Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout (June 29, 1915 – February 28, 1972) was a
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
pitcherIn 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 it or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is...
primarily for the
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in . The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant 10 times...
. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.
Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons, accompanying the team to two
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
, in
1940The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in 1919...
and
1945The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, four games to three, giving them their second championship and first since 1935....
.
Early Years: 1939-1942
In his first four seasons (1939-1942), Dizzy Trout never had a winning record and totaled 33 wins and 44 losses. Even in 1940, as the Tigers won the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
pennant, Trout finished 3-7.
One of the Best Pitchers in Baseball: 1943-1947
Dizzy Trout was classified 4-F due to hearing impairment
http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/extra/sports/tigers.html and was not accepted for military service during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was during the war years that Trout had his best seasons.
Whereas Trout had a losing record in his first four seasons, the next four years (1943-1946) saw Trout turn into one of the best pitchers in the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
, winning 82 and losing 54.
Dizzy Trout led the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
in wins in 1943 with 20 wins, but his best season was 1944, when he won 27 games and lost only 14. He led the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
that year in
ERAIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. The ERA tells the average number of runs a pitcher would surrender over the course of a full game had he been kept in for the full nine innings...
(2.12),
complete gameIn baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game himself, without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A complete game can be either a win or a loss....
s (33),
shutoutIn team sports, in American English, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring...
s (7), and
innings pitchedIn 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...
(352-1/3). He also finished second in the league to his Detroit teammate,
Hal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was a professional Major League Baseball pitcher of the 1940s and 1950s.-Early life:...
, in wins (27) and
strikeoutIn baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters. Pitchers with a greater number of strikeouts are often praised, while batters with a greater number of...
s (144). The Tigers' pitching duo of Trout and Newhouser won 56 games in 1944 and finished 1-2 in
ERAIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. The ERA tells the average number of runs a pitcher would surrender over the course of a full game had he been kept in for the full nine innings...
, wins,
innings pitchedIn 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...
,
strikeoutIn baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters. Pitchers with a greater number of strikeouts are often praised, while batters with a greater number of...
s,
complete gameIn baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game himself, without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A complete game can be either a win or a loss....
s, and
shutoutIn team sports, in American English, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring...
s. Newhouser and Trout also finished 1-2 in the American League MVP voting, with Trout trailing Newhouser in the voting by only 4 votes.
Trout's pitching totals were not as impressive in 1945, but he was a workhorse in the pennant drive. He pitched six games and won four over a nine-game late-season stretch. In Game 4 of the
1945 World SeriesThe 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, four games to three, giving them their second championship and first since 1935....
, Trout beat the Cubs 4-1 on a five-hitter. The Tigers won the
1945 World SeriesThe 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, four games to three, giving them their second championship and first since 1935....
, and Trout went 1-1 with an
ERAIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. The ERA tells the average number of runs a pitcher would surrender over the course of a full game had he been kept in for the full nine innings...
of 0.66 in the
SeriesThe 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, four games to three, giving them their second championship and first since 1935....
.
The Later Years: 1947-1952
From 1947-1949, Trout's performance dropped off, as he failed to achieve a winning record, and had a total record of 23-31.
Aside from his pitching, Trout could hit for power. He hit 20
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s, tying him for 11th all-time in
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s by pitchers. He hit a 9th inning
grand slamIn the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all the bases occupied by baserunners, thereby scoring four runs - the most possible on a single play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
against the
Washington SenatorsThe Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and 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, Minnesota. They have played in the Hubert H...
on July 28, 1949, helping the Tigers to a victory.
In 1950, Trout and the Tigers both turned things around. Trout won 13 and lost only 5, and the Tigers won 95 games and narrowly lost the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
pennant to the
YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
.
On June 3, 1952, Trout was sent to the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
in a blockbuster trade that sent
Walt DropoWalter Dropo , nicknamed "Moose", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Redlegs , and Baltimore Orioles 1959-61).-Youth:Dropo's parents emigrated from Mostar, Yugoslavia Walter...
,
Don LenhardtDonald Eugene Lenhardt is a retired outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, scout and coach in American Major League Baseball. In his playing days, he stood 6'3" , weighed 195 pounds , and threw and batted right-handed...
,
Johnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle," is a former Major League Baseball shortstop/third baseman who played in the American League from 1942 to 1954. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War II.Johnny Pesky's biography is Mr. Red Sox by Bill Nowlin,...
,
Fred HatfieldFred James Hatfield , nicknamed "Scrap Iron", was a Major League Baseball infielder who played 9 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and Cincinnati Redlegs .Born in Lanett, Alabama, Hatfield signed by the Boston Red Sox as an...
, and
Bill WightWilliam Robert Wight was a pitcher for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Cincinnati Reds and St...
to the Tigers for Trout,
George KellGeorge Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who later was a baseball announcer for 40 years.-Playing career:A solid right-handed hitter and a...
,
Hoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians .-Early years:Born in St...
, and
Johnny LiponJohn Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
. Trout started only 17 games for the Red Sox, and retired at the end of the 1952 season.
Trout's Life After Major League Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Trout called the play-by-play for the Tigers on radio
WKMHWDTW is a Detroit-area radio station, operating at 1310 kHz with 5,000 watts. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and airs mainly liberal political talk from the Air America Radio network....
and TV WJBK-TV from 1953-1955. He also hosted
The Knot-Hole Gang, a sports show aimed at children. Trout broadcast the Tigers games with
Van PatrickVan Patrick was an American sportscaster, best known for his play-by-play work with the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers....
and became popular with Detroit fans for his self-effacting humor, scrambled syntax, and folksy demeanor.
In 1956, Trout ran unsuccessfully for Sheriff in
Wayne CountyWayne County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,061,162 with the July 1, 2008 estimate placing the population at 1,949,929 making it the 13th most-populous county in the United States. The county seat is Detroit, the largest city in Michigan. The...
as a Republican, losing to long-time incumbent Andrew C. Baird.
He attempted a return to baseball with the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
in 1957 at age 42. Trout made two appearances, allowed 3 earned runs, and only retired a single batter, for an unflattering 81.00 ERA that year. After being released by Baltimore he joined the
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
as a pitching instructor and then worked with that organization's front office until his death from stomach cancer at the age of 56 in 1972 at
Harvey, IllinoisHarvey is a Chicago area city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 30,000, at the 2000 census, but a 2003 Census estimate showed the population dropped to 29,367....
.
Trout's son, former MLB pitcher
Steve TroutSteven Russell Trout was a major league baseball pitcher during the 1980s.He was son of former major league pitcher Dizzy Trout. Teammates and friends often referred to him simply as "Sorenson" along with the fairly obvious nickname Rainbow Trout...
, pitched for 12 years in the major leagues.
See also
- 1945 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1945 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 3. The season was their 45th since they entered the American League in 1901. It was the second World Series championship for the Tigers...
- 1950 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers had a record of 95-59 , the seventh best winning percentage in the Tigers' 107-year history. After a tight back-and-forth pennant race, they finished in second place, three games behind a Yankees team that swept the Phillies in the 1950 World Series.They 1950 Tigers outscored...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- MLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers
This is a list of the all-time leaders in home runs hit by Major League Baseball pitchers, with the pitcher being defined as a player who pitches in at least three games in the given year...
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- MLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers
This is a list of the all-time leaders in home runs hit by Major League Baseball pitchers, with the pitcher being defined as a player who pitches in at least three games in the given year...
External links