Carlton Molesworth

Carlton Molesworth (February 15, 1876 in Frederick, Maryland; died July 25, 1961 in Frederick, Maryland) was a baseball player and long-time player/manager of the Birmingham Barons, leading the team from 1908 to 1922.

Molesworth was the younger of two boys born to farmer Thomas Molesworth and his wife, the former Sarah Druscilla Browning. He attended local schools and married Mollie Bruchey in 1894. The couple had two daughters in the next few years, who were often left with his older brother, Vernon, while he was traveling.

Molesworth played with local amateur teams until signing with an independent team from Winston, North Carolina on August 8, 1895. The young phenom rapidly caught the eye of Washington Nationals manager Gus Schmelz, who signed him and put him on the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 14 of that year.

The rookie pitcher got through a scoreless first before allowing 13 runs in the next five innings. He got one more start and a relief appearance with no decision before starting the second game of a September 30 double header against Detroit. Molesworth pitched into the eighth inning for a complete game, but the Nationals lost 10-8. He ended his Major League career with an 0-2 record and a 14.23 earned run average. He allowed 33 hits and 15 walks, hit 4 batters, and struck out 7.

Though scheduled to start the 1896 campaign in the Nationals outfield, Molesworth actually began the season with Rockford Forest City of the Western Association.

In 1908 Molesworth came to Birmingham as a player/manager for the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association from 1908 to 1922. He continued in the same capacity with the Columbus Senators from 1923 to 1925. For another 30 years he scouted for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Molesworth died in his home town in 1961 and is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland. He was named to the inaugural class of the Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame in 2005.

References

• Lamb, Bill (n. d.) "Carlton Molesworth" Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project

External links

• Carlteon Molesworth at Baseball-Reference.com