Joe Page
Encyclopedia
Joseph Francis Page nicknamed Fireman and The Gay Reliever, was a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. Page, who was left-handed
, played with the New York Yankees
from to and with the Pittsburgh Pirates
in .
as an amateur free agent
in . After spending time in the Yankees
farm system, Page made his Major League Baseball
debut on April 19, where he began his career as a starter.
In his rookie season (starting 16 games, and relieving in three others), Page was voted to play in the All-Star Game
and ended his season with over 100 innings pitched and a 4.56 ERA
. The next season, Page suffered a shoulder injury, which led him to start only nine of the twenty games he pitched. That season, Page improved his ERA
to 2.82, along with a 6-3 record.
In , Page split his time between closing and starting games, and he picked up three saves while posting a 3.57 ERA
and a 9-8 record. In , Page spent practically the whole season in the bullpen and only started twice. He was voted to play in the All-Star Game
once again, leading the American League
with 17 saves and posting a 2.48 ERA
and a 14-8 record. His fourteen relief wins was an American League
record until Luis Arroyo
broke it in . He was fourth in the league in American League MVP voting.
In , Page finished second in the American League
in saves and struck out 77 in 107.7 innings
. He also pitched in the All-Star game for the third time, and led the league with 55 appearances.
The following season, Page had a 13-8 record and a 2.59 ERA
, and finished first in the American League
in saves with 27. He gave up 103 hits
in 135.3 innings
and struck out 99 batters. He was again named to play in the All-Star Game
, and finished first in the league in three categories: games finished
, games pitched
, and saves. Page won the inaugural Babe Ruth Award
for his performance in the 1949 World Series
against the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning game three of the Series. He also finished third in the American League MVP voting.
In , Page was sent back to the minors. On May 16, , he was released by the Yankees. On April 12, , Page was signed as a free agent
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
, appearing in seven games, posting a 11.17 ERA
. Page was released by the Pirates
on June 1, one week after his final appearance.
Page finished his eight-year career in the majors with a career record of 57-49, a 3.53 ERA
, 76 saves, and 519 strikeouts in 790.0 innings
pitched.
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...
relief pitcher
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...
. Page, who was left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, played with the 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...
from to and with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in .
Professional career
Page was signed by the New York YankeesNew 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...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in . After spending time in the 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...
farm system, Page made his 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...
debut on April 19, where he began his career as a starter.
In his rookie season (starting 16 games, and relieving in three others), Page was voted to play in the All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
and ended his season with over 100 innings pitched and a 4.56 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...
. The next season, Page suffered a shoulder injury, which led him to start only nine of the twenty games he pitched. That season, Page improved his 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...
to 2.82, along with a 6-3 record.
In , Page split his time between closing and starting games, and he picked up three saves while posting a 3.57 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...
and a 9-8 record. In , Page spent practically the whole season in the bullpen and only started twice. He was voted to play in the All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
once again, leading 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 17 saves and posting a 2.48 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...
and a 14-8 record. His fourteen relief wins was 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...
record until Luis Arroyo
Luis Arroyo
Luis Enrique "Tite" Arroyo, , is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Baseball career:Luis Arroyo, from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, made his Major League Baseball debut on April 20, 1955. A stocky left-hander, he spent one season primarily as a starter with the St. Louis Cardinals...
broke it in . He was fourth in the league in American League MVP voting.
In , Page finished second 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...
in saves and struck out 77 in 107.7 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
. He also pitched in the All-Star game for the third time, and led the league with 55 appearances.
The following season, Page had a 13-8 record and a 2.59 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...
, and finished first 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...
in saves with 27. He gave up 103 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 135.3 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
and struck out 99 batters. He was again named to play in the All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
, and finished first in the league in three categories: 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...
, games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, and saves. Page won the inaugural Babe Ruth Award
Babe Ruth Award
The Babe Ruth Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player with the best performance in the postseason. The award, created by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949 to the MVP of the World Series, one...
for his performance in the 1949 World Series
1949 World Series
The 1949 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games for their second defeat of the Dodgers in three years, and the twelfth championship in team history...
against the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning game three of the Series. He also finished third in the American League MVP voting.
In , Page was sent back to the minors. On May 16, , he was released by the Yankees. On April 12, , Page was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, appearing in seven games, posting a 11.17 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...
. Page was released by the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on June 1, one week after his final appearance.
Page finished his eight-year career in the majors with a career record of 57-49, a 3.53 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...
, 76 saves, and 519 strikeouts in 790.0 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
pitched.
See also
External links
- BaseballLibrary - Joe Page
- Joe Page at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...