Welcome to the Majors, Tony Zych!

On August 14, 1910, the Chicago White Sox lost to the then-New York Highlanders 5-1. Making his debut in centerfield that day was a 21-year-old outfielder by the name of Edward Harrison “Dutch” Zwilling.

Zwilling had an odd little career. He played four seasons, for three different Chicago teams – the White Sox in 1910, the Cubs in 1916, and the Chicago Feds/Whales of the Federal League. In what we think of as the majors, he was a bust – 159 PA over the two seasons, for an Equivalent Average of about .186. But in the Federal League, though, he was a brief, shining star. For the 1914 Chi-Feds, he hit for a .315 EqA (sixth in the league) with 116 EqR (tied for third). In 1915 his numbers were almost the same – .313, 112 – and each of those was good for second in the league, to Benny Kauff. In 1914 he led the Feds in home runs (16), was second in hits and total bases, 3rd in RBI, 4th in doubles; in 1915 he led the league in RBI, and was second in doubles and homers. No one hit more home runs in the Federal League than he did.

When the very first game ever played in Wrigley Field (actually they called it Weeghman Park at first) started, Zwilling was standing in center field.

But Zwilling’s most memorable feat was that, for a little over 105 years, his name has brought the roll of major league players to its conclusion. But now, just as Hank Aaron had to yield the first position to David Aardsma in 2004, Zwilling must surrender his caboose slot to Tony Zych.

Zych was called up by the Mariners yesterday, and had a bit of a rough debut – 2 runs in 2 innings. He actually didn’t allow a run himself – sailing through his first two innings allowing a single and a walk, he gave up a leadoff double and single in his third inning, got pulled, and watched the next pitcher let them both come in.

Zych has been a pure relief pitcher through the minors. Orginially drafted by the Cubs int he 4th round in 2011, he was traded to the Mariners in April for a player to be named later; MLB shows two more trades between the Ms and Cubs since then with no mention of completing this deal. Anyway, this has easily been Zych’s best season, as he appears to have gained control over his 95-97 mph fastball.