Stubby Overmire
Encyclopedia
Frank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers
(1943-1949), St. Louis Browns
(1950-1952), and New York Yankees
(1951). In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average. Because of his stature, 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) and 170 pounds (77.1 kg), the left-hander
was nicknamed "Stubby."
Born in Moline, Michigan, Overmire attended Western State Teachers College, now known as Western Michigan University
, where he played for the then Hilltoppers from 1938-1941. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/western_michigan_university_baseball_players.shtml
Overmire signed with the Detroit Tigers
after in 1941 as an undrafted free agent. He debuted for the Tigers in April 1943 and won 7 games with 8 complete games and 3 shutouts in his rookie season. In his second season, Overmire pitched 11 complete games, 3 shoutouts, and had his career-low ERA at 3.07.
In 1945, Overmire started 22 games, and won 9, for the American League pennant winning Tigers. He was the Tigers' starting pitcher in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series against the Chicago Cubs
, Despite giving up only 2 runs in 6 innings, Overmire took the loss as the Tigers were shut out 3-0.
Overmire's best season was 1947, when he won 11 and lost 5 for the Tigers with a 3.77 earned run average. His 3 shutouts and won-loss percentage of .688 were both fifth best in the American League.
Overmire went on to pitch for the St. Louis Browns from 1950-1952 with a short stint with the New York Yankees
at the end of the 1951 season. Stubby pitched in 15 games for the Yankees in 1951 and won his second World Series ring, as the Yankees beat the Giants in the 1951 World Series.
After his playing career ended, Overmire became a manager in the Tigers' minor league organization. Through the 1950s, he served as a manager in Little Rock, Terre Haute, Montgomery, Valdosta, and Decatur
. In 1959 as manager of the Decatur Commodores
of the Midwest League
, Overmire was named Manager of the Year. He moved on to Durham in 1960 and Jamestown in 1962. From 1963-1966, he was a coach in the Major Leagues for the Tigers. In 1967, he managed Lakeland, and in 1970, he returned as the manager for Montgomery. He finished his career as a manger in Lakeland, Florida
, where he served as manager from (1971-1975).
Overmire remained in Lakeland, Florida
after his managerial career ended, dying there in 1977 at age 57. He is survived by his daughter, Jane Overmire-Keller, who resides in Rockford, Michigan. His wife, Bernadine Hulett Overmire, passed away November 15, 2009 and his son, Frank Jr., died of kidney and liver failure in 2005.
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...
who played ten seasons 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...
(1943-1949), 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...
(1950-1952), and 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...
(1951). In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average. Because of his stature, 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) and 170 pounds (77.1 kg), the left-hander
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
was nicknamed "Stubby."
Born in Moline, Michigan, Overmire attended Western State Teachers College, now known as Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
, where he played for the then Hilltoppers from 1938-1941. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/western_michigan_university_baseball_players.shtml
Overmire signed with 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...
after in 1941 as an undrafted free agent. He debuted for the Tigers in April 1943 and won 7 games with 8 complete games and 3 shutouts in his rookie season. In his second season, Overmire pitched 11 complete games, 3 shoutouts, and had his career-low ERA at 3.07.
In 1945, Overmire started 22 games, and won 9, for the American League pennant winning Tigers. He was the Tigers' starting pitcher in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series against 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...
, Despite giving up only 2 runs in 6 innings, Overmire took the loss as the Tigers were shut out 3-0.
Overmire's best season was 1947, when he won 11 and lost 5 for the Tigers with a 3.77 earned run average. His 3 shutouts and won-loss percentage of .688 were both fifth best in the American League.
Overmire went on to pitch for the St. Louis Browns from 1950-1952 with a short stint with 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...
at the end of the 1951 season. Stubby pitched in 15 games for the Yankees in 1951 and won his second World Series ring, as the Yankees beat the Giants in the 1951 World Series.
After his playing career ended, Overmire became a manager in the Tigers' minor league organization. Through the 1950s, he served as a manager in Little Rock, Terre Haute, Montgomery, Valdosta, and Decatur
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
. In 1959 as manager of the Decatur Commodores
Decatur Commodores
The Decatur Commodores were a professional minor league baseball team based in Decatur, Illinois. They played, with sporadic interruptions, from 1900 to 1974 in a variety of minor leagues, but spent the majority of their existence in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League , later joining the...
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, Overmire was named Manager of the Year. He moved on to Durham in 1960 and Jamestown in 1962. From 1963-1966, he was a coach in the Major Leagues for the Tigers. In 1967, he managed Lakeland, and in 1970, he returned as the manager for Montgomery. He finished his career as a manger in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, where he served as manager from (1971-1975).
Overmire remained in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
after his managerial career ended, dying there in 1977 at age 57. He is survived by his daughter, Jane Overmire-Keller, who resides in Rockford, Michigan. His wife, Bernadine Hulett Overmire, passed away November 15, 2009 and his son, Frank Jr., died of kidney and liver failure in 2005.