Earl Caldwell
Earl Caldwell | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Sparks, Texas, U.S. | April 9, 1905|
Died: September 15, 1981 Mission, Texas, U.S. | (aged 76)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 8, 1928, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 15, 1948, for the Boston Red Sox | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 33–43 |
Earned run average | 4.69 |
Strikeouts | 202 |
Teams | |
Earl Welton "Teach" Caldwell (April 9, 1905 – September 15, 1981) was an American professional baseball pitcher whose career saw him win more than 330 games over 29 seasons, 1926 to 1954, including 33 victories in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies (1928), St. Louis Browns (1935–1937), Chicago White Sox (1945–1948) and Boston Red Sox (1948). Caldwell appeared in an even 200 games pitched in the majors, and in over 1,000 games overall.[1]
Born in Sparks, Texas, Caldwell threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 178 pounds (81 kg). After entering pro ball in the Class D Texas Association as a 21-year-old in 1926 with the Temple Surgeons, Caldwell made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 8, 1928, and pitched a 4–0, six-hit shutout over the Boston Braves, but lost four games after that, and was let go at the end of the season. After spending seven years in minor league baseball, Caldwell was called up by the St. Louis Browns. He reappeared successfully on September 22, 1935, outdueling Schoolboy Rowe in a three-hit, 1–0 shutout over the American League leading Detroit Tigers. Caldwell ended with a 3–2 mark and a 3.68 ERA, but faded to a 7–16 with a 6.00 ERA in 1936 and was sent again to the minors.
In 1944, Caldwell helped the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch the American Association title. Caldwell compiled a 19–5 record, earning the most wins in the league and finishing with the highest winning percentage (.792). His fine season earned him another shot at the majors, where he won 13 games basically as reliever for the Chicago White Sox in 1945, at 40 years of age. He also led the AL in games finished (37) and had a 2.08 ERA in 902⁄3 innings pitched. The next three years he divided his playing time with Chicago and the Boston Red Sox, and pitched his final game on September 15, 1948. In an eight-season career, Caldwell posted a 33–43 record with a 4.69 ERA, 202 strikeouts, five shutouts, 18 complete games, 25 saves, and 5872⁄3 innings in 200 games pitched (49 as a starter).
Following his majors career, Caldwell twice led the Gulf Coast League in ERA with a 2.21 in 1951 and a 2.73 in 1952 while with the Harlingen Capitols. He retired from baseball in 1954, one year after leading the Evangeline League as pitcher–manager for the Lafayette Bulls with a 2.07 ERA at the age of 48. At the time of his retirement from baseball, he was pitching in the Big State League for the Corpus Christi Clippers when Mission Citrus Growers Inc. recalled him from a leave of absence to become the farm's general manager. At that time, he was the oldest active player in baseball.[2]
Caldwell died from liver cancer in Mission, Texas, aged 76.
References
- ^ "Earl Caldwell". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ "Earl Caldwell Calls It 'Quits' After 29 Years". The Bryan Daily Eagle. Vol. 77, no. 241. Byan, Texas. The Associated Press. August 3, 1954. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
- Earl Caldwell - Baseballbiography.com
- Earl Caldwell at Find a Grave
- 1944 Milwaukee Brewers
- Retrosheet
- Tiger Blog
- 1905 births
- 1981 deaths
- Baseball players from El Paso County, Texas
- Birmingham Barons players
- Boston Red Sox players
- Chicago White Sox players
- Corpus Christi Clippers players
- Deaths from cancer in Texas
- Deaths from liver cancer in the United States
- Fort Worth Cats players
- Harlingen Capitals players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Lafayette Bulls players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Mexia Gushers players
- Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players
- Minor league baseball managers
- Philadelphia Phillies players
- St. Louis Browns players
- San Antonio Missions players
- Temple Surgeons players
- Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players
- Waco Cubs players
- Wichita Falls Spudders players