Hanlon, who had an ownership stake. The owners wanted to transfer McGraw and Robinson as well, but they refused to leave due to their business interests and family in Baltimore.

Preferring to play on the west coast, he joined the Pacific Coast League in 1903. As a Sacramento native, he hated pitching in the East, and on several occasions refused to sign contracts with eastern clubs so he could remain on the west coast. In 1903, playing for the Seattle Rainiers, he tied Doc Newton for the lead in wins with 34, including 12 in a row from September 8 through November 4. He pitched there until a back injury ended his career.

He died when he fell from a train in Sacramento, fracturing his skull. He was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery in Sacramento. His older brother, Mickey Hughes, won 25 games for the 1888 Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball wins champions
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

External links

• Baseball Reference
• The Baseball Library
• Minor League Baseball
• Baseball Almanac

Achievements
Preceded by Ted Breitenstein	No-hitter pitcher April 22, 1898	Succeeded by Red Donahue