▁Mat he ws , ▁ 4 6 , ▁pitch er ▁who ▁won ▁ 2 9 7 ▁games , ▁ 1 3 1 ▁of ▁them ▁in ▁the ▁National ▁Association , ▁in ▁a ▁career ▁that ▁ran ▁from ▁ 1 8 7 1 ▁to ▁ 1 8 8 7 , ▁including ▁the ▁first ▁professional ▁league ▁game ▁victory ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 1 , ▁and ▁consecutive ▁ 3 0 - win ▁seasons ▁for ▁the ▁Philadelphia ▁Athletics ▁from ▁ 1 8 8 3 ▁to ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁June ▁ 4 ▁– ▁Harry ▁Smith , ▁ 4 2 , ▁inf iel der . ▁June ▁ 2 3 ▁– ▁William ▁R ex ter , ▁ 4 8 , ▁out f iel der . ▁June ▁ 2 8 ▁– ▁Henry ▁Mey ers , ▁ 3 8 , ▁third ▁bas eman . ▁August ▁ 2 ▁– ▁Val ▁Robinson , ▁ 5 0 , ▁out f iel der . ▁September ▁ 2 1 ▁– ▁Bill ▁Tier ney , ▁ 4 0 , ▁first ▁bas eman ▁and ▁out f iel der . ▁October ▁ 5 ▁– ▁John ▁Richmond , ▁ 4 3 , ▁short stop ▁and ▁center ▁fiel der ▁for ▁seven ▁teams ▁during ▁his ▁eight ▁seasons ▁from ▁ 1 8 7 5 ▁to ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁October ▁ 2 0 ▁– ▁Cur ry ▁F ole y , ▁ 4 2 , ▁Irish ▁out f iel der / first ▁bas eman / p itch er ▁who ▁played ▁from ▁ 1 8 7 9 ▁through ▁ 1 8 8