Whit Wyatt
Encyclopedia
John Whitlow Wyatt was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Detroit Tigers
(1929-1933), Chicago White Sox
(1933-1936), Cleveland Indians
(1937), Brooklyn Dodgers
(1939-1944), and Philadelphia Phillies
(1945). He is most famous for his performance in 1941, when his team (the Dodgers) won the National League
pennant.
in 1907. As a high school pitching phenom, he once struck out 23 college hitters in a game. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
in 1927 and was signed by the major league Detroit Tigers
soon afterwards.
Injuries sidetracked Wyatt's career, and he compiled a 26-43 record from 1929 through 1937 in the American League
. However, in 1931, he led the Texas League with a 1.53 earned run average
. And after an MVP season in the American Association
in 1938, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1940, Wyatt went 15-14 and led the Dodger staff in innings and strikeout
s. His best year was 1941, when he was 22-10 with a league-leading 7 shutouts
. He was the winning pitcher in the only Dodgers victory against the New York Yankees
in the 1941 World Series
. He also pitched well in 1942, winning 19 games and leading the Dodgers in wins again. During his most productive period, 1940-1943, Wyatt went 70-36 and led the league in shutouts twice.
In addition to being one of the best pitchers in the league, he also gained notoriety for head-hunting. When a beanball war broke out between frontrunners Brooklyn and St. Louis in 1941, Wyatt was at the forefront. Manager Leo Durocher
would leave money on top of his locker after he hit batters. Joe DiMaggio
only faced Wyatt in one World Series yet called him "the meanest guy [he] ever saw."
In a 16-season career, Wyatt posted a 106-95 record with 872 strikeout
s and a 3.79 ERA
in 1761 innings pitched
, including 17 shutout
s and 97 complete games.
Later in life, Wyatt spent several years as a pitching coach, notably being the first such coach for the Atlanta Braves
in 1966. He died in Carrollton, Georgia
, at age 91.
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 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 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...
(1929-1933), 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...
(1933-1936), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1937), Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1939-1944), and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia 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...
(1945). He is most famous for his performance in 1941, when his team (the Dodgers) won 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...
pennant.
Biography
Wyatt was born in Kensington, GeorgiaWalker County, Georgia
Walker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 18, 1833 from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. As of 2000, the population was 61,053. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 64,554...
in 1907. As a high school pitching phenom, he once struck out 23 college hitters in a game. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in 1927 and was signed by the major league 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...
soon afterwards.
Injuries sidetracked Wyatt's career, and he compiled a 26-43 record from 1929 through 1937 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...
. However, in 1931, he led the Texas League with a 1.53 earned run average
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 after an MVP season in 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 1938, he was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1940, Wyatt went 15-14 and led the Dodger staff in innings and 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. His best year was 1941, when he was 22-10 with a league-leading 7 shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
. He was the winning pitcher in the only Dodgers victory against 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...
in the 1941 World Series
1941 World Series
The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall....
. He also pitched well in 1942, winning 19 games and leading the Dodgers in wins again. During his most productive period, 1940-1943, Wyatt went 70-36 and led the league in shutouts twice.
In addition to being one of the best pitchers in the league, he also gained notoriety for head-hunting. When a beanball war broke out between frontrunners Brooklyn and St. Louis in 1941, Wyatt was at the forefront. Manager Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
would leave money on top of his locker after he hit batters. Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
only faced Wyatt in one World Series yet called him "the meanest guy [he] ever saw."
In a 16-season career, Wyatt posted a 106-95 record with 872 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 3.79 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 1761 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...
, including 17 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 97 complete games.
Later in life, Wyatt spent several years as a pitching coach, notably being the first such coach for the Atlanta 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 1966. He died in Carrollton, Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia
Carrollton is a city in West Georgia, United States, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,388...
, at age 91.
See also
External links
- Retrosheet
- "Bad to the Bone" at The Deadball Era
- Whitlow Wyatt at Find-a-Grave