Roy Castleton

Infobox Person
name = Roy Castleton


image_size = 195px
birth_date = birth date|1885|7|26|mf=y
birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah
death_date = death date|1967|6|24|mf=y
death_place = Los Angeles, California
known_for = Pitching No-Hitter
occupation = Major League Pitcher

Royal Eugene Castleton (July 26, 1885 – June 24, 1967) was a relief pitcher for the New York Highlanders and Cincinnati Reds. The first native of the state of Utah to play in the major leagues,cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Castleton made his debut with the Highlanders on April 16, 1907, and played his final game with the Reds on May 29, 1910. [cite web | url = http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/castlro01.shtml | title = Roy Castleton Statistics | publisher = Baseball-Reference | accessdate = 2007-03-07] He is most often remembered for pitching a perfect game while playing for a team in the Ohio-Pennsylvania League.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

Early years

Castleton was born in Salt Lake City, to parents who were born in England. After arriving in the United States, his grandfather, James Castleton, worked as a gardener for Brigham Young, eventually saving enough money to establish his own business.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] His father, Charles Castleton, was a successful carpenter, and young Roy enjoyed the amenities of a middle-class upbringing.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] A strong student who excelled at mathematics, Castleton gravitated toward a career in sports shortly after graduating from high school.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

Minor League career

In 1904, Castleton signed on with the Salt Lake City ball club, which played in the Class B Pacific National League. In the 1904-1905 season, he pitched for another team based in Ogden, Utah, that was also poised to enter the league.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Still a teenager, he nevertheless distinguished himself with a 16-inning loss.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

In 1906, Castleton moved east and joined the minor league Youngstown Ohio Works, a team based in the steel-production center of Youngstown, Ohio. The youngest player on a club of seasoned veterans, Castleton gained national exposure with a perfect game against rival Akron, shutting them out at 4-0.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] The local media compared the feat to Cy Young's perfect game a year earlier, and Castleton quickly received offers from major league managers, including Clark Griffith of the New York Highlanders.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Drafted by the Highlanders, Castleton played out the remainder of the season in Youngstown, ending with a 22-12 record and striking out 156 batters in 278 innings.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

Minor League career

After spring training in Atlanta, Georgia, Castleton was one of five pitchers used in an opening game against the Philadelphia Athletics. After pitching a hitless inning, he was selected as starting pitcher for an exhibition game with Newark.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Unfortunately, he performed poorly and was sent back to Atlanta for additional experience. Once there, Castleton pitched formidably in the Southern Association, winning 10 of 13 decisions for Atlanta, despite earlier inactivity due to a sore arm.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] At the close of the Southern Association's season, Castleton was called to rejoin the New York Highlanders, where he made two starts in the last week of the American League season.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] In his first start, during a contest with the St. Louis Browns, Castleton allowed five hits, striking out two, and walking one. Despite New York's 3-1 loss to the Browns, the pitcher gained positive reviews.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] During his second start, in a match with the Chicago White Sox, Castleton allowed six hits, striking out three and walking one.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

Despite Castleton's solid pitching, manager Griffith chose to option Castleton to Atlanta for additional seasoning--a decision that had unexpectedly tragic implications for Castleton's career. After a strong start, Castleton suffered a bout with typhoid fever that left him in uncertain health from that point on.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] His poor health contributed to an inconsistent record, which resulted in his eventual release to Cincinnati in 1909.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] In the only game of a scheduled doubleheader with Boston (the other games had been cancelled due to inclement weather), Castleton finished with four strikeouts and only one walk.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Unfortunately, this was followed by a disastrous appearance in a July 25 bout with St. Louis.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Continual health problems that evidently resulted from his 1908 illness impeded his performance, and he was forced to endure long periods of inactivity.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

Later years

After playing his final game with Cincinnati on May 29, 1910, Castleton continued to pitch for two more seasons with minor league teams in the Pacific Coast League.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] Despite strong showings, Castleton opted to retire in 1912, as concerns about his damaged health mounted.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] While his later career was impeded by illness, Castleton was long remembered for his early performance in the Southern Association as well as his perfect game as a minor league pitcher.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

After retiring from baseball, Castleton returned to Salt Lake City, where he married and established a lucrative practice as an accountant.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08] He eventually relocated with his wife to Los Angeles, where he died in 1967. His remains were returned to Salt Lake City for burial.cite web | url = http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=2264&bid=1194 | title = Roy Castleton | publisher = Society for American Baseball Research | accessdate = 2007-03-08]

References