Wayland Dean
Encyclopedia
Wayland Ogden Dean was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played seven seasons in professional baseball
, four at the major league level. In his major league career, Dean went 24–36 with a 4.87 ERA
, 1 save, and 147 strikeouts in 96 games, 60 starts.
. He went 8–6 with 77 runs allowed
in 19 games with the Islanders. Later that season, Dean played for the Class-AA Louisville Colonels
of the American Association
. In 11 games, Dean went 3–5 with a 4.88 ERA. The next season, Dean continued to play for the Colonels. He went 21–8 with a 3.27 ERA in 36 games that season. Dean ended the season fifth in the league in wins
.
after being described by the New York Times as being the "most-sought-after young twirler in the minor leagues." Dean refused to sign a contract offered to him by the Giants in January of that year. In his major league debut, the Giants lost to the Washington Nationals
three-to-two. On the season, Dean went 6–12 with a 5.01 ERA, and 39 strikeouts in 26 games, 20 starts. In 1925, Dean played his second season with the Giants. On June 12, Dean was injured after he was struck in the knee during batting practice before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
at Forbes Field
. Dean also struck out hall of famer Mel Ott
in Ott's first major league at-bat. On the season, Dean went 10–7 with a 4.64 ERA, 1 save, and 53 strikeouts.
along with Jack Bentley
for Jimmy Ring
. With the Phillies that season, Dean went 8–16 with a 4.91 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 33 games, 26 starts. His 111 earned runs allowed led all pitchers in the National League
. The next season, Dean again played for the Phillies. On May 26, 1927, Dean was suspended by Phillies manager
Stuffy McInnis
after Dean didn't report to the team for two days straight. With the Phillies that season, Dean went 0–1 in 2 games with 4 earned runs.
. With the Cubs, Dean pitched 2 games and compiled no win-loss record, and gave up no earned runs.
. That season marked Dean's return to the Class-AA Louisville Colonels, where he was first discovered by the New York Giants. In 4 games with the Colonels, Dean went 0–1, and gave up no earned runs. His season was cut short when he became ill with tuberculosis
, and was sent to Tucson, Arizona
because doctors concluded that his only chance of survival was to be in the city's climate. The Pittsburgh Press criticized Dean on his choices throughout his career, writing, "[Dean] was a careless fellow, who went the pace headlong." Dean did, however, recover and played the next season with the Class-B Dayton Aviators of the Central League
, this time as an outfielder
. In 511 at-bats with the Aviators, Dean batted
.317 with 32 doubles
, 7 triples
, and 22 home runs. That season, Dean was fifth in the league in home runs. Dean became ill again and was forced into retirement. He died on April 11, 1930 in his parents house at the age of 27, afflicted with tuberculosis. After his death, Dean's former manager in Louisville, Joe McCarthy, named Dean as the best player he had ever sold to the major leagues.
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 played seven seasons in professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
, four at the major league level. In his major league career, Dean went 24–36 with a 4.87 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...
, 1 save, and 147 strikeouts in 96 games, 60 starts.
Early minor league career
Dean began his professional career in with the Class-C Daytona Beach IslandersDaytona Beach Islanders
Daytona Beach Islanders was the name used by several different minor league baseball teams that have all played in the Florida State League.-History:...
. He went 8–6 with 77 runs allowed
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in 19 games with the Islanders. Later that season, Dean played for the Class-AA Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. In 11 games, Dean went 3–5 with a 4.88 ERA. The next season, Dean continued to play for the Colonels. He went 21–8 with a 3.27 ERA in 36 games that season. Dean ended the season fifth in the league 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...
.
New York Giants
Dean was purchased by the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
after being described by the New York Times as being the "most-sought-after young twirler in the minor leagues." Dean refused to sign a contract offered to him by the Giants in January of that year. In his major league debut, the Giants lost to the Washington Nationals
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
three-to-two. On the season, Dean went 6–12 with a 5.01 ERA, and 39 strikeouts in 26 games, 20 starts. In 1925, Dean played his second season with the Giants. On June 12, Dean was injured after he was struck in the knee during batting practice before a game against 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...
at Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
. Dean also struck out hall of famer Mel Ott
Mel Ott
Melvin Thomas Ott , nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire career for the New York Giants . Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
in Ott's first major league at-bat. On the season, Dean went 10–7 with a 4.64 ERA, 1 save, and 53 strikeouts.
Philadelphia Phillies
In January 1926, the Giants traded Dean to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
along with Jack Bentley
Jack Bentley
Jack Bentley may refer to:*Jack Bentley , English footballer*Jack Bentley , American baseball player* Jack Bentley, the late husband of Wendy Craig...
for Jimmy Ring
Jimmy Ring
James Joseph "Jimmy" Ring was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals . Ring batted and threw right-handed.Ring was used sparingly by the Cincinnati Reds from 1917-18...
. With the Phillies that season, Dean went 8–16 with a 4.91 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 33 games, 26 starts. His 111 earned runs allowed led all pitchers in 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...
. The next season, Dean again played for the Phillies. On May 26, 1927, Dean was suspended by Phillies manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Stuffy McInnis
Stuffy McInnis
John Phalen "Stuffy" McInnis was a first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball.McInnis gained his nickname as a youngster in the Boston suburban leagues, where his spectacular playing brought shouts of "that's the stuff, kid".From 1909-27, McInnis played for the Philadelphia Athletics ,...
after Dean didn't report to the team for two days straight. With the Phillies that season, Dean went 0–1 in 2 games with 4 earned runs.
Chicago Cubs
On June 2, 1927, Dean was sold by the Phillies to the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
. With the Cubs, Dean pitched 2 games and compiled no win-loss record, and gave up no earned runs.
Later minor league career
On February 21, 1928, Dean was traded by the Cubs to the Louisville Colonels for Ed HollyEd Holly
Edward William Holly was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors. He is also a member of the International League Hall of Fame....
. That season marked Dean's return to the Class-AA Louisville Colonels, where he was first discovered by the New York Giants. In 4 games with the Colonels, Dean went 0–1, and gave up no earned runs. His season was cut short when he became ill with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and was sent to Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
because doctors concluded that his only chance of survival was to be in the city's climate. The Pittsburgh Press criticized Dean on his choices throughout his career, writing, "[Dean] was a careless fellow, who went the pace headlong." Dean did, however, recover and played the next season with the Class-B Dayton Aviators of the Central League
Central League (baseball)
The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season...
, this time as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. In 511 at-bats with the Aviators, Dean batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.317 with 32 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 7 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 22 home runs. That season, Dean was fifth in the league in home runs. Dean became ill again and was forced into retirement. He died on April 11, 1930 in his parents house at the age of 27, afflicted with tuberculosis. After his death, Dean's former manager in Louisville, Joe McCarthy, named Dean as the best player he had ever sold to the major leagues.