Jeff Tesreau was one of the best pitchers on John McGraw's New York Giants from 1912 to 1918. And after just four seasons with the Giants, it appeared Jeff would end up as the heir apparent to Christy Mathewson, Rube Marquard (And even pretty good Red Ames and Hooks Wiltse) and end up in the Hall of Fame with the pair. But that didn't quite happen.
Although only 15-14 with Shreevport of the Texas League in 1910, Tesreau had an earned run average of just 1.91. Although it was "C" level ball, Jeff improved on that the next season, his last in the minors. Now pitching on Toronto of the Eastern League ("A" ball), Tesreau won fourteen games, lost just nine, and posted an ERA of 2.70. His days as a minor leaguer were over at age twenty-three.
Alas, Jeff's days as a major leaguer were over by the time he was thirty. But as a twenty-four year old rookie on the New York Giants in 1912, Tesreau was the earned run average leader in the National League. 1.96, not too far off what he'd been two years earlier down south. Jeff's big moment came on September 6th of that season, when the rookie threw a no-hittter against Philadelphia.
Jeff Tesreau was 17-7 in 1912, behind Mathewson (23) and Marquard (26) for team lead in wins. The Giants, alas, lost a tough World Series to the Boston Red Sox. The Giants were in the midst of three straight Fall Classic appearances, but lost all of them.
Tesreau, though, kept New York in the hunt in the coming years (They'd make it back in 1917 for good measure, only to lose to the Chicago White Sox in six games). Then team followed their 103-win season with another 100 triumphs in 1913 (101). Tesreau DID join the two aces as a twenty-game winner that year. He didn't lead the league in ERA, but it was just 2.17.
The Giants appeared to fade in the years that followed, briefly rebounding in 1917, but our boy lead the team in wins in just his third season on the ballclub. The 1914 New York Giants got 26 wins by Tesreau and another 24 by Matty. Rube Marquard went just 12-22. And Jeff nearly got another no-hitter in May of '14 vs. Pittsburgh, losing it on a two-out, ninth inning single. He finished the season tops in the National League with eight shutouts.
Tesreau continued to contribute. He won 19 games in '15, although that was against 16 losses. Tesreau had been 84-46 with a 2.22 earned run average his first four seasons in the major leagues. He wouldn't quite be that good in his last four years, but oddly enough Jeff would remain one of the top hurlers on the club. And, Tesreau had added another eight shutouts. So he wasn't consistent.
But 1917 was a disappointing year for Jeff Tesreau. His earned run average climbed up over three for the first time in his career, although it wasn't that bad (3.09). Jeff won only thirteen games and lost nine. The Giants, though, won their first flag in four seasons, making Tesreau on a pennant winner for the third time in only six seasons.
But the Chicago White Sox were too strong in the Fall Classic. Jeff held them scoreless in his only World Series appearance that year. He'd been 1-2 in the 1912 World Series, but lost his only start in '13. Tesreau pitched the last of the eighth in game two, but New York lost the game. In games three and four back home, the Giants' pitching stifled the Pale Hose, shutting them out back-to-back contests. Chicago bounced back with a pair of close wins to take it in six games.
Although just twenty-nine in 1918, Tesreau was pitching for the last time in the bigs. He got off to a strong start. It seemed like just bad luck that got him sidetrackked.
Jeff beat the Boston Braves for his first win on April 22nd. Then he he tossed a brilliant 5-hitter in a complete game 6-0 win over Philadelphia a week later. He beat Boston again in his first start in May to go 3-0. It was a 2-hitter over 8 1/3. Then Tesreau beat Philadelphia 4-1, allowing just five hits in another complete game victory. Although it pushed Jeff's record to a perfect 4-0 in 1918, he'd won his last MLB game.
But he continued to pitch well. His earned run average at this point was 0.96. What could possibly go wrong?
A tough 3-0 loss on May 16th for starters. Although Jeff allowed nine hits over six innings, he permitted just three (earned) runs. One the 23rd of the month, another solid start: Seven innings, three earned runs allowed again. It was a no-decision, as New York still went on to win the game. Tesreau allowed eight hits and five runs over eight innings of work in his last May appearance of 1918. Tesreau got tagged with the loss again, dropping his record to 4-2.
Tesreau pitched well his first June appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Eight innings, seven hits and just two earned runs allowed. But the Giants lost 3-2 to the Bucs. Although he pitched twice more that month, neither outing was longer than two and a third innings.
And, when Jeff was replaced by Fred Anderson in the top of the third inning in a game against Chicago on June 11th, he left the mound for the last time. What brought this all on? Although now just 4-4, Tesreau's earned run average was great, 2.45.
Well, he wasn't happy, for one. Jeff Tesreau had budded heads with his manager, John McGraw. Just before spring got underway in '18, McGraw entrusted Tesreau to take on a more serious role with his Giants' team. Jeff was to look after pitchers and catchers and some other players workout, to get them ready for the season. That seemed to go off without a hitch.
But then, McGraw went too far in Tesreau's mind. Suddenly, Jeff was to keep and eyes on those players, checking in on what they were doing off the field. To Jeff, what a player did in their spare time wasn't his to be checking in on. So while Tesreau was pitching well through June of that season, this had set off a rift between manager and star pitcher. At one point, they had a serious argument.
So, Tesreau left the team. He found work with Bethlehem Steel, and kept pitching with the Steel Mill leagues. The next season, with McGraw not interested in making the pitcher available for other teams (Jeff was nonetheless offered a contract some time later with the Boston Braves), Jeff got a baseball coaching job at Dartmouth College. It was there that he'd been employed for the next 27 years. Among his pupils that he instilled the game to were his own son, and even Red Rolfe.
And Tesreau also managed for four years (1938-1941) in the Vermont’s Northern League. First, the the St. Albans Giants and later the Claremont Pilots. Jeff may never have taken the hill in The Big Show after 1918, but he kept busy.
Sadly, Jeff passed away long before his time (Age 57) in 1946 after suffering a stroke. His short career, and the way it and his life ended make Tesreau a rather forgotten man from the Deadball Era. Yet in just seven seasons, the right-hander won 117 games.
References
Lesch, R. J. “Jeff Tesreau.” Society of American Baseball Research, SABR, sabr.org/bioproj/person/jeff-tesreau. Accessed 19 Aug. 2020.
Publications International Ltd., and David Nemec. The Baseball Chronicle, 0 ed., Lincolnwood, Illinois, Publications International, Ltd., 2008, pp. 59–83.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/. 19 Aug. 2020.
“Three Time Giants World Series Pitcher: Jeff Tesreau (1912-1918).” Centerfieldmaz, www.centerfieldmaz.com/2015/03/three-time-giants-world-series-pitcher.html. Accessed 19 Aug. 2020.
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