Live Free or Die. The official state motto of New Hampshire accurately describes the best players from the Granite State. The trials and tribulations players endure to play professional baseball are numerous but the reward is worth the struggle. New Hampshire has sent 54 players to the Major Leagues. The best pitcher born in the Granite State is Chris Carpenter. His 35.24 career WAR is the 41st highest among pitching state and territory leaders. The best position player from New Hampshire is Arlie Latham. His 30.51 career WAR is the 47th highest among position player leaders. Collectively, New Hampshire’s WAR is 65.75, ranking the state 45th in the United States of Baseball. 

Chris Carpenter’s persistence enabled him to pitch in the Majors. He endured multiple surgeries to his elbow, shoulder, and the removal of a rib to continue pitching. The Right Hander was born in Exeter and highly touted coming out of high school. Carpenter signed with Creighton University before the Toronto Blue Jays selected him 15th overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft. He was the first New Hampshirite drafted in the first round. 

Despite numerous injuries, Carpenter pitched 15 seasons in the Majors with the Toronto Blues Jays (1997-2002) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2012). He struggled with Toronto, posting a 49-50 record and 4.83 ERA. He never became a critical part of the Blue Jays rotation like the team hoped. Eventually, Toronto sent Carpenter back to the Minors, but he refused and was given his release. The Cardinals quickly swooped in. Despite missing all of 2003 due to injury, St. Louis still believed in Carpenter. He went 95-44 with a 3.76 ERA with the Cardinals. Carpenter won the 2004 and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year awards. He was a three time All Star, won the 2009 National League ERA Title, and the 2005 National League Cy Young Award. Carpenter was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2016. In his career, Carpenter pitched in 350 Games, made 332 Starts, threw 33 Complete Games, including 15 Shutouts, in 2,219.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,205 Hits, 1,021 Runs, 927 Earned Runs, 220 Home Runs, 627 Walks, 1,697 Strikeouts, posted a 144-94 record, 3.76 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, and 116 ERA+. He appeared on the 2018 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.5% of the vote. 

The best season of Chris Carpenter’s career was with the 2005 Cardinals. He made 33 Starts, threw 7 Complete Games, including 4 Shutouts, in 241.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 204 Hits, 82 Runs, 76 Earned Runs, 18 Home Runs, 51 Walks, 213 Strikeouts, posted a 21-5 record, 2.83 ERA, 1.055 WHIP, and 150 ERA+. Carpenter went 16 consecutive starts without a loss, going 13-0 with a 1.36 ERA from June 14 to September 8. He led the National League in Complete Games, was a first time All Star, finished 8th for the MVP, and won the Cy Young award. 

The Cardinals are usually in the hunt for the Postseason. Carpenter pitched in October five times for St. Louis. He pitched in 11 Postseason Series: 5 National League Divisional Series, 4 National League Championship Series, and 2 World Series. He made 18 Starts, threw 1 Complete Game Shutout, in 108 Innings Pitched, allowed 104 Hits, 43 Runs, 36 Earned Runs, 36 Walks, 68 Strikeouts, posted a 10-4 record, 3.00 ERA, and 1.296 WHIP. Carpenter helped the Cardinals win the 2006 and 2011 World Series. He started Game 7 of the 2011 World Series on three days rest, pitching 6 strong innings. Carpenter was successful with the Cardinals despite years of injuries. Imagine if his body had not rebelled.

Baseball attracts characters of all types. Few equaled Arlie Latham in the early days of baseball. The West Lebanon native was nicknamed The Freshest Man on Earth and one of the early Clown Princes of Baseball. Latham began his career as a catcher, but quickly transitioned to the hot corner after taking a beating behind the plate. He played 17 seasons with six teams: Buffalo Bisons (1880), St. Louis Browns (1883-1889, 1896), Chicago Pirates (Players League) (1890), Cincinnati Reds (1890-1895), Washington Senators (1899), and New York Giants (1909). Latham played in the Minors between stints in the Majors before becoming a coach. His return to the diamond in 1909 was more comedic relief than competition. However, he did steal a base, making him the oldest thief ever at 49 years old. In 1,629 career Games, Latham collected 1,836 Hits, 245 Doubles, 85 Triples, 27 Home Runs, 563 RBI, scored 1,481 Runs, 742 Stolen Bases, 589 Walks, 305 Strikeouts, .269 BA, .334 OBP, .341 SLG, .676 OPS, and 92 OPS+. Defensively, Latham was a slightly above average Third Baseman. His long career also enabled him to become the all time leader in Errors at Third Base. Latham’s 822 Errors are over 200 more than second place. He committed the 12th most Errors by any player in Major League history. When the Hall of Fame opened in 1936, Latham was on the Veterans Committee ballot. He received 1.3% of the vote. 

The best season of Latham’s career was with the 1887 St. Louis Browns. He played in 136 Games, collected 198 Hits, 35 Doubles, 10 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 83 RBI, 163 Runs scored, 129 Stolen Bases, 45 Walks, 29 Strikeouts, .316 BA, .366 OBP, .413 SLG, .779 OPS, and 108 OPS+. He led the American Association in Plate Appearances, 677, and At Bats, 627. Latham led the Browns to the World Series, losing to the Detroit Wolverines 10 games to 5. 

The Postseason during Latham’s career was an end of the season exhibition to put a few more dollars in the pockets of teams and players. Exhibition or not, Latham continued playing well, helping the Browns reach four consecutive World Series from 1885 to 1888. Latham collected 38 Hits, 4 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 RBI, 31 Runs scored, 28 Stolen Bases, 19 Walks, 12 Strikeouts, .266 BA, .352 OBP, .308 SLG, and .660 OPS. The Browns winning the 1886 World Series helped Latham financially through the offseason. 

After retiring Latham continued working in baseball. He was one of the first permanent base coaches, working Third Base for the New York Giants. Along with coaching, Latham also tried to distract opposing pitchers. He yelled and ran down the baseline while the pitcher was in the middle of his wind up. His antics led to the coach’s box and a rule requiring coaches be in, or near, the box. Beyond coaching, Latham spread baseball to Great Britain. He lived in England for 17 years, teaching the game and serving as the Administrator (Commissioner) of Baseball. Arlie Latham lived one of the most unique lives in baseball. 

New Hampshire has not sent many players to the Major Leagues, but the Granite State does have a native son in Cooperstown. Manager Frank Selee won five pennants (1891-1893, 1897-1898) with the Boston Beaneaters and more than 1,200 games with Boston and the Chicago Cubs. Next week the United States of Baseball sails down the coast to the Garden State. New Jersey is next.

DJ