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Tim Norton, Outfielder
Tim Norton is the visionary founder of today's Providence Grays. Inspired by a news article about the New York vintage league, he ran an appeal for players in the Providence Journal in the spring of 1998, and the rest is history. Norton remains a player as well as the founder. He can be found in the outfield during most 1884 style games, and has emerged as the team's ace pitcher for the underhand 1860s style games. His career was stalled by a dreadful injury early in the 2000 season. Running out a ground ball against the New York Mutuals on June 24, he collided with the first baseman and suffered several broken bones and a concussion. A runner scored from third, so Norton was at least credited with a run batted in, although he has no memory of it. An injury of this magnitude would have driven a weaker man to retirement, but Norton returned and put together perhaps his finest season in 2001. As a pitcher, Norton's skills are limited. He has no fastball or curveball, his control is erratic, he pays no heed to the base runners and his fielding is often an adventure. He has only one notable ability: winning. This he does with great reliability, having been credited with 10 wins against only 2 losses in his career. His finest moment was on August 19, 2001, against the always-dangerous Middletown Mansfields. Norton held them to one run, and manufactured the winning run without any assistance on a double and two passed balls in a thrilling 3-1 victory. |
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