Al Gould
Encyclopedia
Albert Frank "Al" Gould (January 20, 1893 – August 8, 1982), also known as "Pudgy", was an American
Major League Baseball
player who pitched
two seasons for the Cleveland Indians
of the American League
. Born in Muscatine, Iowa
, he was small in stature, measuring only 5 in 6 in (1.68 m) in height and weighed a mere 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
shutout
on August 2, against the Philadelphia Athletics
.
, mainly playing in the Pacific Coast League
(PCL). His 14 seasons in the PCL produced a win-loss record of 127-134, an earned run average
of 4.43, and highlighted by leading the league in winning percentage
in . A very good fielder in both the minors and the majors, he twice led the PCL at his position in fielding percentage
. Another highlight of his PCL career happened in , when he once pitched two complete game victories in one doubleheader
.
, and was cremated and interred at Los Gatos Memorial Park in San Jose.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
two seasons for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. Born in Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
, he was small in stature, measuring only 5 in 6 in (1.68 m) in height and weighed a mere 160 pounds (72.6 kg).
Major League career
Reflective of his very short major league career, Gould's statistics did not amount to much, but he did pitch a complete gameComplete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
on August 2, against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Minor League career
Al enjoyed a long and successful career in the minorsMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, mainly playing in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(PCL). His 14 seasons in the PCL produced a win-loss record of 127-134, an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.43, and highlighted by leading the league in winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
in . A very good fielder in both the minors and the majors, he twice led the PCL at his position in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Another highlight of his PCL career happened in , when he once pitched two complete game victories in one doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
.
Post-career
Al died on August 8, 1982, at the age of 89 in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, and was cremated and interred at Los Gatos Memorial Park in San Jose.