Jake Wade (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jacob Fields Wade (April 1, 1912 - February 1, 2006) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Detroit Tigers
(1936–1938), Boston Red Sox
(1939[start]), St. Louis Browns
(1939[end]), Chicago White Sox
, (1942–1944), New York Yankees
(1946) and Washington Senators
(1946). Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake". His younger brother, Ben
, was also a major league pitcher.
A native of Morehead City
, North Carolina
, Wade made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1936 as he went 4-5. His most productive season came in 1937, when he posted career highs in wins
(7), starts
(25), complete game
s (7), strikeout
s (69) and innings pitched
(165-1/3).
The next two years, Wade divided his playing time with Detroit and the Montreal Royals
of the International League
. Before the 1939 season he was traded by Detroit to the Boston Red Sox in the same deal that brought Pinky Higgins
to the Tigers. He finished the season with the St. Louis Browns. Then joined the Toledo Mud Hens
of the American Association
in 1940, and played for the Indianapolis Indians
(AA) the following year. In 1942 he returned to the majors with the Chicago White Sox. After serving in the military
, he played his last major league season with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators in 1946.
In an eight-season major-league career, Wade posted a 27-30 record with 291 strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA
in 668-1/3 innings.
Wade joined the Jersey City Giants
of the International League in 1947, as he posted a 17-5 record with a 2.51 ERA helping his team to the league championship. He ended his professional baseball career with a 7-6 and a 4.96 ERA for the Buffalo Bisons
(IL) in 1950. Following his playing career, he worked as an electronics repair technician at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
until his retirement in 1976.
Wade died in Wildwood
, North Carolina, at age 93. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former player of the Chicago White Sox. The municipal ballpark in Morehead City
, North Carolina
is named "Wade Brothers Field" after Wade, his younger brother Ben
, and an older brother, Winfield ("Wink") who played minor league baseball.
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...
who played for 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...
(1936–1938), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1939[start]), 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...
(1939[end]), 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...
, (1942–1944), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1946) 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...
(1946). Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake". His younger brother, Ben
Ben Wade
Benjamin Styron Wade was an American pitcher and scout in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates . Wade batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Morehead City, North Carolina...
, was also a major league pitcher.
A native of Morehead City
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Wade made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1936 as he went 4-5. His most productive season came in 1937, when he posted career highs in 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...
(7), starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
(25), complete game
Complete 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...
s (7), strikeout
Strikeout
In 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....
s (69) and innings pitched
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...
(165-1/3).
The next two years, Wade divided his playing time with Detroit and the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Before the 1939 season he was traded by Detroit to the Boston Red Sox in the same deal that brought Pinky Higgins
Pinky Higgins
Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins was an American third baseman, manager, front office executive and scout in Major League Baseball who played for three teams and served as manager or general manager of the Boston Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing...
to the Tigers. He finished the season with the St. Louis Browns. Then joined the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in 1940, and played for the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
(AA) the following year. In 1942 he returned to the majors with the Chicago White Sox. After serving in the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
, he played his last major league season with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators in 1946.
In an eight-season major-league career, Wade posted a 27-30 record with 291 strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA
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...
in 668-1/3 innings.
Wade joined the Jersey City Giants
Roosevelt Stadium
Roosevelt Stadium was a baseball park at Droyer's Point in Jersey City, New Jersey. It opened in April 1937 and hosted high-minor league baseball, seven major league baseball games, plus championship boxing matches, top-name musical acts, important regional high school football and even soccer...
of the International League in 1947, as he posted a 17-5 record with a 2.51 ERA helping his team to the league championship. He ended his professional baseball career with a 7-6 and a 4.96 ERA for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
(IL) in 1950. Following his playing career, he worked as an electronics repair technician at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
until his retirement in 1976.
Wade died in Wildwood
Wildwood, North Carolina
Wildwood, North Carolina is a small unincorporated community centered on the Wildwood Road, just west of the Morehead City, North Carolina town limits along US Highway 70, in Carteret County, NC...
, North Carolina, at age 93. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former player of the Chicago White Sox. The municipal ballpark in Morehead City
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
is named "Wade Brothers Field" after Wade, his younger brother Ben
Ben Wade
Benjamin Styron Wade was an American pitcher and scout in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates . Wade batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Morehead City, North Carolina...
, and an older brother, Winfield ("Wink") who played minor league baseball.