Major League Baseball Player. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound right-hander enjoyed an 18-year career with an unorthodox style in which he would continually vary his location on the rubber, his windup and angle of delivery. He employed a fastball, curve, sinker, slider, knuckleball and screwball, most of which he could throw overhand, sidearm or underhand. He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939, but his first full year was 1942. He had a 15-6 record and 2.88 earned run average in 1946 and was shut out by Boston's Dave Ferriss 4-0 in Game 3 of the World Series that year. He then permitted five hits and three runs in Game 7, but didn't get a decision when the Redbirds scored in the ninth for a 4-3 win and the title. He was sold to Pittsburgh for $125,000 on Jan. 29, 1949. The Pirates dealt him to Philadelphia for pitcher Andy Hansen, infielder Lucky Lohrke and $70,000 on Jan. 13, 1954. He led the National League in losses three straight years with 21 and 19 with the Pirates in 1952-53 and with 20 with the Phillies in 1954. He was sent back to the Cardinals on May 11, 1956 with pitcher Herm Wehmeier for pitchers Harvey Haddix, Stu Miller and Ben Flowers. He also pitched for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. He worked 200 or more innings for 10 consecutive years from 1947-56. His career totals were a 172-181 record, 3.66 ERA, 3,052.1 innings pitched, 149 complete games and a 42-32 record as a reliever.
Major League Baseball Player. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound right-hander enjoyed an 18-year career with an unorthodox style in which he would continually vary his location on the rubber, his windup and angle of delivery. He employed a fastball, curve, sinker, slider, knuckleball and screwball, most of which he could throw overhand, sidearm or underhand. He broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939, but his first full year was 1942. He had a 15-6 record and 2.88 earned run average in 1946 and was shut out by Boston's Dave Ferriss 4-0 in Game 3 of the World Series that year. He then permitted five hits and three runs in Game 7, but didn't get a decision when the Redbirds scored in the ninth for a 4-3 win and the title. He was sold to Pittsburgh for $125,000 on Jan. 29, 1949. The Pirates dealt him to Philadelphia for pitcher Andy Hansen, infielder Lucky Lohrke and $70,000 on Jan. 13, 1954. He led the National League in losses three straight years with 21 and 19 with the Pirates in 1952-53 and with 20 with the Phillies in 1954. He was sent back to the Cardinals on May 11, 1956 with pitcher Herm Wehmeier for pitchers Harvey Haddix, Stu Miller and Ben Flowers. He also pitched for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. He worked 200 or more innings for 10 consecutive years from 1947-56. His career totals were a 172-181 record, 3.66 ERA, 3,052.1 innings pitched, 149 complete games and a 42-32 record as a reliever.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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