Mike Ryba
Encyclopedia
Dominic Joseph "Mike" Ryba (June 9, 1903 — December 13, 1971) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University
, Loretto, Pennsylvania.. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1935–1938) and Boston Red Sox
(1941–1946). In 1946, at the age of 43, he was the second-oldest player to appear in an American League
game that season.
Ryba was usually used in relief during his ten-year major league career, but was also effective when used as a starter. He was also used as a catcher
in ten games and was so versatile he was sometimes called "the one-man team"; while in the minor leagues, he played all nine positions at various points. He made his major league debut on September 22, 1935 against the Cincinnati Reds
in game 1 of a doubleheader
at Sportsmans Park. He pitched seven innings
of two-hit relief and was the winning pitcher in the 14-4 game. He also had two hits
and three runs batted in to help his cause.
In four seasons with St. Louis he won 16 games, lost 9, and had an ERA
of 4.39. On September 5, 1940 he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Al Brazle
. Ryba was 37 years old and had not pitched in the big leagues for two years, but his best seasons were ahead of him.
In six years with the Red Sox he won 36 games, lost 25, saved 16, and had an ERA of 3.42. Boston won the pennant in his last season, and Ryba appeared in Game # 4 of the 1946 World Series
, giving up one earned run
and allowing two inherited runners
to score in 2/3 of an inning. Ryba caught both games of a home doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians
on July 19, 1942.
Ryba finished in his league's top ten for games finished
5 times, games pitched
3 times, saves
2 times, and winning percentage
1 time.
Career totals for 250 games (240 as a pitcher) include a record of 52-34 (.605), 36 games started
, 16 complete games, 2 shutouts, 132 games finished
, and 16 saves. He allowed 319 earned runs in 783.2 innings pitched
for an ERA
of 3.66. He wielded a strong bat for a pitcher, hitting .235 (58-for-247) with 24 RBI. He was strong defensively as well, making just seven errors
as a pitcher and none as a catcher.
Ryba managed in the Red Sox, Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds
farm systems after his pitching career, coached for St. Louis from 1951–55, and scouted for the Cardinals and Reds until his death, at the age of 68 in Brookline Station, Missouri, when he fell from a ladder in his yard while trimming branches of a tree.
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...
. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
, Loretto, Pennsylvania.. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1935–1938) and 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"...
(1941–1946). In 1946, at the age of 43, he was the second-oldest player to appear in 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...
game that season.
Ryba was usually used in relief during his ten-year major league career, but was also effective when used as a starter. He was also used as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in ten games and was so versatile he was sometimes called "the one-man team"; while in the minor leagues, he played all nine positions at various points. He made his major league debut on September 22, 1935 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in game 1 of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
at Sportsmans Park. He pitched seven 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...
of two-hit relief and was the winning pitcher in the 14-4 game. He also had two 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....
and three runs batted in to help his cause.
In four seasons with St. Louis he won 16 games, lost 9, and had an 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...
of 4.39. On September 5, 1940 he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Al Brazle
Al Brazle
Alpha Eugene Brazle was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1936, and later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Mike Ryba in September, 1940. He played his entire MLB career for the Cards...
. Ryba was 37 years old and had not pitched in the big leagues for two years, but his best seasons were ahead of him.
In six years with the Red Sox he won 36 games, lost 25, saved 16, and had an ERA of 3.42. Boston won the pennant in his last season, and Ryba appeared in Game # 4 of the 1946 World Series
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
, giving up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
and allowing two inherited runners
Inherited runs allowed
In baseball statistics, inherited runs allowed is a measure of the effectiveness of a relief pitcher who enters a game with runners on base....
to score in 2/3 of an inning. Ryba caught both games of a home doubleheader against 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...
on July 19, 1942.
Ryba finished in his league's top ten for 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...
5 times, 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...
3 times, saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
2 times, and winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
1 time.
Career totals for 250 games (240 as a pitcher) include a record of 52-34 (.605), 36 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 16 complete games, 2 shutouts, 132 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...
, and 16 saves. He allowed 319 earned runs in 783.2 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...
for an 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...
of 3.66. He wielded a strong bat for a pitcher, hitting .235 (58-for-247) with 24 RBI. He was strong defensively as well, making just seven 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 ...
as a pitcher and none as a catcher.
Ryba managed in the Red Sox, Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
farm systems after his pitching career, coached for St. Louis from 1951–55, and scouted for the Cardinals and Reds until his death, at the age of 68 in Brookline Station, Missouri, when he fell from a ladder in his yard while trimming branches of a tree.