Sailor Stroud
Encyclopedia
Ralph Vivian "Sailor" Stroud (May 15, 1885 - April 11, 1970) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Detroit Tigers
in 1910 and the New York Giants
in 1915 and 1916. Born in Ironia, New Jersey, Stroud was a 6'0" right-handed pitcher. He played in 28 games for the Detroit Tigers
in 1910, 15 of them as a starter. In his major league debut on April 29, 1910, Stroud shut out the St. Louis Browns
5-0. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Sailor_Stroud_1885&page=chronology During the 1910 season, Stroud had 7 complete games and 3 shoutouts in 130-1/3 innings pitched. He had a record of 5-7 with an ERA
of 3.25. He allowed 9 home run
s in 1910 -- more than any other pitcher in the American League
.
In 1913, Stroud played for the Sacramento Solons
in the Pacific Coast League
, impressively winning 25 games in 315 innings with 202 strikeout
s. In 1914, Stroud had another great season for the Solons, with a 20-18 record, a 2.01 ERA in 331 innings.
After two strong seasons with the Solons, Stroud was signed by the New York Giants
. Stroud had a good curve and changeup, but he was erratic. He won a spot in the Giants' starting rotation in 1915 after winning a pitching duel with Grover Cleveland Alexander
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Sailor_Stroud_1885 He went 12-9 for the Giants in 1915 and 3-2 in 1916. Stroud won his last major league victory on May 26, 1916, a 12-1 win over the Boston Braves
.
After his major league career was over, Stroud continued to pitch on the West Coast. Stroud pitched for Hanford of the San Joaquin Valley League
in 1921 or 1922. The owner of the Hanford, California
team reportedly sold Stroud to the New York Yankees
. However, an article in the Bakersfield
Daily Californian reported that Stroud refused to report to New York because he did not want to take a cut in pay; the San Joaquin Valley League
was supported in those years by wealthy agricultural interests and paid well. http://minorleagueresearcher.blogspot.com/2006/04/independent-baseball-in-1920s-part-one.html
Stroud died in Stockton, California
in 1970 at age 84. He is buried at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento, California
.
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...
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...
in 1910 and the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1915 and 1916. Born in Ironia, New Jersey, Stroud was a 6'0" right-handed pitcher. He played in 28 games 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...
in 1910, 15 of them as a starter. In his major league debut on April 29, 1910, Stroud shut out the 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...
5-0. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Sailor_Stroud_1885&page=chronology During the 1910 season, Stroud had 7 complete games and 3 shoutouts in 130-1/3 innings pitched. He had a record of 5-7 with 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 3.25. He allowed 9 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...
s in 1910 -- more than any other pitcher 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 1913, Stroud played for the Sacramento Solons
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...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific 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...
, impressively winning 25 games in 315 innings with 202 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. In 1914, Stroud had another great season for the Solons, with a 20-18 record, a 2.01 ERA in 331 innings.
After two strong seasons with the Solons, Stroud was signed by the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Stroud had a good curve and changeup, but he was erratic. He won a spot in the Giants' starting rotation in 1915 after winning a pitching duel with Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Sailor_Stroud_1885 He went 12-9 for the Giants in 1915 and 3-2 in 1916. Stroud won his last major league victory on May 26, 1916, a 12-1 win over the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
After his major league career was over, Stroud continued to pitch on the West Coast. Stroud pitched for Hanford of the San Joaquin Valley League
San Joaquin Valley League
The San Joaquin Valley League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1910 through 1911. The league operated primarily in the San Joaquin Valley in California...
in 1921 or 1922. The owner of the Hanford, California
Hanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
team reportedly sold Stroud to 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...
. However, an article in the Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
Daily Californian reported that Stroud refused to report to New York because he did not want to take a cut in pay; the San Joaquin Valley League
San Joaquin Valley League
The San Joaquin Valley League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1910 through 1911. The league operated primarily in the San Joaquin Valley in California...
was supported in those years by wealthy agricultural interests and paid well. http://minorleagueresearcher.blogspot.com/2006/04/independent-baseball-in-1920s-part-one.html
Stroud died in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
in 1970 at age 84. He is buried at East Lawn Memorial Park 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,...
.