Kettle Wirts
Encyclopedia
Elwood "Kettle" Vernon Wirts (October 30, 1897 – July 12, 1968) was a professional baseball
player who spent four seasons in Major League Baseball
. In total, Wirts played 17 seasons in professional baseball, beginning his career in 1918 with the minor league
Spokane Indians
. Over his major league career, Wirts played for the Chicago Cubs
and the Chicago White Sox
and batted
.163 with 14 hits
, 2 doubles
, 1 home run
, and 8 RBIs in 49 games. Wirts also managed
the Sacramento Senators
for a part of the 1935 season.
with future major leaguer Earl Kunz
in Sacramento, California
during his youth. Wirts attended Saint Mary's College of California
.
, a former major league player. After a one-year hiatus from professional baseball, Wirts made his return in 1920 with the Class-B Calgary Bronchos of the Western Canada League
. He batted .335 that season, with 108 hits in 322 at-bats. In 1921, Wirts split the season between the Class-A Dallas Submarines
of the Texas League
, and the Double-A Rochester Colts of the International League
. With the Submarines, Wirts batted .213 with 17 hits, 4 doubles, and 1 triple in 34 games. With the Colts, he batted .354 with 4 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run in 28 games.
, Wirts did not get a hit in 2 at-bats. On July 26, in a game against the Brooklyn Robins, Wirts got his first major league hit. On the season, Wirts batted .182 with 2 hits, and 1 RBI in 7 games. He played five games at the catcher position and committed no errors
in 16 total chances
. In 1922, Wirts continued to play for the Cubs. He hit his first major league home run on June 27, against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. That season, Wirts batted .172 with 10 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 12 bases on balls
in 31 games. Defensively, Wirts played 27 games at the catcher position and committed 2 errors in 63 total chances. In his final season with the Cubs, 1923, Wirts got 1 hit in 5 at-bats. Behind the plate, Wirts caught a total of 3 games and committed no errors in 10 total chances.
to the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
for Johnny Grabowski
and Leo Mangum
. Wirts finished out the 1924 season with Minneapolis and batted .271 with 48 hits, 11 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs in 67 games. He also spent part of the 1924 season with the Class-A Beaumont Exporters
and batted .321 with 59 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 2 home runs in 58 games. The next season, 1925, Wirts split the season between the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers, and the Class-A San Antonio Bears
. With the Millers, Wirts batted .220 with 35 hits, 7 doubles, and 2 home runs in 60 games. In 41 games with the Bears, Wirts batted .243 with 26 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run in 41 games. In 1926, Wirts spent the entire season with the Class-A San Antonio Bears. On the season, he batted .309 with 125 hits, 25 doubles, 10 triples, and 7 home runs in 132 games. Wirts led the Bears in triples, and was second in home runs. Wirts split the 1927 season between Class-A San Antonio and the Class-AA Kansas City Blues
. With San Antonio, Wirts batted .244 with 55 hits, 6 doubles, 5 triples, and 1 home run. In 9 games with Kansas City, Wirts batted .289 with 4 hits. The next season, 1928, he continued to play with the Class-AA Kansas City Blues. Wirts batted .244 with 24 runs
, 44 hits, 4 doubles, and 1 home run in 71 games. In 1929 season, Wirts played in the Western League
with the Class-A Omaha Crickets. That season, he batted .306 with 115 hits, 29 doubles, 6 triples, and 5 home runs.
. In his first season, he batted .249 with 76 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs. The next season, 1931, Wirts batted .303 with 118 hits, 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 5 home runs. In 1932, Wirts played 85 games and batted .260 with 75 hits, 12 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 home run. Wirts would continue to catch for the Senators in 1933, and batted .261 with 77 hits, 10 doubles, and 3 home runs in 93 games. In 1934, Wirts would see his numbers dip compared to his previous seasons with the Senators. On the season, he batted .236 with 65 hits, 13 doubles, 4 triples, and 2 home runs in 97 games. In 1935, Wirts was handed the managerial duties, however, after poor performance, he was given his unconditional release. On the season, as a player-manager, he batted .310 with 9 hits, and 2 doubles in 10 games.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who spent four seasons 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...
. In total, Wirts played 17 seasons in professional baseball, beginning his career in 1918 with the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
. Over his major league career, Wirts played 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...
and 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...
and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.163 with 14 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....
, 2 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 1 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...
, and 8 RBIs in 49 games. Wirts also managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the Sacramento Senators
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
for a part of the 1935 season.
Early life
Wirts was born on October 30, 1897 (or 1898) in Forks of the Cosumnes, California. He was the son of James Ambros Wuertz and Mary Jane Simpson. Wirts played sandlot ballSandlot ball
Sandlot ball is a North American adolescent game that generally follows the basic rules of baseball. More specific rules can be set for games and may vary each time the game is played. These rules are usually agreed upon before the game begins by teams of young boys or girls usually from the same...
with future major leaguer Earl Kunz
Earl Kunz
Earl Dewey Kunz was a professional baseball pitcher who spent one season in Major League Baseball. In total, Kunz spent 13 season in professional baseball, the majority of those in the Pacific Coast League.-Early life:Kunz was born in Sacramento, California on December 25, 1898...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
during his youth. Wirts attended Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Early minor league career
In 1918, Wirts played for the Class-B Spokane Indians along with Cy NeighborsCy Neighbors
Cecil Fleming "Cy" Neighbors was a professional baseball outfielder.Neighbors had played for the minor league Toledo Mud Hens in 1905, and in 1907 he played for Burlington, leading the Iowa State League in hits and runs scored. His one appearance in the major leagues was with the 1908 Pittsburgh...
, a former major league player. After a one-year hiatus from professional baseball, Wirts made his return in 1920 with the Class-B Calgary Bronchos of the Western Canada League
Western Canada League
The Western Canada League was the name of three different baseball circuits in Minor league baseball which operated between and .The first was a Class-D league that played only in 1907 with four teams sponsored by four cities. The second was also classified as D league and ran from 1909 through...
. He batted .335 that season, with 108 hits in 322 at-bats. In 1921, Wirts split the season between the Class-A Dallas Submarines
Dallas Submarines
The Dallas Submarines, based in Dallas, Texas, USA, were a minor league baseball team that played from 1920 to 1921 in the Texas League. They were managed by Ham Peterson both years. Following the 1921 season, the Dallas team became known as the Dallas Steers....
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...
, and the Double-A Rochester Colts 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...
. With the Submarines, Wirts batted .213 with 17 hits, 4 doubles, and 1 triple in 34 games. With the Colts, he batted .354 with 4 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run in 28 games.
Chicago Cubs
Wirts made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on July 20. In that game, against the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Wirts did not get a hit in 2 at-bats. On July 26, in a game against the Brooklyn Robins, Wirts got his first major league hit. On the season, Wirts batted .182 with 2 hits, and 1 RBI in 7 games. He played five games at the catcher position and committed no errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 16 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
. In 1922, Wirts continued to play for the Cubs. He hit his first major league home run on June 27, against 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...
. That season, Wirts batted .172 with 10 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 12 bases on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 31 games. Defensively, Wirts played 27 games at the catcher position and committed 2 errors in 63 total chances. In his final season with the Cubs, 1923, Wirts got 1 hit in 5 at-bats. Behind the plate, Wirts caught a total of 3 games and committed no errors in 10 total chances.
Chicago White Sox
In 1924, Wirts spent his final season in the majors with the Chicago White Sox. He got his first hit with the White Sox on July 2, in a game that would turn out to be the final game of his major league career. On the season, he batted .083 with 1 hit in 12 at-bats. Behind the plate, Wirts caught a total of 5 games and committed no errors in 16 total chances.Later career
On July 6, 1924, the Chicago White Sox traded Wirts and teammate Doug McWeenyDoug McWeeny
Douglas Lawrence McWeeny Was a guy who had arms and legs.-External links:...
to the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
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...
for Johnny Grabowski
Johnny Grabowski
John Patrick Grabowski , nicknamed "Nig", was a Major League Baseball catcher who played 7 seasons for the Chicago White Sox , New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers .Born in Ware, Massachusetts to a family of Polish descent, Grabowski played 296 major league games—282 of them as a catcher...
and Leo Mangum
Leo Mangum
Leo Allan Mangum was a professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball between 1924 and 1935 with the Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, and Boston Braves. He had a record of 11-10 in his career, pitching mostly in relief.- External links :...
. Wirts finished out the 1924 season with Minneapolis and batted .271 with 48 hits, 11 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs in 67 games. He also spent part of the 1924 season with the Class-A Beaumont Exporters
Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American minor league baseball that played in the Texas League from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the...
and batted .321 with 59 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 2 home runs in 58 games. The next season, 1925, Wirts split the season between the Class-AA Minneapolis Millers, and the Class-A San Antonio Bears
San Antonio Bears
The San Antonio Bears were a minor league baseball team located in San Antonio, Texas. The team played in the Texas League. Their home stadium was League Park.-External links:*...
. With the Millers, Wirts batted .220 with 35 hits, 7 doubles, and 2 home runs in 60 games. In 41 games with the Bears, Wirts batted .243 with 26 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run in 41 games. In 1926, Wirts spent the entire season with the Class-A San Antonio Bears. On the season, he batted .309 with 125 hits, 25 doubles, 10 triples, and 7 home runs in 132 games. Wirts led the Bears in triples, and was second in home runs. Wirts split the 1927 season between Class-A San Antonio and the Class-AA Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues (American Association)
The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
. With San Antonio, Wirts batted .244 with 55 hits, 6 doubles, 5 triples, and 1 home run. In 9 games with Kansas City, Wirts batted .289 with 4 hits. The next season, 1928, he continued to play with the Class-AA Kansas City Blues. Wirts batted .244 with 24 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 44 hits, 4 doubles, and 1 home run in 71 games. In 1929 season, Wirts played in the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
with the Class-A Omaha Crickets. That season, he batted .306 with 115 hits, 29 doubles, 6 triples, and 5 home runs.
Sacramento Senators
In 1930, Wirts would began his tenure with the Class-AA Sacramento Senators Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In his first season, he batted .249 with 76 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs. The next season, 1931, Wirts batted .303 with 118 hits, 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 5 home runs. In 1932, Wirts played 85 games and batted .260 with 75 hits, 12 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 home run. Wirts would continue to catch for the Senators in 1933, and batted .261 with 77 hits, 10 doubles, and 3 home runs in 93 games. In 1934, Wirts would see his numbers dip compared to his previous seasons with the Senators. On the season, he batted .236 with 65 hits, 13 doubles, 4 triples, and 2 home runs in 97 games. In 1935, Wirts was handed the managerial duties, however, after poor performance, he was given his unconditional release. On the season, as a player-manager, he batted .310 with 9 hits, and 2 doubles in 10 games.