Professional Baseball Player. Born in Culpeer, Virginia, he played baseball in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. A left handed starting pitcher, he was the son of an aristocratic banker and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1912 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Nicknamed "Jeptha" by a sportswriter, Rixey signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1912 and made his Major League debut on June 21, 1912 when he was 21 years old. He returned to college during the off season and earned his master's degree. A mediocre pitcher during much of his early career, he fine tuned his skills and became a successful finesse pitcher. By the time he retired, he led all left handed pitchers in career wins for over twenty years until that mark was surpassed by Warren Spahn in 1959. Rixey appeared in the World Series with the pennant winning Phillies in 1915 and played his first 8 years with Philadelphia. He missed the entire 1918 season when he volunteered to serve for the United States Army in the Chemical Warfare Division in Europe during World War I. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1920 and became one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Rixey finished his career in Cincinnati thirteen years later in 1933. He led the National League in wins with 25 in 1922. He also led the league in innings pitched and games started in 1922 and in shutouts with four in 1924. A four time twenty game winner, he won 266 games overall against 251 losses while carrying a lifetime 3.15 earned run average. Rixey appeared in 692 games with 290 complete games, 37 shutouts, and 1,350 strikeouts. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1959 and into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. Elected by the veteran's committee, he died from a heart attack in Cincinnati before the induction ceremony.
Professional Baseball Player. Born in Culpeer, Virginia, he played baseball in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. A left handed starting pitcher, he was the son of an aristocratic banker and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1912 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Nicknamed "Jeptha" by a sportswriter, Rixey signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1912 and made his Major League debut on June 21, 1912 when he was 21 years old. He returned to college during the off season and earned his master's degree. A mediocre pitcher during much of his early career, he fine tuned his skills and became a successful finesse pitcher. By the time he retired, he led all left handed pitchers in career wins for over twenty years until that mark was surpassed by Warren Spahn in 1959. Rixey appeared in the World Series with the pennant winning Phillies in 1915 and played his first 8 years with Philadelphia. He missed the entire 1918 season when he volunteered to serve for the United States Army in the Chemical Warfare Division in Europe during World War I. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1920 and became one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Rixey finished his career in Cincinnati thirteen years later in 1933. He led the National League in wins with 25 in 1922. He also led the league in innings pitched and games started in 1922 and in shutouts with four in 1924. A four time twenty game winner, he won 266 games overall against 251 losses while carrying a lifetime 3.15 earned run average. Rixey appeared in 692 games with 290 complete games, 37 shutouts, and 1,350 strikeouts. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1959 and into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. Elected by the veteran's committee, he died from a heart attack in Cincinnati before the induction ceremony.
Bio by: K Guy
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