Ramsey spent his entire career in the American Association, split between playing for the Louisville Colonels and St. Louis Browns.

[2] Some historians have disputed he actually threw a knuckleball in the modern sense, in that his ball movement was like what is now known as a knuckle curve.

[3] While playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League, Ramsey pitched a no-hitter on May 30, 1885, against the Nashville Americans in a road game where only three players reached base, two via walks and one on an error.

[4] On August 29, Chattanooga traded him to Louisville Colonels of the American Association in exchange for John Connor and $750.

[5] He was brought in to spell star pitcher Guy Hecker, who had a sore arm,[6] and made his major league debut on September 5,[5] in a complete game 4–3 loss to the St. Louis Browns.

[5] Ramsey died of pneumonia[12] in his hometown of Indianapolis at the age of 41, and is interred at Crown Hill Cemetery.