Despite his two home runs and seven RBIs and .667 batting average, Dusty Rhodes did not have enough plate appearances (Or reach seven hits plus walks) to qualify for the lead in two categories in 1954.
It's odd, because when I think of the 1954 World Series, there are three things that stand out:
1) Willie Mays great catch off Vic Wertz in game one
2) Dusty Rhodes' great clutch hitting
3) Wertz himself leading both teams in hitting, .500
4) Bob Feller did not make an appearance (Despite going 13-3 in the regular season)
So how about our boy's heroics? His two dingers and seven runs driven in was enough to top everyone. And while his .667 average was from a small sample size, it's pretty obvious those were clutch situations.
Dusty's New York Giants were up against a Cleveland Indians team that had plenty of pitching in Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, Mike Garcia, Art Houtteman and of course Bob Feller. My father vividly remembers this team. Wynn and Lemon won 23 games each in 1954, with Garcia not far behind with 19. Houtteman is the forgotten man despite going 15-7 with 3.35 earned run average.
The first game was at the Polo Grounds, so at least the Giants would have home field advantage. However, via a two-run triple by Vic Wertz in the top of the first, it was quickly 2-0 Cleveland. New York tied it in the bottom of the third via a Don Mueller groundout and Hank Thompson single.
As we all know, it was Willie Mays' catch off Vic Wertz in the top of the eighth that kept the score tied. The Giants got Hank Thompson to third in the bottom of the frame, but Wes Westrum was out on a liner to centre.
It seemed like both teams wanted to end this game quickly. Two quick outs in the top of the ninth meant the Giants seemed safe. But the Indians evidentially didn't want this thing going extras. Monte Irvin made an error on Bobby Avila's fly to left. Avila made it to second. Larry Doby, the first black player to play in the American League, was then put on intentionally. Al Rosen hit another fly to Irvin, where the left fielder made sure to catch.
But New York was retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, as Bob Lemon was pitching an amazing game. Cleveland started out the top of the tenth, looking to take the lead. The right man was up. Vic Wertz was 3-4. He made it 4-5 with a double. Sam Dente bunted him to third. Dave Pope was purposely passed by Marv Grissom. But Grissom was clutch. First, he fanned pinch hitter Bill Glynn. Then Marv got Bob Lemon out on a liner to first.
Don Mueller led of the tenth for the home team. Things didn't get off to a promising start for the Giants. Bob Lemon fanned him. The immortal Willie Mays was next, and coaxed a walk from Lemon. With Hank Thompson up, Willie made a break for second, and made it! Winning run in scoring position. Thompson was walked intentionally.
Monte Irvin was next, but instead Dusty Rhodes would bat. Rhodes ended the game with a three-run home run to right. That's three RBIs with one swing of the bat.
So the final score was 5-2 for New York, but it was close all the way. So was the second contest. Making a big difference, again, was Dusty Rhodes.
Cleveland again wasted no time in taking the lead. Al Smith was the first batter of the game, and hit a home run. A shaken Johnny Antonelli looked liked he was headed for an early shower as the Indians loaded the bases on two more hits and a walk. But George Strickland popped out to first to end that.
Down went New York 1-2-3 in the first four innings. Something had to be done. Willie Mays started the bottom of the fifth with a walk. And then Hank Thompson got the first Giant hit off Early Wynn with a single.
And the man of the hour again was Dusty Rhodes. Again, batting for Monte Irvin, Rhodes came through. His single tied the game and moved Thompson to third (Dusty Rhodes himself pulled up to second when the throw was to third). A strikeout and walk followed. Johnny Antonelli helped out his own cause by grounding out. No one knew it at the time, but New York was ahead for good.
In the top of the seventh, Dusty Rhodes made it 3-1 for the home team with a solo home run off Early Wynn. It seemed like, with the exception of Rhodes, Wynn pitched well. That was the last run of the ballgame. Despite a fine effort by Bob Lemon in the first contest and Early Wynn here in the second one, New York had two wins.
The World Series shifted to Cleveland for gams three, four and (If necessary) five. The Giants seemed to want nothing to do with a game five at Municipal Stadium. They stormed out of the gate in the third contest. Our boy would make an early appearance.
The bases were loaded in the top of the third. Willie Mays drove in a run in the top of the first with a single. But here was a chance to blow the game wide open for New York. Dusty Rhodes was called on again. Again, batting for Monte Irvin, he singled. Don Mueller and Willie Mays scored. Before the inning ended, the Giants crossed home again.
Two innings later, Dusty Rhodes batted again. The fifth inning had started with Willie Mays flying out. But Hank Thompson followed with a two-bagger. Art Houtteman, pitching in relief of Mike Garcia, did the smart thing and walked Dusty Rhodes intentionally.
The move appeared to work as Davey Williams forced Rhodes at second. Two away, runners on the corners. But then light-hitting Wes Westrum singled, and it was 5-0 for the visitors.
Willie Mays made it 6-0 in the sixth with an RBI single off Ray Narleski. That would be the final run the Giants would score. Narleski had a nice 1-2-3 seventh which included a strikeout of Dusty Rhodes. But, the Indians were still down six runs.
Vic Wertz hit one where Willie Mays and the rest of the Giants couldn't catch it in the bottom of the inning. But it was only a solo shot. The next inning, Cleveland looked like they might make a game of this after all. They scored another run and got runners on second and third. Hoyt Wilhelm came in for New York. This, sadly, was his only World Series he'd ever play in.
But in any event, Wilhelm put out the fire. There was still the top of the ninth for New York to add to their lead. It appeared as if Dusty Rhodes would have an opportunity for more RBIs.
Don Mueller singled. Willie Mays picked up his third hit of the game with a single. Two on, no outs. But then, Hank Thompson ruined the situation for Dusty Rhodes. He hit a liner that resulted in a double play. Don Mueller was still on third. But now, the situation was tougher than it could of been for Dusty Rhodes.
As it turns out, this was Rhodes' last plate appearance in the 1954 World Series. And he'd never get back to the postseason. Sadly, Dusty's postseason ended on a wimper as Don Mossi fanned him.
But I guess a bigger wimper would be by Cleveland. Hoyt Wilhelm got them in order in the bottom of the ninth, putting New York up 3-0 in the Fall Classic. The fourth game, in case you were wondering, was an interesting contest.
Cleveland hit their backs to the wall, of course. Were they tight? Well, yes. New York started out even better in this fourth contest than they had the previous one. It was 7-0 after 4 1/2 innings.
But Hank Majeski had some pinch-hitting heroics of his own for Cleveland in the bottom of the fifth. His three-run home run make it 7-3.
I'm rather surprised that Dusty Rhodes was not called upon at any time in this game. Rudy Regalado got into the sub act in the bottom of the seventh. Another clutch pinch hit by Cleveland and it was 7-4. It seemed ironic that Vic Wertz scored the run. Despite being robbed by Willie Mays in game one, New York could do nothing to stop him.
So Hoyt Wilhelm was again needed to get the Giants out of this mess. Wilhelm got pinch hitter Dave Pope to hit it back to him and and end that. The Indians had left runners on the corners. They were not going down without a fight.
Hoyt Wilhelm would end up batting for himself in the top of the eight. Now, if I'm manager Leo Durocher, I think now would be a good time to use Dusty Rhodes. Davey Williams is on second with one away. The momentum of this game is now clearly Cleveland. Mike Garcia fanned Wilhelm. Whitey Lockman flied out to Wally Westlake in right.
So, it was still a three-run game. In the bottom of the frame, Hoyt Wilhelm came undone, but wasn't all his fault. Bobby Avila struck out, but the pitch could not be handled by catcher Wes Westrum. Larry Doby hit one to Willie Mays in centre field for the first out. Then Al Rosen singled. Tying run at the dish, one away.
Hoyt Wilhelm was done for the day, but Johnny Antonelli was in to save the day. He fanned the dangerous Vic Wertz. Wally Westlake was called out on strikes.
The game finished without any more drama, although Antonelli walked Sam Dente to start the last of the ninth. The 1954 World Series concluded with Dale Mitchell popping out to third basemen Hank Thompson.
This World Series certainly had some interesting subplots. Willie Mays was the big star. He had the catch, he hit .286, scored four runs and knocked in three. Missing from his play in this Fall Classic was a home run. Although he'd already appeared in the World Series three years earlier, and would again in 1962 and 1973, the four-bagger was one thing Mays did not accomplish in the October Classic.
Dale Mitchell, who was the last out of 1954 World Series, was the famous last out in game five of the Fall Classic two years later. Dale (Batting for Sal Maglie, ironically) fanned against Don Larsen, as the Brooklyn Dodgers (Mitchell's team) were retired 1-2-3 in all nine innings. The only perfect game ever in the World Series. Although Dale would appear in game seven, which Brooklyn lost 9-0, he became the answer to a great trivia question. Mitchell's appearance in the final game of 1956 was also his last game.
What about Dusty Rhodes? Although he'd had a great season in 1954, and followed that up by hitting .305 the next season, Dusty was not around much longer. The Giants were on the move to San Francisco in 1958, and while Rhodes was with the organization, he did not make a single appearance with the Giants that year.
Instead, Dusty was with the Phoenix Giants ("AAA" ball) of the Pacific Coast League. Rhodes probably should have seen some time with the parent club. All Rhodes did in 1958 was hit .269 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI.
1959 was Dusty's swan song at the major league level. But his pinch-hitting exploits of five years ago were a thing of the distant past. He hit just .188 that season. Although he hung on in the Giants organization until 1962 (The year New York dropped a tough seven-game Fall Classic to the New York Yankees), the team had moved on from Dusty Rhodes. He went out with a big of a whimper with the Tacoma Giants of the Pacific Coast League, hitting just .215 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI.
Johnny Podres' two wins in 1955 were his only two complete games in the Fall Classic.
Amazing to think, given how Podres was so clutch in the postseason. But going into the 1955 World Series, the Brooklyn Dodgers' left-hander didn't seem like he'd poise much of a threat to the New York Yankees. Two years earlier, when Podres was a rookie, the Yankees had met the Dodgers in the Fall Classic. Podres went 9-4 that year, showing plenty of promise. However, his earned run average was over four.
And New York beat him 11-7 to the fifth game of the 1953 Fall Classic. Oddly enough, New York managed just one hit off the Dodger pitcher in a short (2 2/3 inning) start. However, it was one of those games where the pitcher simply wasn't doing his job. Podres walked two batters, hit a another, and watched as an infield error didn't help the situation. With a run home and the bases loaded, Johhny Podres was removed rather than face Mickey Mantle.
But the Commerce Comet greeted new pitcher Russ Meyer with a home run. The grand slam turned a 2-1 game into a 6-1 Yankee advantage.
The Dodgers lost that series in six, then watched as the Yankees took the first two games when the two teams met up again in 1955. But Johnny Podres, the game three starter for Brooklyn, just hadn't made any progress. He was 11-7 in 1954, but his earned run average was too high to be the ace of the staff, 4.27. While he'd lowered his ERA to a respectable 3.95 the next season, but Johnny's record was just 9-10.
There seemed to be little doubt that New York was going to win the 1955 Fall Classic. This Dodgers team had tremendous pitching, however.
Don Newcombe, a 20-game winner in 1955. Newk had lost game one of the 1955 Fall Classic. Billy Loes was 10-4, but the Yankees beat him in the second World Series contest.
It was almost too easy to overlook Johnny Podres, as going down the list of Brooklyn's quality pitchers that year can take a while. A third starter, Carl Erskine, had a no-hitter to his name three years earlier, and had finished 1955 11-8. Another star pitcher was spot starter Clem Labine, who won 13 games and saved 11. There were also three promising kids that got in some time as starters. There was Roger Craig, who looked very good in limited duty. There was Karl Spooner, who threw really hard. Another flame-thrower was a rookie lefty named Sandy Koufax. Although only 2-2, Koufax's 3.02 earned run average was impressive enough for the team to add him to the postseason roster.
But none of these men were about to make the impact that Johnny Podres would in this World Series.
Sure, it had been a rough road for Brooklyn at Yankees Stadium in the first two contests of the 1955 October Classic. But at least, as was the case in 1953, that they were coming home for the next trio of games. If the Dodgers could win at least one.
Unlike in '53, the Dodgers took all three contests at Ebbets Field. It was Podres that got Brooklyn back on track.
Ahead 2-0 after one inning, a tough frame awaited the Dodgers' lefty in the top of the second. Mickey Mantle greeted him with a home run, and Phil Rizzuto (In his last Fall Classic) added a run scoring single to tie it. Johnny Podres was great from then on, however.
Brooklyn retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. The Dodgers put up another "2" on the scoreboard to double up the Yankees. Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo collected an RBI each in the last of the fourth to make it 6-2 for the home team. Though New York got one run back in the top of the seventh, they were done scoring. The Dodgers weren't. Another two-run inning made the final 8-3.
Wins by scores of 8-5 and 5-3 saw the 1955 World Series heading back to Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers were one win away. Brooklyn had never beaten New York in the World Series. The Dodgers hadn't won a World Title at all. Brooklyn were so close now. But then again, in 1952, they'd led New York 3-2 going back to Ebbets Field, only to have the Yankees win both contests there.
Well, it was Whitey Ford that took care of any thoughts of Brooklyn making it four wins in a row here in 1955. Ford was awesome in the sixth game, winning it 5-1, for his second W of the Fall Classic. A winner-take-all game seven awaited.
It was Johnny Podres vs. Tommy Byrne.
Though the game stayed scoreless, you never bet against the Yankees. With two away in the bottom of the third, Phil Rizzuto walked. Billy Martin singled. Then the Dodgers caught a break. Gil McDougald singled. But instead of scoring a run, or at the very least loading the bases, the ball hit Rizzuto, who was sliding into third, and the inning was over.
And, on cue, the Dodgers made the Yankees pay for that missed opportunity. In the top of the fourth, Roy Campanella doubled with one out. Then with two away, it was Gil Hodges who drove him home with a single.
New York got a leadoff double but nothing more in their half of the inning. Brooklyn didn't score in the top of the fifth, but in the sixth, opportunity came knocking again for Gil Hodges. Pee Wee Reese lead off with a single. Duke Snider reached when first basemen Moose Skowron made an error. Roy Campanella got both runners into scoring position with a bunt. Tommy Byrne then put Carl Furillo on intentionally. Furillo was the last batter Byrne would face.
Bob Grim was the new pitcher. Greeting him with a sac fly was Gil Hodges. 2-0, Brooklyn. But all the Dodgers had to do was wait until the bottom of the inning for the Yankees to mount another threat.
Billy Martin started it off with a walk. Gil McDougald bunted, but he was not trying to sacrifice. The ball rolled up the third base line, and Johnny Podres raced for it. His throw to first was too late.
Yogi Berra, who would set many a World Series record, was back up. He sent a long fly ball to left. Defensive sub Sandy Amoros raced over...And made an amazing catch. Both runners had been sure it was a catch, and Gil McDougald was doubled off first.
All that didn't end the threat. Billy Martin was still on second. Johnny Podres got Hank Bauer to ground out. There was still plenty of time left for New York to come back. Bob Grim and Bob Turley stopped the Brooklyn offence the next two innings, and the home team had another crack at tying this game in the bottom of the eighth.
Phil Rizzuto lead off, and singled. One out later, Gil McDougald rammed one to third. Don Hoak could not come up with it, and the Yankees had something going again. Runners on the corners. This time, there would be no double play to help the Dodgers. It was all up to their pitcher to take care of business.
Yogi Berra was back up, and Podres fell behind him 3-1. One pitch away from loading the bases. But Berra hit the next ball to right, where Carl Furillo made the catch. It was not deep enough to score Phil Rizzuto.
Hank Bauer was back up, but Podres wasn't about to let it slip away from Brooklyn. He didn't pull a fast one on Hank. Podres just threw the ball fast. He fanned Bauer on swift 2-2 pitch. Johnny gave New York no quarter in the bottom of the ninth. Bill Skowron grounded right back to the pitcher who was having a terrific day. Sandy Amoros had no problems taking Bob Cerv's fly to left. And finally, Elston Howard grounded out to shorstop Pee Wee Reese. The long wait was over: Brooklyn had finally won it all!
Sadly, the Dodger faithful would not have too long to celebrate. Brooklyn and New York met up again in 1956, with Johnny Podres missing the entire season after being drafted (He was classified 1-A). Again, it was a classic. Again, it went seven games. But it was the Yankees that prevailed.
The 1956 World Series marked the end of an era. Both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were about to embark on their final season before moving to a new home. Come 1958, the Giants were in San Francisco and the Dodgers were in Los Angeles.
It took the Dodgers just one season to win in Los Angeles. Facing the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 Fall Classic, the Dodgers turned to Johnny Podres in game two. LA had been blown out 11-0 in the opening tilt at Comiskey Park. The second contest was a struggle for Los Angeles. They trailed 2-0 through four innings. But going into the bottom of the eight, it was 4-2 for the Dodgers. The White Sox scratched across a run. But Johnny Podres was no longer pitching. He'd been removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh. Larry Sherry had the task of closing out this contest for Los Angeles. The Dodgers held on to win 4-3.
Come game six, again at Comiskey Park, the Dodgers again turned to Podres. Again, LA was coming off a shutout loss (1-0 in the fifth contest). Podres was almost a forgotten man at this point. Although 14-9 in the regular season, Roger Craig was the ace of the Dodger staff. Craig was 11-6 with an earned run average of just 2.06. There was Don Drysdale, a seventeen-game winner. Danny McDevitt. 1959 was Sandy Koufax's sixth season, but the promise was there. At one point in the regular season, he fanned sixteen batters in one game. Come late August, he fanned eighteen San Francisco Giants in a ten-innings 5-2 win. The Dodgers had given him the ball in game five of this series after an impressive two shutout inning relief stint in game one. Sandy lost a heartbreaker, despite allowing just five hits and one run over seven frames of masterful pitching.
So it was back to Comiskey Park for game six, and likewise back to Johnny Podres. The sixth contest was seemingly decided early. Early Wynn was routed. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the third. Six more the next inning. But ahead 8-0, Johnny Podres did not finish the fourth inning. Ted Kluszewski hit a three-run home run. When Al Smith followed with a walk, manager Walter Alston came out to the mound and removed his pitcher.
So it was Larry Sherry, with a win and two saves to his name in the 1959 World Series, who hopped in. He held the Chicago White Sox in check in the next 5 2/3 innings. And it was Sherry who walked away with the series MVP award (And he also took home the Babe Ruth Award for the best performer in the Fall Classic). So while Johnny Podres certainly contributed, there were other Dodgers who did more.
In 1963, it was the same story. Now Sandy Koufax was truly awesome. 25 games won. Don Drysdale wasn't too far behind the lefty ace. Nineteen wins and a great earned run average (2.63). So Johnny Podres, while a fourteen-game winner, wasn't the pitcher Koufax or Drysdale were in '63. There was another good starter in Bob Miller. Miller won 10 games and posted an ERA of just 2.89. There was also reliever Ron Perranoski. Ron won 16 games, saved 37 and posted an earned run average of just 1.67.
Koufax went out and beat the New York Yankees 5-2 in game one of the World Series. And he beat the great Whitey Ford, himself a 24-game winner, right there at Yankee Stadium. Koufax fanned fifteen batters.
So for game two, with Yankee Stadium a great ballpark for left-handed pitchers, New York sent Al Downing out to even things up. In his first full season, the young southpaw was 13-5 with a 2.56 earned run average.
Los Angeles turned to Johnny Podres. Podres' stats are pedestrian compared to the two big guns in 1963. He won fourteen and lost twelve. Even his ERA wasn't anything exceptional, 3.54. Worse still, this was the last season Johnny reached double figures in wins.
But, Podres still had his magic. The Dodgers gave him a quick 2-0 lead. And the Los Angeles pitcher made it stand up. The Yankees got two men on the second, but did not score. The home team went down 1-2-3 in the next three innings. Tom Tresh singled and took second on a failed pickoff play by Podres in the sixth. Hector Lopez led off the seventh for the Yankees and hit a double. But after eight innings, it was 4-0, LA.
Mickey Mantle had hit the ball well all game long, but led off for the defiant Yankees in the last of the ninth. He hit the ball well again. But it was nothing but a long, loud out. Hector Lopez then raised hopes with another double. That was the last batter Johnny Podres faced.
Ron Perranoski, another lefty, was now on the hill. Elston Howard greeted him with a single. Lopez scored. There went the shutout. But Joe Pepitone grounded out, and Clete Boyer fanned. Los Angeles was heading home up 2-0. And thanks to Don Drysdale's 1-0 win in the third contest and Sandy Koufax's 2-1 triumph the next contest, the Dodgers had themselves a sweep.
Two years later, it might have seemed hard to believe, but now Koufax and Drysdale were better. They combined for 49 wins. The third best pitcher on Los Angeles was Claude Osteen. Osteen was only 15-15 but posted an earned run average of 2.79. Then the key third contest in the World Series vs. Minnesota. It seemed odd, but Drysdale lost the first game and Koufax the second. Osteen's win got them back on track. Don Drysdale won game four, 7-2. Sandy Koufax won game five in even more impressive manner, 7-0. Koufax allowed Minnesota just four hits. And although the Dodgers lost game six, they had their big gun, Koufax, back for the seventh and deciding contest.
As Johnny Podres had a decade earlier, Sandy Koufax was magnificent in this winner-take-all game. Pitching on the road, Koufax was a 2-0 winner, (Again, just like Podres had in 1955). And with Sandy and Claude Osteen as the two big lefties on this Dodgers team, Johnny Podres was forgotten. Though named to the postseason roster, Podres did not pitch against the Minnesota Twins. He picked up his fourth ring, however.
But getting back to 1955, the Dodgers had gotten great performances from Duke Snider (4 HR, 7 RBI), Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella. Pitching-wise, Roger Craig and Clem Labine were great, while Don Newcombe and Karl Spooner were disappointing. But at the end of the day, it was the surprisingly lefty Johnny Podres, who couldn't even post a .500 record in the regular season, that pitched Brooklyn to a surprising and amazing championship.
References
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005.
Morissey, Scott. 114 World Series in 1 Book. Updated ed., Pandamonium Publishing House, 2020.
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903-1989, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1990.
Nemec, et al. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008.
Jimmie Wilson is the oldest catcher to steal a base. He was pressed into services in 1940, throught a series of unfortunate events. And Wilson's contributions to the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series that year went far beyond his pilfer.
Cincinnati had been swept by the New York Yankees in the 1939 Fall Classic, and waited one year to seek redemption. But it was one tough 1940 for the Reds. History shows they won the pennant by twelve games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. And Cincy didn't just win the pennant. They won exactly 100 games.
But all was not going well for Cincinnati. They were heading into the World Series shorthanded. Their excellent backup, Willard Hershberger, committed suicide during the regular season. Hershberger had been the perfect backup to Ernie Lombardi. In just 48 games in 1940, Willard hit .309 with 26 RBIs.
So what about Ernie Lombardi? The regular catcher was one awesome masked man. Twice, in his career, he topped the league in batting average. Did Lombardi have some power? Twelve times Ernie reached double figures in home runs. Sure, he was slow on the basepaths, but then again, there was Lombardi's .306 lifetime batting average. Then there was his outstanding ability to call pitches. There's no way you're gonna tell me that Ernie didn't have anything to do with Johnny Vander Meer being the only man to hurl back-to-back no-hitters.
But Ernie would be of little help to Cincinnati in the 1940 October showdown. Fate intervened during an easy win over Brooklyn on September 15th (Firs game of a doubleheader. The Reds' catcher twisted his ankle.
So enter Jimmie Wilson. Cincinnati turned to him and rookie Bill Baker for the rest of the year, calling pitches. Wilson turned 40 in July. He'd once been a pretty good player, but had really more of a coach than a player. Prior to September of 1940, Jimmie had played a total of three games that season.
And now, Cincinnati needed him (Plus a rookie) more than ever to get them through the finish line. But Wilson struggled. He was hitting .315 after going a combined 2-5 in the twin bill on September 15th. After that, Jimmie hit just .143 the rest of the season. Bill Baker fared only marginally better from September 16th on. He hit .167 to finish the season.
But it's worth noting just what Jimmie Wilson would provide, above all, in this Fall Classic: Experience! He'd previously been on the losing side in 1928 and 1930 with the St. Louis Cardinals. But, as part of the Gashouse Gang in '31, the team overcame the Philadelphia Athletics to win it all.
So, it was Cincinnati vs. Detroit in the 1940 World Series. The only Fall Classic matched between the Reds and Tigers. It was a bit of a surprise, given how good the Cleveland Indians had been that year. But Detroit trotted out unheralded pitcher Floyd Giebell to beat Bob Feller on September 27th. That 2-0 win gave the Tigers their American League crown.
Any thoughts of a breezy Fall Classic for the Cincinnati Reds quickly went out the door. Not only did Jimmie not get a hit, but his pals had all sorts of trouble all afternoon. Sure, the Reds got eight hits. But only two runs were scored by the home team. The Tigers got ten hits themselves. And seven runs.
It seemed to be that kind of Fall Classic for a while. Though Cincinnati evened things up with a 5-3 win in the second contest, Detroit was trouble. They managed just three hits, but still found a way to keep the game close. Jimmie Wilson almost matched that total himself. He got two hits of his own.
But Wilson was nowhere to be found at Briggs Stadium for game three. The home team wanted this game, and got it. They scored another seven runs, and won again. Cincinnati went back to Jimmie Wilson behind the dish for game four, which they really needed. He only got one hit, but the Reds won this biggie, 5-2.
You'd think that there was no way the Tigers could score seven runs again. And you're right. They didn't score seven runs in game five. They scored eight. The Reds? They didn't score at all. Their catcher could only pop out to his counterpart on Detroit, Billy Sullivan. Jimmie Wilson also allowed a pass ball in the fourth frame. The Tigers scored four times in that inning alone.
So, through five games, the Cincinnati veteran catcher hadn't done much. And his team was one win away from losing the World Series. But starting in game six, all that changed.
Up 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Reds were looking for some insurance. Jimmie Wilson followed Jimmy Ripple's single with one of his own. When Eddie Joost walked, the home team had the makings of a big inning. Billy Myers hit a comebacker that pitcher Johnny Gorsica went home on to nail Jimmy Ripple. Another grounder actually scored our boy, with Detroit failing to get the man at the dish.
It was 3-0, and the bases were back to being filled. The promise of more offence was not realized as Billy Webber hit into a 1-2-3 double play. But Cincinnati added a fourth run later in the contest. Meanwhile, behind the plate, Jimmie Wilson helped pitcher Bucky Walters to a complete game shutout of Detroit, forcing a winner-take-all finale. Jimmie Wilson ended the game 1-3, but had been robbed in the third inning of an additional hit by right fielder Bruce Campbell.
And in that final game, it was Wilson who tried to get things going for the home team. In the bottom of the second, Jimmie singled with two away. Trying to make something more of it, he stole second. It was the only stolen base by either team in the World Series of 1940.
But Wilson was stranded at second, and Detroit ended up breaking the ice in the top of the third. The score was still 1-0 for the Tigers when Jimmie Wilson made it 2-2 at the plate. The catcher starter the last of the fifth with a single. But nothing came of it as Eddie Joost hit into a double play and Billy Myers flied out.
Destiny called the Reds in the bottom of the seventh. A pair of doubles tied it. Jimmie Wilson then bunted, moving the go-ahead run to third. Ernie Lombardi then came up to the plate to bat for Eddie Joost, but Detroit put him on to set up a double play. Wilson's bunt proved to be huge. Billy Myers flew out, but with Jimmy Ripple on third rather than second, it enabled the Cincinnati outfielder to score.
The lead held up, as Paul Derringer ended up beating Bobo Newson in an excellent pitcher's duel that saw both hurlers go the distance. But when the smoke had cleared, it was neither pitcher who had grabbed the spotlight. Instead, it was Derringer's batterymate. Belying his 40 years, Jimmie Wilson finished this impressive World Series with a batting average of .353. Another plus: The only two attempts to steal on Wilson failed! It also proved to be his swan song as a player, because the old catcher moved on to managerial duties the next season with the Chicago Cubs. But for now, one of the most unlikeliest of heroes on this world championship team could bask in the glory of rolling back the clock one final time.
References
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005.
Nack, William. “The Razor's Edge.” Sports Illustrated, 6 May 1991, pp. 52–64.
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903-1989, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1990, pp. 179–183.
Nemec, et al. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008.
Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. Chronicle Books, 1995.
So what about Marv Grissom's other stats in 1954? How about how he fared in the World Series that Fall against the Cleveland Indians (Winners of 111 games)? We shall take a look.
Obviously, the pitcher most associated with relief in the 1950s (And 60s) was Grissom's very own teammate on that great 1954 New York Giants, Hoyt Wilhelm. But the circumstances, described here in part one of Marv Grissom, enabled our boy to take over the closer spot.
Not that Hoyt didn't contribute in '54. In fact, you'll notice that comparing their stats from that year, their win totals, games pitched and games finished were very close. Was Grissom better in other areas?
Well, being the New York Giants' closer, Marv ended up with a team-leading seventeen saves. Hoyt had seven. Both their earned run averages were great. Grissom's was 2.35 and Wilhelm's was a little better, 2.10. How about everyone's favourite new stat? Wins Above Replacement. Both were great, and Grissom's was a bit better. Hoyt Wilhelm had a 3.4 WAR. Grissom's was 4.2
Hoyt Wilhelm might have seemingly had an edge. His prized pitch was a baffling knuckleball (Bob Purkey and Barney Schultz were two other pitchers in the mid-late 1950s that used it) that was tough for any catcher to handle. But Hoyt only threw two wild pitches in 1954. He fanned an average of 5.2 batters per nine innings, while Marv Grissom was at 4.7. Wilhelm had a lower walks and hits allowed per nine.
The funny thing is, Hoyt Wilhelm was pretty much equal to Marv Grissom that year, but certainly below him the next. Yet, as mentioned earlier, who is remembered as the better pitcher? Wilhelm saw his earned run average go up to 3.93 in 1955, but Marv Grissom's was well below that, 2.92. Grissom would also end up with a little bit of MVP consideration. The reliever also saw some action in the Mid-Summer Classic.
Staying with 1954, the New York Giants won the pennant, and faced an excellent Cleveland Indians team. Everyone remembers game one. Don Liddle came on in the top eighth inning to relieve Sal Maglie. The scored was tied 2-2. But now Cleveland had two on and no outs. And worse still, their big bat, Vic Wertz was up.
Wertz was having "One of those days". One of those days when you couldn't get him out. He'd hit a clutch two-run triple in the first (With two away) to break the ice. He singled in the fourth. Vic singled again in the sixth. 3-3.
So here, in the top of the eighth, he launched one to centre. But there was the great Willie Mays to make an unbelievable, over-the-shoulder catch to rob Vic Wertz of another triple. Or maybe an inside-the-park home run.
But Larry Doby, on second, tagged and went to third after this spectacle. And for all of Mays' heroics, there was still only one out. Who would put out this fire? Marv Grissom.
Hank Majeski had been sent up by Cleveland to bat for right fielder Davey Philley. That's what brought in the right-handed Grissom in to pitch. So Al Lopez, the Cleveland manager, sent up left-handed hitting Dale Mitchell to the dish after Marv Grissom entered.
It's unreal to think this plate appearance has been forgotten. Mitchell, of course, made headlines two years later, when he was the last out in Don Larsen's perfect game, which was the fifth contest of the 1956 Fall Classic.
Dale coaxed a walk from Marv Grissom here, loading the bases. There was just one out. Good thing Wertz didn't bat here, in the seventh spot. Instead, it was George Strickland who batted next. But Al Lopez removed him and sent up another pinch hitter (Who was left on the bench now, after all this?) to the dish. Dave Pope. Marv Grissom came through with the clutch strikeout. Jim Hegan kept the ball away from Willie Mays in centre, only to be retired on a fly to left.
New York seemed destined to take the lead in the bottom of that frame. Hank Thompson drew a walk from Bob Lemon. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second. Davey Williams grounded out, Thompson did not advance. However, pitching to Wes Westrum, Lemon threw a wild pitch. The go-ahead run was now at third. Westrum hit it to centre. Larry Doby got it.
In the top of the ninth, things started out like child's play for Marv Grissom. Bob Lemon and Al Smith both flied out to Monte Irvin in left. But then Bobby Avila reached when Smith made a two-base error. Larry Doby was walked intentionally. Al Smith redeemed himself, by putting his name in the record books. He made the third putout of the frame when he caught Al Rosen's fly.
Lemon, who now would lose the game if New York scored just one run, got the message. 1-2-3 went the Giants in the bottom of the ninth. Marv Grissom was needed again. Guess who was back up? Vic Wertz. 3-4. Make that 4-5. Vic hit a double to the gap in left. Wertz had learned where not to hit it. Rudy Regalado ran for him. A sacrifice moved Regalado ninety feet away from scoring. Dave Pope was walked intentionally. Bill Glynn was up, but Marv Grissom was clutch. Strikeout. Bob Lemon batted for himself and lined out to first.
Lemon stayed in the game. He started out the bottom of the tenth on the right foot. Don Mueller fanned. But then Willie Mays again found a way to disrupt the flow of the game. He walked and stole second. The home team suddenly had an excellent chance to win this contest. Hank Thompson was put on, so a double play would get the Indians out of this.
The batter was Monte Irvin. Well, he was the next scheduled hitter. But instead, it would be pinch hitter Dusty Rhodes to face Bob Lemon. And, what an ending to this unforgettable game! A clutch three-run home run! The Giants had drawn first blood in the 1954 Fall Classic!
The second game was close again, but New York took a narrow 3-1 win. What a pitcher's duel between Cleveland's Early Wynn, and New York's Johnny Antonelli.
When the World Series shifted to Cleveland, it was New York that let it be known their intentions were for a sweep. The easily won game three, 6-2. When trouble came in the bottom of the eighth, as the Indians scored a run and put two more on, Hoyt Wilhelm extinguished the flames.
The next game appeared to be an even easier breeze. The visiting Giants stormed out of the gate, and went ahead 7-0 after 4 1/2 innings. Back came the Indians with a three-run salvo in the bottom of the fifth (Via a pinch-hit, three run home run by Hank Majeski). In the bottom of the seventh, it was Rudy Regalado with a pinch-hit single to make the score closer still. This World Series seemed to have a lot of runs scored via reserves' RBIs.
So instead of using Marv Grissom, the Giants held off. Hoyt Wilhelm got New York out of that mess. However, Wilhelm put a man on in the eighth, and Johnny Antonelli replaced him. Well, Vic Wertz was proven to be human after all. Antonelli fanned him. And Wally Westlake. Sam Dente walked to open the ninth, but that then the Giants' pitcher really came through. Jim Hegan popped out. Dave Philley batted. You'd probably have expected him to hit a two-run home run here, given what we'd seen in this series, or even just in this game. Had that happened, it's a 7-6 ballgame. But Johnny Antonelli fanned him. The last batter of the game happened to be the same hitter that Don Larsen would fan two years later, Dale Mitchell. Dale popped out to Hank Thompson at third.
Marv Grissom might have been disappointed about not being able to contribute more in the World Series. Sadly, this was his only Fall Classic appearance. He got a win to his name, but since that was in the Willie Mays contest, it has since been forgotten. Sadly, it proved to be the last World Series appearance of the New York Giants, too. The joy of winning their first Fall Classic in 21 years would soon be followed by a hole in the heart of all the Giants fans in New York. Given the strength of the team, and the fact that it was there second pennant in three years, there did not appear to be any reason for the club to worry. It wasn't like Grissom was a one-year wonder, either.
So 1955 was a good year? 1956 saw the New York Giants drop to just 67 wins. Again, Hoyt Wilhelm was average at best, 4-9, 3.83 earned run average. At this point, who would have considered him for the Hall of Fame? Marv Grissom pitched 1956 like he was headed towards Cooperstown. 1-1, 1.56 ERA, seven saves.
The next year was a sad one for not only Marv Grissom, but the entire team. The Giants did the unthinkable: They were playing their last season in New York! A double-whammy as their long-time rivals the Dodgers were on the move out of Brooklyn for 1958.
The Giants limped to the finish line of their last season at the Polo Grounds with just 69 wins. Hoyt Wilhelm was gone, but Marv Grissom was excellent. He went 4-4 with fourteen saves and an earned run average of 2.61. Sadly, not only was this the end of an era, but it was also Grissom's last great year.
So, 1958 began with the Giants in San Francisco and their rivals the Dodgers not too far away in Los Angeles. It's odd that it was the Giants that were good that year and the Dodgers bad.
How could this be? Los Angeles had a loaded starting rotation. You had Don Newcombe and Johnny Podres. Then you had the kids, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax and Stan Williams. But for this year, it was the Giants whose pitchers made the adjustment to the new surroundings.
Johhny Antonelli won sixteen games. Rubem Gomez was 10-12 and a nineteen-year old name Mike McCormick was 11-8. It was their spot starters and relievers that seemed to find a way to win the games.
Al Worthington won eleven games, on his own way to an outstanding career as a reliever. Marv Grissom, now 40 years old, won seven of his own. But his earned run average was nearly four. He still managed to lead the team in saves (Tied for third best in the National League). Marv was still effective, but it was clear his best days were behind him. The team, however, appeared to be on their way back to the top of the Senior Circuit. 1957 and 1958 saw the Milwaukee Braves (Who moved themselves out of Boston in the early 1950s) win the pennant, and nearly made it three in a row in 1959.
Stu Miller also pitched for the Giants in 1958, and both started and relieved. The end result was six wins and a 2.47 earned run average. The only other good reliever on San Francisco that year (Minimum of ten appearances) was Gordon Jones. The team finished 80-74.
The Giants, however, had to settle for only a minor improvement. The team won 83 games. However, their old rivals, the Dodgers, were just too strong. For the Giants, and the Braves. Los Angeles went all the way in 1959. Sadly, Marv Grissom did not finish the year in the majors.
In fact, just to start that season, Marv had to get used to new surroundings. He was involved in a trade to St. Louis. The Cardinals not only got Grissom, but a very good pitcher named Ernie Broglio, in exchange for three players. Broglio is best remembered as being part of a one-sided trade between the Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs in 1964. The Cubs parted ways with a few players, but among them was some kid named Lou Brock, whereas the unfortunate Broglio was out of baseball not long after. The Cubs also got Bobby Shantz in the deal, but he was out of baseball after 1964. The trade itself looked good at the time, as Ernie seemed destined to add a lot to Chicago. The problem was, Broglio's arm was pretty much shot. Ernie had been 60-38 with a 3.15 earned run average from 1960-1963.
Marv Grissom was pretty much out the door in 1959. The Cardinals had no doubt hoped that he and Sal Maglie (Acquired from the New York Yankees the previous season) were going to help a team that had a starting rotation that included Larry Jackson, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Ernie Broglio and Bob Miller. St. Louis also had some kid named Bob Gibson, but he only pitched thirteen times for the Cards that season.
But Maglie was released on April 10th, ending his playing career. His old teammate from the Giants was not around much longer. Marv Grissom didn't get into a game until June 4th. Although it went well, it was Marv's last hurrah. After giving up a run against Philadelphia three days later in the first game of a doubleheader, it was obvious Grissom didn't have it anymore. If there was any doubt, Marv's June 11th outing sealed his fate. He failed to retire a batter, giving up four runs, all earned. It was not long after, feeling the effects of a back injury, he told St. Louis that it was time to leave. The Cardinals, however, kept him on active payroll through the rest of that season and to the end of 1960.
Ironically enough, the San Francisco Giants had a rookie that year, that must have seemed ironic to Marv. Grissom had spent so much time with knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. Just as Grissom was going out, Eddie Fisher came in. Fisher's prized pitch? A knuckleball. It would have been nice to have Marv Grissom bridge the gap between Wilhelm and Fisher. But by the time Fisher made his debut in 1959 (June 22nd), Grissom was a goner.
The pitcher did not throw another pitch in a major league game. Finally released after the '60 season, the former Giant took over as a pitching coach for the expansion Los Angeles Angels. Marv held that position for six years. After stops in Chicago (White Sox) and back again with Los Angeles, the coach was getting around. Minnesota had Marv tending to the pitchers in 1970-71. The Chicago Cubs hired him in 1975 to teach his pitching wisdom. One final stop in Los Angeles followed from 1978-79.
Marv eventually retired and enjoyed his time hunting, gardening, fishing and golfing. He passed away, age 87, in 2005.
Greatest Relief Seasons of All-Time Stat Set 2
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Bernhard
1899
0
?
?
?
2.65
23
1.6
1.179
2.0
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Walsh
1904
1
?
?
?
2.60
57
4.6
1.102
0.1
Griffith
1905
1
?
?
?
1.68
46
4.1
0.954
3.3
Ferguson
1906
7
?
?
?
2.58
32
5.5
1.280
0.2
Keefe
1907
3
?
?
?
2.50
20
3.1
1.387
2.0
Chappelle
1908
0
?
?
?
1.79
23
2.9
1.095
0.3
Leever
1909
2
?
?
?
2.83
23
3.0
1.257
-0.1
Dygert
1909
0
?
?
?
2.42
79
5.2
1.216
-0.4
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Phillipe
1910
4
?
?
?
2.29
30
2.2
0.986
2.0
Benz
1911
0
?
?
?
2.26
28
4.5
1.168
0.7
Baskette
1912
1
?
?
?
3.18
51
4.0
1.336
2.2
Crandall
1913
6
?
?
?
2.86
42
3.9
1.290
0.5
Wolfgang
1914
0
?
?
?
1.89
50
3.8
1.073
1.8
Bressler
1914
2
?
?
?
1.77
96
5.9
1.138
3.5
Conzelman
1914
2
?
?
?
2.94
39
3.5
1.267
0.8
Mays
1915
7
?
?
?
2.60
65
4.4
1.063
1.0
Hughes
1916
5
1
0.833
?
2.35
97
5.4
1.068
2.5
Danforth
1917
9
?
?
?
2.65
79
4.1
1.324
3.2
Bender
1917
2
?
?
?
1.67
43
3.4
0.973
3.7
Coumbe
1917
5
2
0.714
1
2.14
30
2.0
1.146
1.1
Dubuc
1919
3
?
?
?
2.66
32
2.2
1.182
0.6
Luque
1919
3
0
1.000
?
2.63
26
3.4
1.179
1.1
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
S.Smith
1920
3
?
?
?
1.85
33
2.2
1.181
3.2
Morton
1921
1
?
?
?
2.76
45
3.8
1.207
2.3
Baumgartner
1925
3
?
?
?
3.57
18
1.4
1.368
2.5
Marberry
1926
22
?
?
?
3.00
43
2.8
1.348
3.1
Clark
1927
2
?
?
?
2.32
32
2.3
1.262
2.8
Haid
1928
5
?
?
?
2.30
21
4.0
1.064
0.4
Rommel
1929
4
1
0.800
1
2.85
25
2.0
1.484
1.6
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Lindsey
1931
7
1
0.875
?
2.77
32
3.9
1.634
1.1
Quinn
1932
13
?
?
?
2.66
24
3.5
1.383
1.1
Russell
1933
13
?
?
?
2.69
28
2.0
1.218
3.1
Malone
1936
9
1
0.900
0
3.81
72
4.8
1.515
2.9
Brown
1938
5
?
?
?
3.80
55
3.7
1.500
0.4
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Beggs
1940
7
4
0.636
0
2.00
25
2.9
1.161
2.2
Murphy
1941
15
7
0.682
0
1.98
29
3.4
1.397
2.2
Adams
1943
9
2
0.818
0
2.82
46
3.0
1.254
3.0
Heving
1944
10
?
?
0
1.96
46
3.5
1.228
1.9
Maltzberger
1944
12
?
?
0
2.96
49
4.8
1.095
1.8
Berry
1944
12
4
0.750
0
1.94
44
3.6
0.907
3.7
Karl
1945
15
1
0.938
1
2.99
51
2.5
1.245
3.6
Christopher
1947
12
2
0.857
0
2.90
33
3.7
1.277
1.4
Wilks
1948
13
1
0.929
1
2.62
72
4.9
1.163
4.8
Page
1949
27
11
0.711
0
2.59
99
6.6
1.315
4.2
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Konstanty
1950
22
4
0.846
0
2.66
56
3.3
1.039
4.7
Aloma
1951
3
1
0.750
0
1.82
25
3.2
1.096
3.2
Wilhelm
1952
11
1
0.917
1
2.43
108
6.1
1.155
2.7
Paige
1952
10
5
0.667
1
3.07
91
5.9
1.254
3.4
Kinder
1953
27
8
0.771
4
1.85
39
3.3
1.140
4.5
Mossi
1954
7
0
1.000
0
1.94
55
5.3
1.022
3.3
Grissom
1954
17
4
0.810
0
2.35
64
4.7
1.226
4.2
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Narleski
1955
19
2
0.905
6
3.71
94
7.6
1.281
2.5
Craig
1955
2
0
1.000
0
2.78
48
4.8
1.368
1.8
Freeman
1956
18
3
0.857
2
3.40
50
4.1
1.344
2.6
Farrell
1957
10
3
0.769
0
2.38
54
5.8
1.320
2.4
Zuverink
1957
9
8
0.529
0
2.48
36
2.9
1.278
2.7
Hyde
1958
18
5
0.783
0
1.75
49
4.3
1.136
4.9
Duren
1959
14
7
0.667
1
1.88
96
11.3
1.200
3.8
Staley
1959
15
4
0.789
2
2.24
54
4.2
1.169
2.5
Face
1959
10
9
0.526
1
2.70
69
6.7
1.243
3.2
Sherry
1959
3
1
0.750
0
2.19
23
6.9
1.251
3.6
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
McDaniel
1960
26
6
0.813
1
1.29
95
8.2
0.863
6.0
Brosnan
1960
12
2
0.857
2
2.36
62
5.6
1.020
2.7
Arroyo
1961
29
10
0.744
1
2.19
87
6.6
1.109
3.3
Fox
1961
12
2
0.857
3
1.41
32
5.0
1.012
2.6
Radatz
1963
25
3
0.893
0
1.97
162
11.0
1.096
5.7
Perranoski
1963
21
8
0.724
0
1.67
75
5.2
1.202
4.5
Baldschun
1963
16
5
0.762
1
2.30
89
7.0
1.240
2.0
Lee
1964
19
8
0.704
1
1.51
111
7.3
1.058
4.3
Ellis
1964
14
2
0.875
1
2.57
125
9.2
1.054
3.1
Hall
1964
9
2
0.818
2
1.85
52
5.3
0.844
3.0
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Miller
1965
24
1
0.960
1
1.89
104
7.8
0.997
4.3
Regan
1966
21
7
0.750
1
1.62
88
6.8
0.934
5.0
Hoerner
1966
13
3
0.813
4
1.54
63
7.5
1.026
3.0
Drabowsky
1967
12
5
0.706
3
1.60
96
9.1
0.955
3.2
Abernathy
1967
28
6
0.824
1
1.27
88
7.4
0.978
6.2
Wyatt
1967
20
4
0.833
2
2.60
68
6.6
1.179
2.2
Wood
1968
16
5
0.762
7
1.87
74
4.2
1.006
5.4
V. Romo
1968
12
3
0.800
1
1.60
54
5.8
0.901
2.8
Segui
1968
6
1
0.857
4
2.39
72
7.8
1.000
1.3
Tatum
1969
22
1
0.957
2
1.36
65
6.8
1.042
4.3
Watt
1969
16
5
0.762
1
1.65
46
5.8
1.056
1.9
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Williams
1970
15
4
0.789
7
1.99
76
6.0
1.032
2.8
McMahon
1970
19
5
0.792
0
2.96
74
7.1
1.219
3.0
Grant
1970
24
3
0.889
2
1.86
58
3.9
1.064
4.9
Richert
1970
13
4
0.765
3
1.98
66
10.9
1.098
2.3
Sanders
1971
31
4
0.886
0
1.91
80
5.3
1.064
4.1
Carroll
1971
15
6
0.714
4
2.50
64
6.1
1.281
1.8
Giusti
1972
22
5
0.815
0
1.93
54
6.5
1.058
2.3
Knowles
1972
11
3
0.786
5
1.37
36
4.9
1.310
2.5
Brewer
1972
17
7
0.708
0
1.26
69
7.9
0.843
3.5
Hiller
1973
38
4
0.905
0
1.44
124
8.9
1.021
8.1
Borbon
1973
14
5
0.737
6
2.16
60
4.5
1.421
2.5
Beene
1973
1
0
1.000
0
1.68
49
4.8
1.033
3.0
Marshall
1974
21
12
0.636
9
2.42
143
6.2
1.186
3.1
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Gossage
1975
26
5
0.839
1
1.84
130
8.3
1.193
8.2
Hrabosky
1975
22
6
0.786
3
1.66
82
7.6
1.097
3.9
McEnaney
1975
15
4
0.789
11
2.47
48
4.7
1.264
1.5
Eastwick
1976
26
9
0.743
1
2.09
70
5.9
1.115
2.8
Lyle
1977
26
8
0.765
1
2.17
68
4.5
1.197
3.7
Sutter
1977
31
9
0.775
0
1.34
129
10.8
0.857
6.5
Johnson
1977
15
7
0.682
1
3.13
87
5.3
1.806
2.5
Stanley
1978
10
5
0.667
1
2.60
38
2.2
1.242
4.1
Blair
1978
28
5
0.848
2
1.97
91
8.2
1.246
4.1
Lolich
1978
1
0
1.000
2
1.56
13
3.4
1.183
1.1
Tekulve
1979
31
6
0.838
8
2.79
75
5.0
1.176
3.2
Lopez
1979
21
5
0.808
1
2.41
106
7.5
1.150
5.3
Davis
1979
9
10
0.474
2
2.85
43
4.5
1.313
2.2
E.Romo
1979
5
8
0.385
12
2.99
106
7.4
1.276
1.8
Monge
1979
19
7
0.731
5
2.40
108
7.4
1.221
3.0
Sosa
1979
18
7
0.720
4
1.96
59
5.5
1.179
3.1
Palmer
1979
2
1
0.667
0
2.64
72
5.3
1.141
2.2
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
McGraw
1980
20
5
0.800
0
1.46
75
7.3
0.921
4.7
Garvin
1980
8
5
0.615
5
2.29
52
5.7
1.173
3.4
Fingers
1981
28
6
0.824
0
1.04
61
7.0
0.872
4.2
Caudill
1982
26
6
0.813
0
2.35
111
10.4
1.045
4.4
Reardon
1982
26
8
0.765
2
2.06
86
7.1
1.128
3.5
Bedrosian
1982
11
6
0.647
10
2.42
123
8.0
1.155
4.2
L.Smith
1983
29
4
0.879
1
1.65
91
7.9
1.074
4.8
Stewart
1983
8
5
0.615
5
2.60
78
5.2
1.237
3.1
Quisenberry
1983
45
8
0.849
0
1.94
48
3.1
0.928
5.5
Orosco
1983
17
5
0.773
1
1.47
84
6.9
1.036
3.8
Hernandez
1984
32
1
0.970
0
1.92
112
7.2
0.941
4.8
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Lamp
1985
2
5
0.286
8
3.32
68
5.8
1.164
1.3
B.Smith
1985
27
6
0.818
1
2.27
40
4.5
1.084
1.6
Lahti
1985
19
1
0.950
6
1.84
41
5,4
1.302
2.3
D.
Moore
1985
31
8
0.795
0
1.92
72
6.3
1.087
3.6
Eichhorn
1986
10
4
0.714
7
1.72
166
9.5
0.955
7.4
Righetti
1986
46
10
0.821
0
2.45
83
7.0
1.153
3.8
Todd
Worrell
1986
36
10
0.783
0
2.08
73
6.3
1.225
2.5
Henke
1987
34
8
0.810
1
2.49
128
12.3
0.926
3.3
Burke
1987
18
4
0.818
5
1.19
58
5.7
0.890
4.3
Dayley
1987
4
6
0.400
6
2.66
63
9.3
1.393
1.5
Henneman
1988
22
7
0.759
2
1.87
58
5.7
1.051
3.3
Parrett
1988
6
4
0.600
2
2.65
62
6.1
1.211
1.6
Pena
1988
12
2
0.857
9
1.91
83
7.9
1.081
1.7
Lancaster
1989
8
3
0.727
7
1.36
56
6.9
1.032
3.9
Russell
1989
38
6
0.864
0
1.98
77
9.5
0.950
2.5
McDowell
1989
23
5
0.821
2
1.96
47
4.6
1.272
1.2
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Eckersley
1990
48
2
0.960
0
0.61
73
9.0
0.614
3.3
Thigpen
1990
57
8
0.877
0
1.83
70
7.1
1.038
3.4
Nelson
1990
5
3
0.625
18
1.57
38
4.6
0.964
2.3
Dibble
1990
11
6
0.647
17
1.74
136
12.5
0.980
4.0
Henry
1991
15
1
0.938
3
1.00
28
7.0
0.833
2.2
Aguilera
1991
42
9
0.824
0
2.35
61
8.0
1.072
2.4
Ward
1992
12
4
0.750
24
1.95
103
9.1
1.135
3.1
Rojas
1992
10
1
0.909
13
1.43
70
6.3
1.043
3.9
Olin
1992
29
7
0.806
0
2.34
47
4.8
1.211
2.7
Jones
1992
36
6
0.857
0
1.85
93
7.5
1.102
2.8
Wetteland
1993
43
1
0.977
0
1.37
113
12.0
1.008
4.2
Harvey
1993
45
4
0.918
0
1.70
73
9.5
0.841
4.0
Beck
1993
48
4
0.923
0
2.16
86
9.8
0.882
2.4
Martinez
1993
2
1
0.667
14
2.61
119
10.0
1.243
3.0
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Hoffman
1998
53
1
0.981
0
1.48
86
10.6
0.849
4.1
Urbina
1998
34
4
0.895
0
1.30
94
12.2
1.010
3.2
Williamson
1999
19
7
0.731
5
2.41
107
10.3
1.039
2.8
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Rhodes
2001
3
4
0.429
31
1.72
83
11.0
0.853
2.5
Smoltz
2003
45
4
0.918
0
1.12
73
10.2
0.870
3.3
Tim
Worrell
2003
38
7
0.844
1
2.87
65
7.5
1.302
0.8
Cormier
2003
1
3
0.250
13
1.70
67
7.1
0.933
2.6
Timlin
2005
13
7
0.650
24
2.24
59
6.6
1.320
2.9
Nathan
2006
36
2
0.947
0
1.58
95
12.5
0.790
3.3
Ryan
2006
38
4
0.905
1
1.37
86
10.7
0.857
3.6
Putz
2007
40
2
0.952
0
1.38
82
10.3
0.698
4.0
Rivera
2008
39
1
0.975
0
1.40
77
9.8
0.665
4.3
Jenks
2008
30
4
0.882
0
2.63
38
5.5
1.103
2.5
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Bell
2010
47
3
0.940
0
1.93
86
11.1
1.200
1.9
Soriano
2010
45
3
0.938
0
1.73
57
8.2
0.802
2.1
Aceves
2011
2
3
0.400
11
2.61
80
6.3
1.105
2.7
Axford
2011
46
2
0.958
0
1.95
86
10.5
1.140
2.3
Downs
2011
1
3
0.250
26
1.34
35
5.9
1.006
2.0
Cook
2012
14
7
0.667
21
2.09
80
9.8
0.941
2.6
Chapman
2012
38
5
0.884
6
1.51
122
15.3
0.809
3.6
Johnson
2012
51
3
0.944
0
2.49
41
5.4
1.019
2.4
Smyly
2013
2
4
0.333
21
2.37
81
9.6
1.039
2.6
Davis
2014
3
3
0.500
33
1.00
109
13.6
0.847
3.7
Clippard
2014
1
6
0.143
40
2.18
82
10.5
0.995
1.5
Rondon
2015
30
4
0.882
8
1.67
69
8.6
1.000
2.2
O'Day
2015
6
5
0.545
18
1.52
82
11.3
0.934
2.7
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Britton
2016
47
0
1.000
0
0.54
75
9.9
0.836
4.2
Osuna
2016
36
6
0.857
0
2.68
82
10.0
0.932
2.1
Brach
2016
2
5
0.286
24
2.05
92
10.5
1.038
2.5
Miller
2016
12
2
0.857
25
1.45
123
14.9
0.686
3.8
Robertson
2017
14
2
0.875
8
1.84
98
12.9
0.849
2.9
Jansen
2017
41
1
0.976
1
1.32
109
14.4
0.746
2.9
Albers
2017
2
4
0.333
14
1.62
63
9.3
0.852
2.5
Kimbrel
2017
35
4
0.897
1
1.43
126
16.4
0.681
3.6
Morrow
2018
22
2
1.158
0
1.47
31
9.1
1.076
1.4
Trivino
2018
4
5
0.444
23
2.92
82
10.0
1.135
1.5
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Treinen
2018
38
5
0.884
5
0.78
100
11.2
0.834
4.1
Jeffress
2018
15
5
0.750
18
1.29
89
10.4
0.991
3.3
Yarbrough
2018
0
0
0.000
1
3.91
128
7.8
1.290
1.1
Hader
2018
12
5
0.706
21
2.43
243
15.8
0.811
2.1
Strop
2018
13
4
0.765
9
2.26
57
8.6
0.989
2.1
Workman
2019
16
6
0.727
15
1.88
104
13.1
1.033
3.2
Robles
2019
23
4
0.852
2
2.48
75
9.3
1.018
2.6
Walden
2019
2
4
0.333
8
3.81
76
8.8
1.192
1.2
W.Smith
2019
34
4
0.895
0
2.76
96
13.2
1.026
0.4
Oberg
2019
5
3
0.625
8
2.25
58
9.3
1.107
2.4
Littell
2019
0
1
0.000
1
2.68
32
7.8
1.162
0.9
Whitlock
2021
2
3
0.400
15
1.96
81
9.9
1.105
2.9
Pitcher
Year
S
BS
S%
H
ERA
K
K/9
WHIP
WAR
Notes
Hughes and Sherry Smith appeared as a starter thirteen times.
Baumgartner and Bernhard appeared as a starter twelve times.
Wolfgang and Baskette appeared as a starter eleven times.
Craig and Coumbe appeared as a starter ten times.
Danforth, Malone, Stewart, Sherry, Luque and Conzelman appeared as a starter nine times.
Phillipe and Walsh appeared as a starter eight times.
Morton and Griffith appeared as a starter seven times.
Paige, Mays, Chappelle, Rommell and Yarbrough appeared as a starter six times.
Marberry, Mossi, Lee, Ellis and Dubuc appeared as a starter five times.
Leever, Aceves and Beene appeared as a starter four times.
Russell, Stanley, Adams, Keefe, Bedrosian and Grissom appeared as a starter three times.
Brown, McDaniel, Wood, Crandall, Brosnan, Lindsey, Karl, Wilks, Martinez, Clark and Lolich appeared as a starter two times.
Beggs, Quinn, Narleski, McGraw, Aloma, Robles, Ferguson, Vincente Romo, and Trivino appeared once as a starter.
Maltzberger, Hyde, Konstanty, Duren, Brosnan, Tekulve and Henke all wore glasses.
References
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005.
Freedman, Lew. Knuckleball: The History of the Unhittable Pitch. Sports Publishing, 2015.
“Marv Grissom Minor League Baseball Statistics on Statscrew.com.” Stats Crew, Stats Crew, https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/p-c24a00a7. 28 Mar. 2022.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992.
---------------- The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903-1989. St. Martin's Press, 1990.
Nemec, et al. The Baseball Chronicle: Year-By-Year History of Major League Baseball. Publications International, Ltd., 2008.
Society for American Baseball Research, SABR, https://sabr.org/. 28 Mar. 2022.
