Bart King

Bart King was by a wide margin the greatest cricketer that the US has ever produced, as well as being a great character. His reputation outside America was largely made by his three tours of England with The Philadelphians (who before World War 1 played cricket to a high standard) in 1897, 1903 and 1908. His figures in first-class matches on those tours were:

        Runs    Avge    Wkts    Avge
1897    441     20.10   72      24.20
1903    653     28.89   93      14.91
1908    290     16.11   87      11.01

Though by 1908 he was 35 years old, his bowling average was the lowest of the English season. His 87 wickets were taken in just 10 matches. He bowled very fast in his early days, and developed the ability to swing the ball late from leg. Judges such as Pelham Warner, C.B.Fry and H.V.Horden ranked him amongst the great bowlers.

In all first-class matches he scored 2134 runs at 20.52, with 1 century, and took 415 wickets at 15.67.