MLB power rankings: Top 30 nicknames of all-time
By John Buhler
24. Charles Radbourn: Old Hoss
He didn’t pitch for a very long time, nor did he live for a very long time, but Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn did stuff on the mound that is still impressive well over 100 years after his untimely death in 1897. Radbourn only lived to be 42 years old, but Old Hoss is still one of the best nicknames to one of the best pitchers in National League history.
He is 300-game winner and holds an unbreakable record of 59 wins in a single season as a starting pitcher. Radbourn only pitched professionally from 1880 to 1891, retiring from baseball at the age of 37.
Not long after retirement, Radbourn would lose an eye in a hunting accident. He would open up a billiard saloon in Bloomington, Illinois and run it for the rest of his life. Radbourn was a recluse into his 40s because of that whole missing an eye thing.
Over a century after his death, people still come across Radbourn’s name when examining the 300-game winners club. Since he accumulated all over those wins in a 12-year period is insane. To win 59 games in year made him a hoss and an old one at that. How did his arm not fall off? Blame it on the Hoss factor.