Baltimore’s Bill Hoffer led the National League with winning percentages of .811 (30-7) in 1895 and .781 (25-7) in 1896. When the American League was recognized as a major league in 1901, Hoffer became the AL’s first pitcher; he issued the first walk, got the first strikeout, and was tagged with the first loss as Cleveland dropped an 8-2 decision to Chicago on April 24, 1901. He won just three games in that, his final ML season.
