Don Mossi
Encyclopedia
Donald Louis Mossi, was an American
major league
pitcher
from 1954 to 1965. He was a left-handed control pitcher
whose strikeout-to-walk ratio was regularly amongst the league leaders (he led the league in 1961). He retired with a career earned run average
of 3.43, 101 wins
, and 50 saves.
, but grew up in Daly City
. Like many players from the San Francisco Bay Area
, a region extremely popular with major league scouts at that time, Mossi was spotted at an early age and signed by the Cleveland Indians
after leaving high school. In his early years in the minors Mossi experienced some control difficulties, but he eventually overcame these by altering his grip on the ball.
Mossi was given a spot in the Indians' bullpen
for the 1954 season; as a fifth year professional, major league rules at the time would have forced the Indians to put him through waivers had he not been given a spot on the ballclub. The quality of the Indians' rotation at that time - which included Early Wynn
, Bob Lemon
, Bob Feller
, Hal Newhouser
and Mike Garcia - meant that Mossi, who had always been a starter, had to be used as a reliever by the club. His major league debut came on April 17 of that year in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox
. In his first season in the majors Mossi recorded an ERA of 1.94 in 93 innings pitched as the Indians went to the 1954 World Series
; the only World Series that Mossi ever played in.
In 1955 and 1956, Mossi continued to play well out of the bullpen. In 1957, he and fellow reliever Ray Narleski
, who was also Mossi's roommate, were moved to the starting rotation. Mossi finished the season with a record of 11-10 and an ERA of 4.13 on a team that finished below .500. In the following season he returned to anchoring the bullpen for the Indians. Mossi, along with Narleski and Ossie Alvarez, was traded to the Detroit Tigers
on November 20, 1958 for Billy Martin
and Al Cicotte
. The trade meant that Mossi was guaranteed a spot in a major league starting-rotation, something he had missed whilst at the Indians. The move paid immediate dividends as he went 17-9 with a 3.36 ERA in 1959. In 1960 he went 9-8, albeit on a club that was well below .500, with an ERA of 3.47.
Mossi pitched the greatest season of his career in 1961, going 15-7 with a 2.96 ERA on a Tigers club that recorded over 100 wins. It was not long after this that he began to experience problems with his throwing arm, in his final two years with the Tigers he went 18-20 with a combined ERA of 4.01. Mossi spent the final two years of his career as a short-reliever, his arm no longer capable of starting. Prior to the 1964 season he was dealt to the White Sox, before finishing his career in 1965 with the Kansas City Athletics.
Mossi's career fielding percentage
of .990 was the highest ever recorded by a pitcher when he retired. He was named as an American League
All-Star
in 1957.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
major league
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...
pitcher
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...
from 1954 to 1965. He was a left-handed control pitcher
Control pitcher
A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as opposed to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches...
whose strikeout-to-walk ratio was regularly amongst the league leaders (he led the league in 1961). He retired with a career 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 3.43, 101 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, and 50 saves.
Biography
Mossi was born in St. Helena, CaliforniaSt. Helena, California
St. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
, but grew up in Daly City
Daly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
. Like many players from the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, a region extremely popular with major league scouts at that time, Mossi was spotted at an early age and signed by 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...
after leaving high school. In his early years in the minors Mossi experienced some control difficulties, but he eventually overcame these by altering his grip on the ball.
Mossi was given a spot in the Indians' bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
for the 1954 season; as a fifth year professional, major league rules at the time would have forced the Indians to put him through waivers had he not been given a spot on the ballclub. The quality of the Indians' rotation at that time - which included Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
, Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
, Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
, Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
and Mike Garcia - meant that Mossi, who had always been a starter, had to be used as a reliever by the club. His major league debut came on April 17 of that year in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located 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...
. In his first season in the majors Mossi recorded an ERA of 1.94 in 93 innings pitched as the Indians went to the 1954 World Series
1954 World Series
The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the...
; the only World Series that Mossi ever played in.
In 1955 and 1956, Mossi continued to play well out of the bullpen. In 1957, he and fellow reliever Ray Narleski
Ray Narleski
Raymond Edmond Narleski is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers . He batted and threw right-handed...
, who was also Mossi's roommate, were moved to the starting rotation. Mossi finished the season with a record of 11-10 and an ERA of 4.13 on a team that finished below .500. In the following season he returned to anchoring the bullpen for the Indians. Mossi, along with Narleski and Ossie Alvarez, was traded to 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...
on November 20, 1958 for Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
and Al Cicotte
Al Cicotte
Alva Warren Cicotte , , nicknamed "Bozo," was a Major League Baseball player....
. The trade meant that Mossi was guaranteed a spot in a major league starting-rotation, something he had missed whilst at the Indians. The move paid immediate dividends as he went 17-9 with a 3.36 ERA in 1959. In 1960 he went 9-8, albeit on a club that was well below .500, with an ERA of 3.47.
Mossi pitched the greatest season of his career in 1961, going 15-7 with a 2.96 ERA on a Tigers club that recorded over 100 wins. It was not long after this that he began to experience problems with his throwing arm, in his final two years with the Tigers he went 18-20 with a combined ERA of 4.01. Mossi spent the final two years of his career as a short-reliever, his arm no longer capable of starting. Prior to the 1964 season he was dealt to the White Sox, before finishing his career in 1965 with the Kansas City Athletics.
Mossi's career 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...
of .990 was the highest ever recorded by a pitcher when he retired. He was named as an 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...
All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1957.
External links
- Baseball Reference
- James, BillBill JamesGeorge William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
(2001). "The Man Who Invented Winning Ugly" in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York, Free Press. ISBN 0-7432-2722-0.