Wes Ferrell

Wesley Cheek Ferrell (February 2, 1908 - December 9, 1976) was a right-handed pitcher also known for his hitting, and a member of the first American League All-Star team in 1933.

Ferrell won 190 games between 1929 and 1938 before injuring his arm. As a pitcher, Ferrell had a decent fastball, a good curveball, and was also a changeup specialist. He led American League pitchers four times in complete games, and three times in innings pitched. Besides his talent as a hurler, he was also one of the best-hitting pitchers in baseball history, setting major league records for pitchers for most single-season home runs (9, in 1931), most career homers (38), and highest lifetime batting average lifetime (.280, a record that still stands today). He also tied the AL record held by Pete Appleton and George Uhle for RBIs in a single game (6). In all, Ferrell collected 329 hits, 57 doubles, 13 triples, 175 runs, 208 RBIs, 129 times hit by pitch, a .446 slugging percentage, and he drew a fair number of walks (129), resulting in a fine .351 career on base percentage.

Life

Ferrell was born in Greensboro, North Carolina as part of a baseball lineage. His older brother, catcher Rick Ferrell, is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and his youngest brother George Ferrell was a 20-year minor league veteran.

Ferrell started his career in 1927 with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 19. He saw little action in his first two seasons, but in 1929 he had a record of 21-10, with 100 strikeouts and a 3.60 earned run average; and in 1930 his record rose to 25-13, with 143 Ks and a 3.31 ERA.

The '31 season was Ferrell's best. On April 29, he pitched a 9-0 no-hitter game against the St. Louis Browns, striking out eight and batting in four runs with a home run and a double. On August 31 Ferrell hit two home runs, as he beat the Chicago White Sox 13-5 in Comiskey Park. Winner of 13 consecutive games, he finished the year at 22-12, with 123 strikeouts, and a 3.75 ERA, at times also terrorizing his rivals with the bat. Ferrell matched the opponent's batters homer-by-homer. They hit nine home runs off of him, but he also smashed nine balls out of the park.

In 1932, Ferrell became the first 20th-century pitcher to win 20 or more games in each of his first four seasons, with a record of 23-13, 105, 3.66. However, Ferrell had a foul-temper, and because of his volatile character he was fined and suspended many times for refusing to leave a game, or for leaving it without permission. With his pitching skill diminished by shoulder pain, and a disappointing 11-13 record in the '33 season, Ferrell was sent to the Boston Red Sox, where his brother Rick was a fine all-around catcher.

Ferrell recovered his form in 1934 with a 14-5 mark, also hitting two HRs in a 10-inning, 3-2 win for the Red Sox over the White Sox. It was the second time that season he had a pair of home runs in a single game, and the third time in his career. In all, he would homer twice in a game six times before he finished.

Ferrell was pitching when Babe Ruth made his farewell appearance in Boston at Fenway Park on August 12, drawing a record crowd of 46,766 fans (with about 20,000 turned away). The Bambino singled and doubled against Ferrell, but the Yankees lost 6-4.

In 1935 Ferrell won a league-high 25 games, and went 20-15 in 1936. The next year he was sent to the Washington Senators at midseason. The New York Yankees bought Ferrell's contract in 1938, but he never came back after arm surgery over the winter and was released in 1939. Ferrell would appear with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 and the Boston Braves in 1941.

"I didn't see any big deal in being a good hitter as well as a good pitcher," said Ferrell, a two-time minor league batting champion as an outfielder after his MLB days were gone. When he went on to be a manager, Ferrell was slapped with suspensions for belting an umpire, and for removing his team from the field.

Ferrell was a fiery competitor and a brilliant player with natural talent, whose achievements may have been obscured by his irascibility.

Wes Ferrell died in Sarasota, Florida, at 68 years of age.

Related link

• All-Time leaders in Homeruns for a Pitcher

External links

• Pitching and batting stats at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/ferrewe01.shtml)
• The 100 Greatest Indians Roster (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Cleveland_Indians1.stm)
• Wes Ferrell photo swinging a bat (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/photos/Ferrell_Wes1937.jpg)