Warren Edward Spahn (April 23, 1921 - November 24, 2003) was a Major League Baseball baseball pitcher who played his entire baseball career for 21 years in the National League. He won 20 or more games in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was 42 years old. Spahn was the winner of the 1957 Cy Young Award, and became runner-up three times, all during a period when one award was awarded, covering both leagues. He was elected at the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, with 83% of the total votes. (The eligibility is delayed, under the time rule, with two years playing minor league tokens.)
Spahn won 363 matches, more than any other left-handed pitcher in history, and more than any other pitcher who played his entire career in the post-1920 life-ball era. He is recognized as one of the best pitchers in the history of the Premiership Baseball. The Warren Spahn Award, awarded to the best left-handed pitcher, named after him.
Considered to be a pitcher of "human thinking" who likes to deceive propellers, Spahn once described his approach on a mound: "Spanking is time. Pitching interferes with time."
Video Warren Spahn
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His major league career began in 1942 with Braves and he spent all but a year with the franchise, first in Boston and then in Milwaukee. He ended his career in 1965 with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. With 363 victories, Spahn is the most winning pitcher in history, following only Cy Young (511), Walter Johnson (417), Grover Cleveland Alexander (373), Christy Mathewson (373), and Pud Galvin (364) on MLB all list -time. He led the league in eight wins (1949-50, 1953, 1957-61, every season with 20 wins) and won at least 20 five extra games (1947, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1963).
Spahn also threw two no-hitters (in 1960 and 1961, at the age of 39 and 40), won 3 ERA degrees (1947, 1953, and 1961), and four corongs of Corong (1949-52). He appeared in 14 All-Star Games, the most pitcher in the 20th century. He won the NL Player of the Month Player in August 1960 (6-0, 2.30 ERA, 32 SO) and August 1961 (6-0, 1.00 ERA, 26 SO)
Spahn earned the nickname "Hooks", not because of his throwing, but because of his prominent nose shape. He was once beaten in the face by a thrown ball that he did not expect, and his broken nose became a hook-like shape. In Spahn's last season, during his work with Mets, Yogi Berra came out of retirement for a while and captured 4 games, one with Spahn pitching. Yogi then told reporters, "I do not think we are the oldest batteries, but we're definitely the ugliest."
Spahn is known for his very high foot kick in delivery, just like his Giants teammate, Juan Marichal. The photo sequence shows that this high kick serves a certain purpose. As a left-handed person, Spahn is not only able to watch any runner in first base but also not telegraph whether he is delivering to the plate or to the first base, thereby forcing the runner to stay close to the bag. When the fastball fades, Spahn adapts, and relies more on location, changing speed and a good screw ball. He led or shared an advantage in the NL in victory in 1957-61 (ages 36 to 40).
Spahn was also a good hitter, hitting at least one home run in 17 straight seasons, and ended up with an NL career record for pitchers, with 35 home runs. Wes Ferrell, who spends most of his time in the American League, holds the overall record for pitchers, with 37.
Short call
First signed by Boston Braves before the 1940 season, Spahn reached the major league in 1942 at the age of 20. He clashed with Braves manager Casey Stengel, who sent him to minors after Spahn refused to throw at Brooklyn Dodger Pee Wee Reese dough in an exhibition match. Spahn only plays 4 games, allowing 15 runs (10 results) in 15 / 3 round. Stengel later said that it was the worst mistake he had ever committed: I said "dare" to a child who later became a war hero and one of the greatest foot throwers you've ever seen. You can not say I did not miss them when I missed them. The 1942 Braves finished in last side, and Stengel was fired in the following year. Spahn reunited with his first manager 23 years later, for the sadder last place on the New York Mets, and - referring to the success of Stengel with the 1949-60 New York Yankees - then quipped, "I may be the only man who played for Casey before and after he was a genius. "
World War II
Together with many other major leagues, Spahn chose to enlist in the United States Army, having completed the 1942 season under age. He ministered with difference, and was awarded the Purple Heart. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and on the Ludendorff Bridge as a combat engineer, and was awarded a battlefield commission.
Spahn returned to the premier league in 1946 at the age of 25, having missed three full seasons. Had he played, it is possible that Spahn would finish his career behind only Walter Johnson and Cy Young who win all the time. Spahn was not sure of the impact of the war on his career:
People say that my absence from the big leagues may make me have a chance to win 400 matches. But I do not know about that. I've grown up a lot in three years, and I think I'm better equipped to handle major league players at the age of 25 than I am 22 years old. Also, I pitched until I was 44 years old. Maybe I would not be able to do that if I did not.
Boston Braves
In 1947, Spahn led the National League at the ERA while posting a 21-10 record. This is the first of his thirteen seasons of 20 victories. Spahn also won two more ERA titles, in 1953 and 1961.
On 11 June 1950, Spahn and Bob Rush's pudding from Cubs each stole a base against each other; no other opponent pitcher stole the base in the same game until May 3, 2004 when Jason Marquis and Greg Maddux repeated the feat.
In 1951, Spahn allowed his first career hit for Willie Mays, home run. Mays had started his career 0-for-12, and Spahn responded to reporters after the game, quoting the distance between the home plate and the 60 foot, 6-inch pitcher mound, "Gentlemen, for the first 60 feet, it is a hell of a pitch." Spahn kidding a long time later, "I'll never forgive myself.We may have got rid of Willie forever if I just finish him off." (In 1962, another Hall of Fame achieved his first career at home run from Spahn: Sandy Koufax, who just hit each other.)
"Pray for rain"
Team mate Spahn Johnny Sain is an ace of 1948 Braves staff, with a 24-15 win-win record. Spahn went 15-12 while, against the legend, his teammate Bill Voiselle (13-13), and Vern Bickford (11-5) were also well pitched.
In honor of the duo pitching, Boston Post sports editor Gerald V. Hern wrote this poem which popular media eventually summarized to "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain":
The poem was inspired by the performance of Spahn and Sain during 1948 Braves' year drive. The team swept through a Labor Day doubleheader, with Spahn throwing a full 14-inning victory in the opener, and Sain throwing a shutout in the second game. After two days off, it rained. Spahn won the next day, and Sain won the day after. Three days later, Spahn won again. Sain wins the next day. After one more day, the two pitchers were brought back, and won another doubleheader. Both pitchers are already 8-0 within 12 days.
Other words come from "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." For example, some people refer to Balanced rotation of San Francisco Giants 1993 as "Burkett and Swift and pray for drifting snow."
Milwaukee Braves
In 1957, Spahn was the ace of Braves Milwaukee champion. Spahn pitched on two other Braves basketball winners, in 1948 and 1958. He had 2,583 strikeouts, which at retirement were the highest total for left-handed pitchers in baseball history. Spahn led the NL in strikeout for four successive seasons, from 1949 to 1952 (tied with Don Newcombe in 1951), which included a single high-game 18 strike out (later NL record) in a 15-inning appearance on June 14, 1952 For decades, Spahn Hall of Fame plaque contains typographical errors, citing him with 2,853 strikeouts.
Spahn maintains that "A pitcher needs two pitches - one they're looking for, and one to cross it." Thus he was able to maintain his position as one of the top throwers of the game until the 19th season in the sport. This was exemplified by its beginnings on July 2, 1963. Facing the San Francisco Giants, the 42-year-old Spahn became locked in a tiered pitcher duel with 25-year-old Juan Marichal. The score was still 0-0 after more than four hours when Willie Mays hit a solo home winner of a sprint match from Spahn with one under the 16th inning. The Marichal manager, Alvin Dark, visited the mound on 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14, and was talked about to get rid of Marichal every time. During the 14th visit, Marichal told Dark, "Did you see the man throwing the ball to the other side? Did you know that the man was 42 years old? I am only 25. If that person is on the mound, no one will leave to get me out of here. "Marichal finally threw 227 throws in a complete 1-0 game win, while Spahn threw 201 in defeat, allowing nine hits and one run. Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell, who was present that night, said of Spahn, "He has to be his body for medical science."
Spahn threw his first no-hitter against the Phillies on September 16, 1960, when he was 39 years old. He scored the second without a hitter the following year, April 28, 1961, against the Giants. In the last two seasons of his career, Spahn is the oldest active player in baseball. He lost this difference for a day: September 25, 1965, when 58-year-old Satchel Paige put up three innings.
Spahn's seemingly youthful ability caused Stan Musial to be famous for insinuating, "[Spahn] will never get into the Hall of Fame, he will not stop throwing."
Last season
After the 1964 season, after 25 years with the franchise, Spahn was sold by Braves to the New York Mets. Braves manager Bobby Bragan predicted, "Spahnie will not win six matches with the Mets." Spahn takes on the role of double pitcher and pitching coach. Spahn won four and lost 12 at which point Mets placed Spahn on the waivers. He was given leniency on July 15, 1965 and was released on July 22, 1965. He immediately signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants, with whom he finished the season. With a combination of Mets and Giants, he won seven games for the season - the last in the major league. The number will be retired by Braves at the end of that year.
Retirement
Spahn manages Oilers Tulsa for five seasons, winning 372 games from 1967 until 1971. His club in 1968 won the Pacific Coast League championship. He also trained for the Mexican City Tigers, and put up some games there. He was the throwing coach with the Cleveland Indians, in the minor league for the California Angels, and for six years, with Japan's Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
For years he owned and managed the large Diamond Star Ranch south of Hartshorne, Oklahoma before retiring to live near a golf course in Broken Arrow.
Maps Warren Spahn
Death
Spahn died of natural causes, at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He was interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Hartshorne. After his death, a street was named in Buffalo, New York that connects Abbott Street with Seneca Street, through Cazenovia Park, in the heart of South Buffalo. Streets near South Park High School, Spahn's alma mater.
A few months before his death, Spahn attended the opening of a statue outside Atlanta's Turner Field. The statue depicts Spahn in the middle of one of his kicks. The statue was created by Shan Gray, who has carved many other statues of athletes standing in Oklahoma, including two others from Spahn. One lives in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame located in Oklahoma City Bricktown Ballpark and the other is located in Hartshorne, Oklahoma at the Hartshorne Event Center.
See also
- 300 clubs won
- List of baseball baseball leaders win leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA Leaders
- List Leaders Reject Major League Baseball Groups
- List of Premier League winning leaders
- List of career leaders Major League Baseball strikes
- The Premier League Baseball Leader list of all time at home run by pitcher
- Leader of Major League Baseball
- Premier League Baseball Hitting List
Awards
Spahn was selected for the All-Star baseball team of all time by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1991, as a left-handed pitcher. Other options are: outside players Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays; shortstop Cal Ripken, third baseman Mike Schmidt, second baseman Jackie Robinson, first baseman Lou Gehrig, catcher Mickey Cochrane, right pitcher Christy Mathewson, aid pitcher Dennis Eckersley, and manager Casey Stengel.
Spahn was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973 and became a charter member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
In 1999, editor at The Sporting News ranked Warren Spahn 21 on the list of "Baseball 100 Greatest Players".
On April 4, 2009, the Broken Arrow Youth Baseball facility, in Spahn Broken Arrow's old house Oklahoma, is dedicated in his honor.
In their Naked Gun movies, producers Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker sometimes enter joke credit. The Trio, who is a Milwaukee native, includes Spahn in closing credits once, with a disclaimer, "He's not in the movie, but he's still our favorite favorite left pitcher."
Spahn also made his acting debut with a cameo appearance as a German soldier in the 1963 episode (S2E8 "Glow Against the Sky") from the television series Combat!
References
External links
- Warren Spahn at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-References, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Warren Spahn in the Search of the Mausoleum
- Behind Opening: Warren Spahn
- Spahn and Sain
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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