Chief Hogsett
Encyclopedia
Elon Chester "Chief" Hogsett (November 2, 1903 – July 17, 2001) was a sub-marining left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played 11 seasons in the American League
with the Detroit Tigers
(1929–36; 1944), St. Louis Browns
(1936–37), and Washington Senators
(1938).
Born on a farm outside Brownell, Kansas
, Hogsett was raised in the home of an abusive alcoholic who married his stepmother; he left home when he was 14 years old. He pitched for the high school team in Brownell, where he developed his "submarine" pitching technique. He joined a professional team in Cushing, Oklahoma
, and it was there that Hogsett was given the nickname "Chief." Hogsett had this to say about the nickname: "I roomed with a full-blooded Kiowa Indian and the nickname just kind of stuck. Am I really Indian? Well, I'm one-thirty-second Cherokee on my mother's side." (Richard Bak, "Cobb Would Have Caught It" (Wayne State Univ. Press 1991), p. 252.) During his major league career in Detroit, "Chief" Hogsett was greeted with "war whoops" by the fans at Navin Field when he took the mound.
Hogsett pitched primarily in relief
, twice leading the league in games finished
. He appeared in two World Series
with the Tigers, in 1934
and 1935
. In 330 career games, Hogsett threw 1,222 innings
with 114 games started
, 160 games finished, and 33 saves.
Hogsett worked a liquor saleaman after his baseball career ended. He lived in Hays, Kansas
.
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...
in 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...
. He played 11 seasons in 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...
with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1929–36; 1944), St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1936–37), and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1938).
Born on a farm outside Brownell, Kansas
Brownell, Kansas
Brownell is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29.-Geography:Brownell is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 48...
, Hogsett was raised in the home of an abusive alcoholic who married his stepmother; he left home when he was 14 years old. He pitched for the high school team in Brownell, where he developed his "submarine" pitching technique. He joined a professional team in Cushing, Oklahoma
Cushing, Oklahoma
Cushing is a city in Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 8,371 at the 2000 census.The city was established after the Land Run of 1891 by Billy Rae Little. It was named for Marshall Cushing, private secretary to U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker...
, and it was there that Hogsett was given the nickname "Chief." Hogsett had this to say about the nickname: "I roomed with a full-blooded Kiowa Indian and the nickname just kind of stuck. Am I really Indian? Well, I'm one-thirty-second Cherokee on my mother's side." (Richard Bak, "Cobb Would Have Caught It" (Wayne State Univ. Press 1991), p. 252.) During his major league career in Detroit, "Chief" Hogsett was greeted with "war whoops" by the fans at Navin Field when he took the mound.
Hogsett pitched primarily in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, twice leading the league in games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He appeared in two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
with the Tigers, in 1934
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
and 1935
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. In 330 career games, Hogsett threw 1,222 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
with 114 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 160 games finished, and 33 saves.
Hogsett worked a liquor saleaman after his baseball career ended. He lived in Hays, Kansas
Hays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University...
.