Though he played just 12 Major League seasons, John Clarkson was a standout among 19th-century pitchers. His wide variety of curveballs and his outstanding ability to pitch to the batter's weakness propelled him to a lofty 327-177 career record. He won 53 games in leading the Chicago White Stockings to the 1885 National League pennant and twice hurled over 600 innings in a season. At the time Clarkson retired from the game, he was the winningest pitcher in National League history.