Ice Box Chamberlain

Elton P. Chamberlain (November 5, 1867 - September 22, 1929) was a 19th century Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Louisville Colonels (1886-1888), St. Louis Browns (1888-1890), Columbus Solons (1890), and Philadelphia Athletics (1891), all of the American Association, and the Cincinnati Reds (1892-1894) and Cleveland Spiders (1896). A native of Buffalo, New York, the right-hander stood 5'9" and weighed 168 lbs.

Chamberlain finished in his league's TOP TEN several times for many pitching categories, including wins, ERA, strikeouts, and shutouts. In 1890 he led the American Association with 6 shutouts. His two best seasons, however, were 1888 (25-11, 2.19) and 1889 (34-15, 2.97). His 1888 Browns team won the American Association pennant with a 92-43 record.

Career totals for 338 games played (322 as a pitcher) include a 159-120 record, 302 games started, 265 complete games, 16 shutouts, 19 games finished, and 1 save. His lifetime ERA was 3.57. At the plate he was 213-for-1,051 (.203) with 9 home runs, 110 runs batted in, and 114 runs scored.

He passed away at the age of 61 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Trivia

• Chamberlain alternated arms during at least one game.
• His nickname was "Icebox."
• He was the starting pitcher in the only game that his teammate Bob Mathews ever got into. {Athletic Park -- September 25, 1891}

External links

• Baseball Reference
• Retrosheet