The state of Maine has produced 71 men who have gone on to play major league baseball. One of the most interesting and colorful was none other than a farm boy from Heartland, George Gore. Mr.. Gore played 1,310 major league games between 1879 and 1892. For all of the men with at least 4,000 at bats,Gore is one of only 3  in the history of professional baseball to score more runs than games played (1327).

Mr. Gore grew up around the farmlands of central Maine playing baseball and working at the local paper mill. He was easily the most talented ball player of his time as he recreated with the mill nine. He eventually caught the eye of several scouts and signed his first professional contract with Fall River of the New England League in 1877. Nicknamed “Piano Legs” for the enormity of his calf muscles, Gore batted .324 the following year and helped propel the New Bedford Whalers to the New England championship. The word was out about the farm boy from Maine as scouts from several major league teams were now courting his attention. Gore was signed by Chicago's Cap Anson.

At the tender age of 23, and with just 2 years of professional experience, Gore had the audacity to defy A.G. Spalding and the Chicago White Stockings by refusing a contract that would have paid him $1,200 for the 1879 campaign. Gore demanded $2,500 and settled for $1900. He played in 63 games that season with 266 plate appearances and a .263 batting average. Mr Spalding expected more from his young outfielder in return for his investment, and the 1880 season validated his worth. He hit .360 that second season, won the batting championship, and had a slugging percentage of .463.

Gore went on to have an excellent major league career, finishing his 14 year odyssey with a lifetime batting average of .301. He was able to play on 7 pennant winning teams, 5 with Chicago and 2 with the New York Giants. He had exceptional speed and was an above average center fielder and leadoff hitter. Gore hit from the left side but threw right handed.  In one game  he recorded 5 assists, in another game in 1881 he set a record with 7 stolen bases, and in another game in 1885 he had 5 extra base hits with 2 doubles and 3 triples. Gore also had the uncanny ability to work a count for walks, leading his league 3 times for that statistic including a 100 walk season in 1886. George Gore finished his baseball career with over 700 bases on balls. According to the rankings of Bill James, Gore is the 40th best centerfielder of all time.

Like every great human interest story, this one too has its other side. George Gore had a propensity to drink, and on more than on occasion did so on game day. The summer of 1885 was another outstanding season for Gore as he led his team with 13 triples and had a .313 batting average while guiding Chicago to another World Series. Unfortunately he was suspended for drunkenness during the series and replaced in center field after the first game against St. Louis. He played with the White Stockings again in 1886 and once again played St. Louis for the World Championship. During the regular season Gore had 546 plate appearances with 135 hits and 150 runs scored. He also set a record of 102 walks. But the rift between Cap Anson and Gore had grown further, and Anson claimed he could take no more.

Spalding finally sold Gore to the New York Giants for $3,500 where he played for the next 5 and 1/2 years. He was still productive, playing 571 games with a .304 batting average. He played his final season with St. Louis in 1892 at the age of 35.