Asa Brainard, born as Asel Brainard, was the very first pitcher on the very first pro baseball team formed on March 15th, 1869. The Cincinnati Red Stockings, which later would become the Cincinnati Reds. This was the first year of paid, organized League play, with alot fewer teams... for the pro-players, this was their second part-time job. More like a hobby. Alot fewer games were played back then. Harry Wright was the Manager and founder of the Cincinnati team and brought Asa to Cincinnati as his star pitcher. Asa Brainard is listed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Asa Brainard's starting salary was $1,100.00 per season. Asa Brainard was the most winning Pitcher to date, he never batted in a major league game. His first Season with the Cincinnati Red Stockings went undefeated, 65 wins, no losses. In the first two years of play with the Red Stockings, 1869-1870, he had 130 wins, one loss, and one tie. The National League was formed in 1871. He went to play with the Washington Olympians that year. Then played for the Middletown Mansfields in 1872. 1873-1874 he played for the Lord Baltimores, 1874 was his last season. He ended with 5 wins and 24 losses, never recapturing the days he had with the Red Stockings. His nickname was the "Count" and the media referred to him as "Ace" or "Acey." In his prime he was unstoppable. He died at the age of 47, where he had retired to. In Denver, Colorado, after a 3 day illness of acute Pneumonia. He was the first of the original nine, of the Red Stockings, to die. Little is known of his family members. Just one child was mentioned, a son named Truman Brainard. He was married twice, to Mary Thompson Winn on January 23rd, 1871, and to Martha Pickett, no date given. When the Red Stockings disbanded in 1870, he deserted his wife and infant son, leaving her destitute. After retiring from baseball, he ran an archery club briefly in Staten Island, New York, then drifted to Denver, Colorado, where he operated a Pool Hall. Long forgotten, a baseball pioneer who helped shape baseball.∼Professional Baseball Player. Pitcher for the first fully professional baseball team the original Cincinnati Red Stockings of the NABBP from 1868 until 1870, known as one of the "First Nine". While at Cincinnati he also played second base. He also played for the Washington Olympics (1871 - 1872), the Middletown Mansfields (1872) and ended his career with the Baltimore Canaries (1873 - 1874). Prior to playing for Cincinnati he pitched for the Excelsior of Brooklyn (1860 - 1866) and the Washington Nationals in 1867. He played his last MLB game on October 14, 1874.