Monty Stratton
Encyclopedia
Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton (May 21, 1912 – September 29, 1982), nicknamed "Gander", was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He was born in Wagner, Texas, USA, but lived in Greenville, Texas
for a part of his life.
Stratton Began his career with the Van Alstyne Grays before playing for the Chicago White Sox. Stratton pitched five years with the Chicago White Sox
(1934–38), compiling a career 36–23 record with 196 strikeout
s and a 3.71 ERA
in 487.1 innings. His major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg.
A 6-foot-5-inch right-hander, Stratton made his debut with the White Sox on June 2, 1934. He became a starter
in 1937, winning 15 games with a 2.40 ERA and five shutout
s, and made the American League
All-Star
squad. The following season, he again won 15 and completed
17 of his 22 starts.
On November 27, 1938, Stratton was hunting rabbits on his family farm when he fell, accidentally discharging a holstered pistol. The bullet struck his right leg, damaging a main artery enough to require amputation. Equipped with a wooden leg, Stratton worked with the White Sox the next two years as a coach
and batting
practice pitcher. When World War II
started, he tried to enlist but was rejected. Then, he organized a semipro baseball team at Greenville, Texas
, and constantly practiced coordination on the field.
Throughout the early- and mid-1940s, Stratton attempted to come back from his injury, pitching in the minors
and semi-pro games. His return to baseball encountered difficulties because other teams persistently bunted balls out of his reach, but Stratton finally was able to make a successful comeback, winning 18 games with the Class-C Sherman Twins of the East Texas League.
His comeback attempt was the subject of the film The Stratton Story
(Sam Wood
, 1949
), which starred Jimmy Stewart
and June Allyson
, with big-leaguers Gene Bearden
, Bill Dickey
and Jimmy Dykes
in cameo appearances.
Stratton died in Greenville, Texas, on September 29, 1982, at the age of 70.
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...
. He was born in Wagner, Texas, USA, but lived in Greenville, Texas
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
for a part of his life.
Stratton Began his career with the Van Alstyne Grays before playing for the Chicago White Sox. Stratton pitched five years with 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...
(1934–38), compiling a career 36–23 record with 196 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 and a 3.71 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 487.1 innings. His major league career ended prematurely when a hunting accident in 1938 forced doctors to amputate his right leg.
A 6-foot-5-inch right-hander, Stratton made his debut with the White Sox on June 2, 1934. He became a starter
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....
in 1937, winning 15 games with a 2.40 ERA and five shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, and made 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...
All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
squad. The following season, he again won 15 and completed
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...
17 of his 22 starts.
On November 27, 1938, Stratton was hunting rabbits on his family farm when he fell, accidentally discharging a holstered pistol. The bullet struck his right leg, damaging a main artery enough to require amputation. Equipped with a wooden leg, Stratton worked with the White Sox the next two years as a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and batting
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
practice pitcher. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
started, he tried to enlist but was rejected. Then, he organized a semipro baseball team at Greenville, Texas
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
, and constantly practiced coordination on the field.
Throughout the early- and mid-1940s, Stratton attempted to come back from his injury, pitching in the minors
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...
and semi-pro games. His return to baseball encountered difficulties because other teams persistently bunted balls out of his reach, but Stratton finally was able to make a successful comeback, winning 18 games with the Class-C Sherman Twins of the East Texas League.
His comeback attempt was the subject of the film The Stratton Story
The Stratton Story
The Stratton Story is a 1949 film directed by Sam Wood which tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1934-1938...
(Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Samuel Grosvenor "Sam" Wood was an American film director, and producer, who was best known for directing such Hollywood hits as A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and The Pride of the Yankees...
, 1949
1949 in film
The year 1949 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello...
), which starred Jimmy Stewart
James Stewart (actor)
James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
and June Allyson
June Allyson
June Allyson was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was a major MGM contract star. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Too Young to Kiss . From 1959–1961, she hosted and occasionally starred in her own CBS anthology...
, with big-leaguers Gene Bearden
Gene Bearden
Henry Eugene "Gene" Bearden was a left-handed knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball who completed a remarkable rookie season by closing out the Cleveland Indians' last World Series championship in 1948....
, Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey was a Major League Baseball catcher and manager.He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees . During Dickey's playing career, the Yankees went to the World Series nine times, winning eight championships...
and Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
in cameo appearances.
Stratton died in Greenville, Texas, on September 29, 1982, at the age of 70.