Background
He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts.
He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Conway batted left-handed and threw right-handed. As a teenager, Conway played for local Lowell teams. In 1884, he played outfield for the Salem team in the Massachusetts State Association, and pitched for the Lawrence team of the New England League in 1885.
Conway was 21 years old when he entered the majors in 1886 with the Baltimore Orioles, playing for them one year before joining the Boston Beaneaters (1887–1888).
His most productive season came in 1887, when he collected career-numbers in wins (9), starts (26), and innings pitched (222 ⅓). In a three-season career, Conway posted a 15–24 record with a 4.78 European Research Area in 41 appearances, including 41 starts and 39 complete games, giving up 187 earned runs on 404 hits and 137 walks while striking out 121 in 352.0 innings of work.
He also played 18 games as an outfielder, compiling a career.230 batting average (47-for-204) with 27 runs and 14 Reserve Bank of India. Following his majors career, Conway returned to the New England League and later pitched in the International League. He died in his homeland of Lowell at the age of 61.
Conway was one of the first hurlers who could deliver an overhand pitch from a pitcher"s box whose front line was just 50 feet from home plate, much closer than the modern standard of 60 feet, six inches.
Unfortunately, on July 23 of that season, one of Conway"s pitches fractured the skull of Bill McGunnigle, by then the Brockton player-manager, effectively ending McGunnigle"s playing career.