Steve Swetonic
Encyclopedia
Stephen Albert Swetonic (August 13, 1903 - April 22, 1974) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
, who played his entire career for the Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1929
through 1935
. Swetonic batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
.
Swetonic provided a solid support in Pirates' pitching staffs of the early 1930s that included Larry French
, Burleigh Grimes
, Waite Hoyt
, and Ray Kremer
. His most productive season came in 1932, when he went 11-6 with a career-high 2.82 ERA
and tied for the National League
lead with four shutout
s. In 1933 he recorded career-numbers in wins
(12), starts
(21), and innings pitched
(164 ⅔ ). His career ended prematurily at the age of 28 because of a chronic sore arm.
Swetonic went to spring training
with the Boston Braves
in 1934 but did not play in the regular season. In a March 24 game against the Philadelphia Athletics, in St. Petersburg, Florida
, he yielded four runs in the first inning.
In March 1935, Swetonic was in spring training with the New York Giants
team in Miami Beach, Florida
. He tossed the final three innings of an intrasquad game between teams captained by Carl Hubbell
and Freddie Fitzsimmons
on February 28.
In a five-season career, Swetonic posted a 37-36 record with 154 strikeout
s and a 3.81 ERA in 595 ⅓ innings. He died in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
at age 70.
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...
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...
, who played his entire career for 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...
from 1929
1929 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs -Awards and honors:*League Award** Rogers Hornsby, Chicago Cubs, 2B-Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...
through 1935
1935 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game, July 8 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 4-1-Other champions:*Negro League Baseball All-Star Game, August 11 at Comiskey Park: West, 11-8...
. Swetonic batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
.
Swetonic provided a solid support in Pirates' pitching staffs of the early 1930s that included Larry French
Larry French
Lawrence Herbert French was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers . A knuckleball specialist, French batted right-handed and threw left-handed...
, Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was...
, Waite Hoyt
Waite Hoyt
Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
, and Ray Kremer
Ray Kremer
Remy Peter "Ray" Kremer was a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of ten seasons , all with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He led the National League in ERA in both 1926 and 1927. For his career, he compiled an 143-85 record in 308 appearances, with a 3.76 ERA and 516...
. His most productive season came in 1932, when he went 11-6 with a career-high 2.82 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 tied for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
lead with four 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. In 1933 he recorded career-numbers in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(12), starts
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....
(21), and 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...
(164 ⅔ ). His career ended prematurily at the age of 28 because of a chronic sore arm.
Swetonic went to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with 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....
in 1934 but did not play in the regular season. In a March 24 game against the Philadelphia Athletics, in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, he yielded four runs in the first inning.
In March 1935, Swetonic was in spring training with 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....
team in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. He tossed the final three innings of an intrasquad game between teams captained by Carl Hubbell
Carl Hubbell
Carl Owen Hubbell was an American baseball player. He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained on the Giants' payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell...
and Freddie Fitzsimmons
Freddie Fitzsimmons
Frederick Landis Fitzsimmons , nicknamed "Fat Freddie," was an American right-handed pitcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played from 1925 to 1943 with the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers...
on February 28.
In a five-season career, Swetonic posted a 37-36 record with 154 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 3.81 ERA in 595 ⅓ innings. He died in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
at age 70.
Fact
- As of 20062006 in baseball-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
, Swetonic has one of the lowest ERA (3.81) of any major league pitcher coming out of University of PittsburghUniversity of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
with more than 100 innings, behind Bob MalloyBob Malloy (1940s pitcher)Robert Paul Malloy was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between 1943 and 1949 for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns . Malloy batted and threw right-handed...
(3.26) and Doc MedichDoc MedichGeorge Francis "Doc" Medich in Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972-1982...
(3.77).