Doyle Lade
Encyclopedia
Doyle Marion Lade was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who pitched for the Chicago Cubs
from to . Born in Fairbury, Nebraska
, Lade began his baseball career when he was signed by the Cleveland Indians
as an amateur free agent in 1941. He spent the 1941 season with Oklahoma City of the Texas League
, where he had a 6–10 record and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.66. At the end of the 1941 season, he was traded to Savannah of the South Atlantic League
for Hugh Klaerner. On July 8, 1942, while playing for the Shreveport Sports
of the Texas League, Lade pitched a no-hitter
against San Antonio and won the game 1–0, with his solo home run
providing the only run support for Shreveport. In August, he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox
effective at the conclusion of the Texas League season, and was considered the top prospect of the four players acquired.
After the 1942 season ended, Lade signed up for military service, and spent the next few years as a member of the United States Coast Guard
. When he returned to the White Sox for the 1946 season, he was placed on the original major league roster, but instead began the season for Shreveport. On July 9, 1946, Lade's contract was purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Chicago Cubs. In his time in the minors in 1946, he won 12 games and at one time pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings.
Lade made his major league debut on September 18, 1946 and played three games for the Cubs, losing two and finished with a 4.11 ERA. During the 1947 Chicago Cubs season
, Lade had career highs in games started with 25, games played with 34, inning pitched with over 187, 11 wins, 10 losses, and a 3.94 ERA. By the end of the season, sportswriters were declaring the White Sox giving up Lade to be a "mistake" on their part. Over the next three season, Lade was primarily used as a spot starter. During the 1948 Chicago Cubs season
, he played the first two months of the season before being optioned to Los Angeles
to the disappointment of Ralph Kiner
, who had hit five home run
s off of Lade. He was later recalled and finished the season with the Cubs. He finished the season with a 4.02 ERA, five wins, and six losses in 19 games.
The 1949 Chicago Cubs season
saw Lade continue his role as a utility pitcher, pitching in 36 games, starting 13, and finishing 12, going 4–5 with an ERA of 5.00 in the process. Lade put up similar stats during the 1950 Chicago Cubs season
. In 34 games, 12 of which he started, he won five, lost six, and had an ERA of 4.74. He was on the Cubs' roster through the winter preceding the 1951 season, but was cut May 15, 1951 to reduce the Cubs to a 25-man roster. This signified the end of his major league career, having played his last game on September 29, 1950. He died on May 18, 2000 in Lincoln, Nebraska
, at the age of 79. He was cremated
and is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
located in Phoenix, Arizona
.
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...
who pitched for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
from to . Born in Fairbury, Nebraska
Fairbury, Nebraska
Fairbury is a city in Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,262 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County....
, Lade began his baseball career when he was 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...
as an amateur free agent in 1941. He spent the 1941 season with Oklahoma City of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, where he had a 6–10 record and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.66. At the end of the 1941 season, he was traded to Savannah of the South Atlantic League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
for Hugh Klaerner. On July 8, 1942, while playing for the Shreveport Sports
Shreveport Sports
The Shreveport-Bossier Captains are a professional baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the United States. The Captains are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Texas League, Lade pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against San Antonio and won the game 1–0, with his solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
providing the only run support for Shreveport. In August, he was purchased by 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...
effective at the conclusion of the Texas League season, and was considered the top prospect of the four players acquired.
After the 1942 season ended, Lade signed up for military service, and spent the next few years as a member of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. When he returned to the White Sox for the 1946 season, he was placed on the original major league roster, but instead began the season for Shreveport. On July 9, 1946, Lade's contract was purchased from the Chicago White Sox by the Chicago Cubs. In his time in the minors in 1946, he won 12 games and at one time pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings.
Lade made his major league debut on September 18, 1946 and played three games for the Cubs, losing two and finished with a 4.11 ERA. During the 1947 Chicago Cubs season
1947 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 21, 1946: Jim Brosnan was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.- Regular season :* May 18: 46,572 paying fans came to Wrigley Field to see Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers play...
, Lade had career highs in games started with 25, games played with 34, inning pitched with over 187, 11 wins, 10 losses, and a 3.94 ERA. By the end of the season, sportswriters were declaring the White Sox giving up Lade to be a "mistake" on their part. Over the next three season, Lade was primarily used as a spot starter. During the 1948 Chicago Cubs season
1948 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 9, 1947: Randy Jackson was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.* December 6, 1947: Don Elston was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.* Prior to 1948 season :**Jim Pearce was released by the Cubs....
, he played the first two months of the season before being optioned to Los Angeles
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
to the disappointment of Ralph Kiner
Ralph Kiner
Ralph McPherran Kiner is an American former Major League Baseball player and has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's inception. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons, Kiner's tremendous slugging outpaced nearly all of his National League...
, who had hit five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s off of Lade. He was later recalled and finished the season with the Cubs. He finished the season with a 4.02 ERA, five wins, and six losses in 19 games.
The 1949 Chicago Cubs season
1949 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 4, 1948: Bill Nicholson was traded by the Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Harry Walker.* November 8, 1948: Bob Speake was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.- Notable transactions :...
saw Lade continue his role as a utility pitcher, pitching in 36 games, starting 13, and finishing 12, going 4–5 with an ERA of 5.00 in the process. Lade put up similar stats during the 1950 Chicago Cubs season
1950 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 29, 1949: Jim Fanning was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago Cubs.- Notable transactions :* April 1, 1950: Gene Baker was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs....
. In 34 games, 12 of which he started, he won five, lost six, and had an ERA of 4.74. He was on the Cubs' roster through the winter preceding the 1951 season, but was cut May 15, 1951 to reduce the Cubs to a 25-man roster. This signified the end of his major league career, having played his last game on September 29, 1950. He died on May 18, 2000 in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, at the age of 79. He was cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
and is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 43,672 interments.-History:...
located in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.