Pitchers who won 100 games with two teams

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It was a money deal. When Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A’s traded star pitcher Lefty Grove and his second baseman Max Bishop, along with pitcher Rube Walberg, to the Red Sox at the winter meetings following the 1933 season. Mack received two players in return, but it was the $125,000 the Red Sox wired him that was most important.

Connie Mack needed cash to survive the Great Depression, and selling Lefty Grove and other players helped the tall owner of the Athletics survive the economic crisis. He also figured that Grove was on the bad side of thirty, and soon would fade his way out of the game.

He was wrong. For eight seasons, Mr. Mack had to watch Grove pumping his fastball over the plate for Boston, and about 2 or 3 times a season, his former ace would pitch against his own team. Lefty didn’t “fade away,” he won four ERA titles as a member of the Sox, and was named an All-Star five times in Boston, the last coming when he was 39 years old and with grey around his temples.

Grove went 13-5 against the A’s after they traded him away, and he pitched better for mediocre Boston teams than anyone would have imagined: 105-62 in eight seasons. His final win came in the middle of the 1941 season, and it was his 300th victory.

Grove’s outstanding success with both the Athletics and the Red Sox places him among a group of pitchers who have achieved a rare feat: 100 pitching victories with two teams.

NAMEPOSITIONPRIMARY TEAMELECTEDELECTED BY
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Pete AlexanderPPhiladelphia Phillies1938BBWAA
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Sparky AndersonMGRDetroit Tigers2000Veterans Committee
Cap Anson1BChicago Cubs1939Veterans Committee
Luis AparicioSSChicago White Sox1984BBWAA
Luke ApplingSSChicago White Sox1964BBWAA
Richie AshburnCFPhiladelphia Phillies1995Veterans Committee
Earl AverillCFCleveland Indians1975Veterans Committee
Jeff Bagwell1BHouston Astros2017BBWAA
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Frank Baker3BPhiladelphia A's1955Veterans Committee
Dave BancroftSSPhiladelphia Phillies1971Veterans Committee
Ernie BanksSSChicago Cubs1977BBWAA
Al BarlickUMP1989Veterans Committee
Ed BarrowNP1953Veterans Committee
Jake Beckley1BPittsburgh Pirates1971Veterans Committee
Cool Papa BellCFPittsburgh Crawfords1974Negro Leagues Committee
Johnny BenchCCincinnati Reds1989BBWAA
Chief BenderPPhiladelphia A's1953Veterans Committee
Yogi BerraCNew York Yankees1972BBWAA
Craig Biggio2BHouston Astros2015BBWAA
Bert BlylevenPMinnesota Twins2011BBWAA
Wade Boggs3BBoston Red Sox2005BBWAA
Jim Bottomley1BSt. Louis Cardinals1974Veterans Committee
Lou BoudreauSSCleveland Indians1970BBWAA
Roger BresnahanCNew York Giants1945Veterans Committee
George Brett3BKansas City Royals1999BBWAA
Lou BrockLFSt. Louis Cardinals1985BBWAA
Dan Brouthers1BBuffalo Bisons1945Veterans Committee
Willard BrownCFKansas City Monarchs1949Negro Leagues Committee
Mordecai BrownPChicago Cubs2006Veterans Committee
Ray BrownPHomestead Grays2006Negro Leagues Committee
Morgan BulkeleyNP1937Veterans Committee
Jim BunningPDetroit Tigers1996Veterans Committee
Jesse BurkettLFCleveland Spiders1946Veterans Committee
Roy CampanellaCBrooklyn Dodgers1969BBWAA
Rod Carew2BMinnesota Twins1991BBWAA
Max CareyCFPittsburgh Pirates1961Veterans Committee
Steve CarltonPPhiladelphia Phillies1994BBWAA
Gary CarterCMontreal Expos2003BBWAA
Alexander CartwrightNP1938Veterans Committee
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Frank Chance1BChicago Cubs1946Veterans Committee
Happy ChandlerNP1982Veterans Committee
Oscar CharlestonCFPittsburgh Crawfords1976Negro Leagues Committee
Jack ChesbroPNew York Highlanders1946Veterans Committee
Nestor ChylakUMP1999Veterans Committee
Fred ClarkeLFPittsburg Pirates1945Veterans Committee
John ClarksonPBoston Beaneaters1963Veterans Committee
Roberto ClementeRFPittsburgh Pirates1973BBWAA
Ty CobbCFDetroit Tigers1936BBWAA
Mickey CochraneCPhiladelphia A's1947BBWAA
Eddie Collins2BChicago White Sox1939BBWAA
Jimmy Collins3BBoston Americans1945Veterans Committee
Earle CombsCFNew York Yankees1970Veterans Committee
Charlie ComiskeyNPChicago White Sox1939Veterans Committee
Jocko ConlanUMP1974Veterans Committee
Roger Connor1BNew York Giants1953Veterans Committee
Tommy ConnollyUMP1976Veterans Committee
Andy CooperPKansas City Monarchs2006Negro Leagues Committee
Stan CoveleskiPCleveland Indians1969Veterans Committee
Bobby CoxMGRAtlanta Braves2014Veterans Committee
Sam CrawfordRFDetroit Tigers1957Veterans Committee
Joe CroninSSBoston Red Sox1956BBWAA
Candy CummingsNPNew York Mutuals1939Veterans Committee
Kiki CuylerRFPittsburgh Pirates1968Veterans Committee
Ray Dandridge3BNewark Eagles1987Negro Leagues Committee
George DavisSSNew York Giants1998Negro Leagues Committee
Andre DawsonCFMontreal Expos2010BBWAA
Leon DayPNewark Eagles1995Negro Leagues Committee
Dizzy DeanPSt. Louis Cardinals1953BBWAA
Ed DelahantyLFPhiladelphia Phillies1945Veterans Committee
Bill DickeyCNew York Yankees1954BBWAA
Martin DihigoPCuban Stars1977Negro Leagues Committee
Joe DiMaggioCFNew York Yankees1955BBWAA
Larry DobyCFCleveland Indians1998Veterans Committee
Bobby Doerr2BBoston Red Sox1986Veterans Committee
Barney DreyfusNPPittsburgh Pirates2008Veterans Committee
Don DrysdalePLos Angeles Dodgers1984BBWAA
Hugh DuffyCFBoston Beaneaters1945Veterans Committee
Leo DurocherMGRBrooklyn Dodgers1994Veterans Committee
Dennis EckersleyPOakland A's2004BBWAA
Billy EvansUMP1973Veterans Committee
Johnny Evers2BChicago Cubs1946Veterans Committee
Buck EwingCNew York Giants1939Veterans Committee
Red FaberPChicago White Sox1964Veterans Committee
Bob FellerPCleveland Indians1962BBWAA
Rick FerrellCWashington Senators1984Veterans Committee
Rollie FingersPOakland A's1992BBWAA
Carlton FiskCChicago White Sox2000BBWAA
Elmer FlickRFCleveland Naps1963Veterans Committee
Whitey FordPNew York Yankees1974BBWAA
Bill FosterPChicago American Giants1996Negro Leagues Committee
Rube FosterMGRChicago American Giants1981Negro Leagues Committee
Bud Fowler2B2022Veterans Committee
Nellie Fox2BChicago White Sox1997Veterans Committee
Jimmie Foxx1BPhiladelphia A's1951BBWAA
Ford FrickNP1970Veterans Committee
Frankie Frisch2BSt. Louis Cardinals1947BBWAA
Pud GalvinPBuffalo Bisons1965Veterans Committee
Charlie Gehringer2BDetroit Tigers1949BBWAA
Lou Gehrig1BNew York Yankees1939BBWAA
Josh GibsonCHomestead Grays1872Negro Leagues Committee
Bob GibsonPSt. Louis Cardinals1981BBWAA
Warren GilesNP1979Veterans Committee
Pat GillickNPToronto Blue Jays2011Veterans Committee
Tom GlavinePAtlanta Braves2014BBWAA
Lefty GomezPNew York Yankees1972Veterans Committee
Joe Gordon2BNew York Yankees2009Veterans Committee
Goose GoslinLFWashington Senators1968Veterans Committee
Goose GossagePNew York Yankees2008BBWAA
Frank Grant2BCuban X Giants2006Negro Leagues Committee
Hank Greenberg1BDetroit Tigers1956BBWAA
Clark GriffithNPWashington Senators1946Veterans Committee
Ken Griffey Jr.CFSeattle Mariners2016BBWAA
Burleigh GrimesPBrooklyn Dodgers1964Veterans Committee
Lefty GrovePPhiladelphia A's1947BBWAA
Vladimir GuerreroRFMontreal Expos2018BBWAA
Tony GwynnRFSan Diego Padres2007BBWAA
Chick HafeyLFSt. Louis Cardinals1971Veterans Committee
Jesse HainesPSt. Louis Cardinals1970Veterans Committee
Roy HalladayPToronto Blue Jays2019BBWAA
Billy HamiltonCFPhiladelphia Phillies1961Veterans Committee
Ned HanlonMGROld Baltimore Orioles1996Veterans Committee
Bucky HarrisMGRNew York Yankees1972Veterans Committee
Will HarridgeNP1975Veterans Committee
Gabby HartnettCChicago Cubs1955BBWAA
Doug HarveyUMP2010Veterans Committee
Harry HeilmannRFDetroit Tigers1952BBWAA
Rickey HendersonLFOakland A's2009BBWAA
Billy Herman2BChicago Cubs1975Veterans Committee
Whitey HerzogMGRSt. Louis Cardinals2010Veterans Committee
Pete HillCFChicago American Giants2006Negro Leagues Committee
Gil Hodges1BBrooklyn Dodgers2022Veterans Committee
Trevor HoffmanPSan Diego Padres2018BBWAA
Harry HooperRFBoston Red Sox1971Veterans Committee
Rogers Hornsby2BSt. Louis Cardinals1942BBWAA
Waite HoytPNew York Yankees1969Veterans Committee
Cal HubbardUMP1976Veterans Committee
Carl HubbellPNew York Giants1947BBWAA
Miller HugginsMGRNew York Yankees1964Veterans Committee
William HulbertNP1995Veterans Committee
Catfish HunterPOakland A's1987BBWAA
Monte IrvinLFNew York Giants1973Veterans Committee
Reggie JacksonRFOakland A's1993BBWAA
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Fergie JenkinsPChicago Cubs1991BBWAA
Hughie JenningsSSOld Baltimore Orioles1945Veterans Committee
Derek JeterSSNew York Yankees2020BBWAA
Judy Johnson3BHilldale Club1937Negro Leagues Committee
Ban JohnsonNP1975Veterans Committee
Randy JohnsonPSeattle Mariners2015BBWAA
Walter JohnsonPWashington Senators1936BBWAA
Chipper Jones3BAtlanta Braves2018BBWAA
Addie JossPCleveland Naps1978Veterans Committee
Jim KaatPMinnesota Twins2022Veterans Committee
Al KalineRFDetroit Tigers1980BBWAA
Tim KeefePNew York Giants1964Veterans Committee
Willie KeelerRFOld Baltimore Orioles1939BBWAA
Joe KelleyLFBrooklyn Superbas1983Veterans Committee
George Kell3BDetroit Tigers1971Veterans Committee
George Kelly1BNew York Giants1973Veterans Committee
King KellyRFChicago White Stockings1945Veterans Committee
Harmon Killebrew1BMinnesota Twins1984BBWAA
Ralph KinerLFPittsburgh Pirates1975BBWAA
Chuck KleinRFPhiladelphia Phillies1980Veterans Committee
Bill KlemUMP1953Veterans Committee
Sandy KoufaxPLos Angeles Dodgers1972BBWAA
Bowie KuhnNP2008Veterans Committee
Nap Lajoie2BCleveland Naps1937BBWAA
Kenesaw Mountain LandisNP1944Veterans Committee
Barry LarkinSSCincinnati Reds2012BBWAA
Tony La RussaMGRSt. Louis Cardinals2014Veterans Committee
Tommy LasordaMGRLos Angeles Dodgers1997Veterans Committee
Tony Lazzeri2BNew York Yankees1991Veterans Committee
Bob LemonPCleveland Indians1976BBWAA
Buck Leonard1BHomestead Grays1972Negro Leagues Committee
Freddie Lindstrom3BNew York Giants1976Veterans Committee
John Henry LloydSSLincoln Giants1977Negro Leagues Committee
Ernie LombardiCCincinnati Reds1986Veterans Committee
Al LopezMGRCleveland Indians1977Veterans Committee
Ted LyonsPChicago White Sox1955BBWAA
Connie MackMGRPhiladelphia A's1937Veterans Committee
Biz MackeyCHilldale Daisies2006Negro Leagues Committee
Greg MadduxPAtlanta Braves2014BBWAA
Effa ManleyNPNewark Eagles2006Negro Leagues Committee
Mickey MantleCFNew York Yankees1974BBWAA
Heinie ManushLFDetroit Tigers1964Veterans Committee
Rabbit MaranvilleSSBoston Braves1954BBWAA
Juan MarichalPSan Francisco Giants1983BBWAA
Rube MarquardPNew York Giants1971Veterans Committee
Edgar MartinezDHSeattle Mariners2019BBWAA
Pedro MartinezPBoston Red Sox2015BBWAA
Christy MathewsonPNew York Giants1936BBWAA
Eddie Mathews3BMilwaukee Braves1978BBWAA
Willie MaysCFSan Francisco Giants1979BBWAA
Bill Mazeroski2BPittsburgh Pirates2001Veterans Committee
Joe McCarthyMGRNew York Yankees1957Veterans Committee
Tommy McCarthyOFBoston Beaneaters1946Veterans Committee
Willie McCovey1BSan Francisco Giants1986BBWAA
Joe McGinnityPNew York Giants1946Veterans Committee
Bill McGowanUMP1992Veterans Committee
John McGrawMGRNew York Giants1937Veterans Committee
Bill McKechnieMGRCincinnati Reds1962Veterans Committee
Larry MacPhailNPNew York Yankees1978Veterans Committee
Lee MacPhailNP1998Veterans Committee
Fred McGriff1BAtlanta Braves2023Veterans Committee
Bid McPhee2BCincinnati Red Stockings2000Veterans Committee
Joe MedwickLFSt. Louis Cardinals1968BBWAA
Jose MendezPKansas City Monarchs2006Negro Leagues Committee
Marvin MillerNP2020Veterans Committee
Minnie MiñosoLFChicago White Sox2022Veterans Committee
Johnny Mize1BNew York Giants1981Veterans Committee
Paul MolitorDHMilwaukee Brewers2004BBWAA
Joe Morgan2BCincinnati Reds1990BBWAA
Jack MorrisPDetroit Tigers2018Veterans Committee
Eddie Murray1BBaltimore Orioles2003BBWAA
Stan MusialLFSt. Louis Cardinals1969BBWAA
Mike MussinaPBaltimore Orioles2019BBWAA
Hal NewhouserPDetroit Tigers1992Veterans Committee
Kid NicholsPBoston Beaneaters1949Veterans Committee
Phil NiekroPAtlanta Braves1997BBWAA
Hank O'DayUMP2013Veterans Committee
Tony OlivaRFMinnesota Twins2022Veterans Committee
Walter O'MalleyNPLos Angeles Dodgers2008Veterans Committee
Buck O'NeilNP2022Veterans Committee
Jim O'RourkeLFNew York Giants1945Veterans Committee
David OrtizDHBoston Red Sox2022BBWAA
Mel OttRFNew York Giants1951BBWAA
Satchel PaigePKansas City Monarchs1971Negro Leagues Committee
Jim PalmerPBaltimore Orioles1990BBWAA
Herb PennockPNew York Yankees1948BBWAA
Tony Perez1BCincinnati Reds2000BBWAA
Gaylord PerryPSan Francisco Giants1991BBWAA
Mike PiazzaCNew York Mets2016BBWAA
Eddie PlankPPhiladelphia A's1946Veterans Committee
Alex PompezNPNew York Cubans2006Negro Leagues Committee
Cum PoseyNPHomestead Grays2006Negro Leagues Committee
Kirby PuckettCFMinnesota Twins2001BBWAA
Old Hoss RadbournPProvidence Grays1939Veterans Committee
Tim RainesLFMontreal Expos2017BBWAA
Pee Wee ReeseSSBrooklyn Dodgers1984Veterans Committee
Jim RiceLFBoston Red Sox2009BBWAA
Sam RiceRFWashington Senators1963Veterans Committee
Branch RickeyNPBrooklyn Dodgers1967Veterans Committee
Cal Ripken Jr.SSBaltimore Orioles2007BBWAA
Mariano RiveraPNew York Yankees2019BBWAA
Eppa RixeyPCincinnati Reds1963Veterans Committee
Phil RizzutoSSNew York Yankees1994Veterans Committee
Robin RobertsPPhiladelphia Phillies1976BBWAA
Brooks Robinson3BBaltimore Orioles1983BBWAA
Frank RobinsonRFCincinnati Reds1982BBWAA
Jackie Robinson2BBrooklyn Dodgers1962BBWAA
Wilbert RobinsonMGRBrooklyn Dodgers1945Veterans Committee
Ivan RodriguezCTexas Rangers2017BBWAA
Bullet Joe RoganPKansas City Monarchs1998Negro Leagues Committee
Scott Rolen3BPhiladelphia Phillies2023BBWAA
Edd RoushCFCincinnati Reds1962Veterans Committee
Red RuffingPNew York Yankees1967BBWAA
Jacob RuppertNPNew York Yankees2013Veterans Committee
Amos RusiePNew York Giants1977Veterans Committee
Babe RuthRFNew York Yankees1936BBWAA
Nolan RyanPCalifornia Angels1999BBWAA
Ryne Sandberg2BChicago Cubs2005BBWAA
Louis SantopCHilldale Club2012Negro Leagues Committee
Ron Santo3BChicago Cubs2006Veterans Committee
Ray SchalkCChicago White Sox1955Veterans Committee
Mike Schmidt3BPhiladelphia Phillies1995BBWAA
Red Schoendienst2BSt. Louis Cardinals1989Veterans Committee
John SchuerholzNPAtlanta Braves2017Veterans Committee
Tom SeaverPNew York Mets1992BBWAA
Frank SeleeMGRBoston Beaneaters1999Veterans Committee
Bud SeligNPMilwaukee Brewers2017Veterans Committee
Joe SewellSSCleveland Indians1977Veterans Committee
Al SimmonsLFPhiladelphia A's1953BBWAA
Ted SimmonsCSt. Louis Cardinals2020Veterans Committee
George Sisler1BSt. Louis Browns1939BBWAA
Enos SlaughterRFSt. Louis Cardinals1985Veterans Committee
Hilton SmithPKansas City Monarchs2001Negro Leagues Committee
Lee SmithPChicago Cubs2019Veterans Committee
Ozzie SmithSSSt. Louis Cardinals2002BBWAA
John SmoltzPAtlanta Braves2015BBWAA
Duke SniderCFBrooklyn Dodgers1980BBWAA
Billy SouthworthMGRSt. Louis Cardinals2008Veterans Committee
Warren SpahnPMilwaukee Braves1973BBWAA
Al SpaldingNPChicago White Stockings1939Veterans Committee
Tris SpeakerCFBoston Red Sox1937BBWAA
Willie StargellLFPittsburgh Pirates1988BBWAA
Turkey StearnesCFDetroit Stars2000Negro Leagues Committee
Casey StengelMGRNew York Yankees1966Veterans Committee
Bruce SutterPChicago Cubs2006BBWAA
Mule Suttles1BNewark Eagles2006Negro Leagues Committee
Don SuttonPLos Angeles Dodgers1998BBWAA
Ben Taylor1BIndianapolis ABCs2006Negro Leagues Committee
Bill Terry1BNew York Giants1954BBWAA
Frank ThomasDHChicago White Sox2014BBWAA
Jim Thome1BCleveland Indians2018BBWAA
Sam ThompsonRFDetroit Wolverines1974Veterans Committee
Joe TinkerSSChicago Cubs1946Veterans Committee
Joe TorreMGRNew York Yankees2014Veterans Committee
Cristóbal TorrienteCFChicago American Giants2006Negro Leagues Committee
Alan TrammellSSDetroit Tigers2018Veterans Committee
Pie Traynor3BPittsburgh Pirates1948BBWAA
Dazzy VancePBrooklyn Dodgers1955BBWAA
Arky VaughanSSPittsburgh Pirates1985Veterans Committee
Bill VeeckNPChicago White Sox1991Veterans Committee
Rube WaddellPPhiladelphia A's1946Veterans Committee
Honus WagnerSSPittsburg Pirates1936BBWAA
Larry WalkerRFColorado Rockies2020BBWAA
Bobby WallaceSSSt. Louis Browns1953Veterans Committee
Ed WalshPChicago White Sox1946Veterans Committee
Lloyd WanerCFPittsburgh Pirates1967Veterans Committee
Paul WanerRFPittsburgh Pirates1952BBWAA
John WardSSNew York Giants1964Veterans Committee
Earl WeaverMGRBaltimore Orioles1996Veterans Committee
George WeissNPNew York Yankees1971Veterans Committee
Mickey WelchPNew York Giants1973Veterans Committee
Willie WellsSSSt. Louis Stars1997Negro Leagues Committee
Zack WheatLFBrooklyn Robins1959Veterans Committee
Deacon White3BBuffalo Bisons2013Veterans Committee
Sol WhiteNPPhiladelphia Giants2006Negro Leagues Committee
Hoyt WilhelmPChicago White Sox1985BBWAA
J.L. WilkinsonNPKansas City Monarchs2006Negro Leagues Committee
Billy WilliamsLFChicago Cubs1987BBWAA
Dick WilliamsMGRMontreal Expos2008Veterans Committee
Smoky Joe WilliamsPNew York Lincoln Giants1999Negro Leagues Committee
Ted WilliamsLFBoston Red Sox1966BBWAA
Vic WillisPBoston Beaneaters1995Veterans Committee
Jud Wilson3BHomestead Grays1979Negro Leagues Committee
Hack WilsonCFChicago Cubs2006Veterans Committee
Dave WinfieldRFNew York Yankees2001BBWAA
George WrightNPCincinnati Red Stockings1937Veterans Committee
Harry WrightNPCincinnati Red Stockings1953Veterans Committee
Early WynnPCleveland Indians1972BBWAA
Carl YastrzemskiLFBoston Red Sox1989BBWAA
Tom YawkeyNPBoston Red Sox1980Veterans Committee
Cy YoungPBoston Americans1937BBWAA
Ross YoungsRFNew York Giants1972Veterans Committee
Robin YountSSMilwaukee Brewers1999BBWAA

Here’s a snapshot of the eight pitchers in this exclusive club:

Pete Alexander

Career: 1911-1930; 373-208 record, won 30 games three times, and topped 25 wins six times. He won 21 games when he was 40 years old.

Best Pitch: His curveball, which seemed as if it came from the third base line when Alex threw it three-quarter sidearm.

“I consider my curve ball my main strong point,” Alexander said. “I have pretty good speed and a good change of pace, which is important, but the main thing with me is curves.”

Iconic Moment: Seventh inning of Game Seven of the 1926 World Series. Alexander strolled into the game from the bullpen to put out the fire when the Yankees had the bases loaded. He was pitching for the Cardinals at that time. Facing young slugger Tony Lazzeri, Alexander threw mostly looping curveballs before fanning Lazzeri on a sinking fastball. The veteran (he was 39 years old) set down the Yanks in the 8th and 9th to finish off the first world championship for the Cardinals.

Trivia Question: Which Hall of Fame pitcher had a future U.S. President portray him in a motion picture? (Ronald Reagan played Alexander in The Winning Team (1952).

Lefty Grove

Career: 1925-1941; 300-141 record, was named Most Valuable Player in 1931 when he went 31-4. He was 4-2 with a 1.75 ERA in the World Series.

Best Pitch: Grove’s fastball was one of the better speed pitches of his era. He had long arms and legs, and he threw the ball from a a three-quarter arm slot, but could also get on top of the ball. His fastball was straight, he never had any movement on the pitch, unless he was tired. He blew batters away.

“He hardly ever threw a curve,” said Detroit second baseman Charlie Gehringer.

“Sometimes when the sun was out, really bright, he would throw that baseball in there and it looked like a flash of white sewing thread coming up at you,” said Joe Sewell.

Iconic Moment: It gets overlooked because it didn’t happen in a clinching game, but in the fifth game of 1930 World Series, Grove came out of the bullpen on no-days rest and sewed up a crucial win for the A’s. The series was tied 2-2, and neither team could score a run over the first seven innings. Grove came in to relieve the starting pitcher, having started the game the day before. He tossed a scoreless eighth, and then his teammates scored two runs in the top of the ninth against St. Louis. In the bottom of the ninth he allowed a single but set down the Cards to secure the win. The A’s won the title the title two days later in Game Six.

Trivia Question: Who are the only future Hall of Famers to make their big league debut as teammates in the same game as pitcher and catcher? (The date was April 14, 1925, and the catcher was Mickey Cochrane).

Nolan Ryan

Career: 1966, 1968-1993; 324-292 record with seven no-hitters and 11 strikeout titles. Ryan had a 300-strikeout season when he was 25, and his sixth and final 300-K season when he was 42. He never managed to win the Cy Young, but he finished in the top five six times.

Best Pitch: Ryan threw the ball as fast as anyone ever had before, and possibly as fast as anyone ever has. Radar guns in his prime weren’t as sophisticated as the technology we use today, and it’s estimated that Ryan likely tossed a few fastballs at 103-105 miles per hour.

Once, when he was asked why he, as a fastball hitter, wasn’t fond of facing Nolan Ryan, slugger Reggie Jackson replied, “Well, I like ice cream too, but I don’t like it forced down my throat a gallon at a time.”

Iconic Moment: How about 5,000 K’s?

Ryan struck out 5,714 batters, and the next closest on the strikeout list, Randy Johnson, is more than 800 behind him in second place.

Trivia Question: How many sets of fathers & sons did Nolan Ryan strike out?

Answer: 7 (Dick Schofield and Dick Jr.; Maury and Bump Wills; Hal and Brian McRae; Tito and Terry Francona; Ken Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.; Sandy Alomar Sr. and Roberto Alomar; and Bobby Bonds and his son Barry.

Dennis Martinez

Career: 1976-1988; 245-193 record; tossed a perfect game, and has the most wins by a Latin pitcher in MLB history.

Best Pitch: Martinez threw the ball from several different arm angles, and he was mostly known for his curve ball. But his best weapon was an intangible. “Mostly,” Martinez said, “I had a big heart.”

Iconic Moment: On July 28, 1991, Martinez pitched the 13th perfect game in MLB history, against Los Angeles in Dodger Stadium. He became the first pitcher born outside the U.S. to toss a perfect game in major league baseball.

Trivia Question: Who was on the receiving end of Dennis Martinez’ perfect game, making him the only catcher to catch two perfectos? (Ron Hassey, who also caught Len Barker’s perfect game in 1981 for Cleveland).

Greg Maddux

Career: 1986-2008; 355-227 record, four Cy Youngs (consecutive), and 16 Gold Gloves.Over the span of three seasons (1993-95), Maddux went 55-18 with a 1.90 ERA, which was less than half the average ERA for his league.

Best Pitch: “Movement is more important than velocity. Location is more important than velocity. Changing speeds is more important than velocity,” Maddux said. His best pitch were all his pitches: his sinking fastball (which rarely touched 90 miles per hour); his curve, his cut fastball, his change, and his circle change, which dipped away from left-handed batters. Maddux had impeccable control of all of his pitches, and he would throw any of them at any time.

Iconic Moment: In Game One of the 1995 World Series in Atlanta against the Indians, Maddux was masterful. He allowed only two hits and did not walk a batter. He pitched a complete game and faced only 30 batters. He got 16 groundouts, four strikeouts, five pop flies, and only two fly outs were recorded by his outfield. The Braves went on to win the World Series in six games.

Trivia Question: Which Hall of Fame batter never struck out against Maddux, despite facing him 103 times? The answer is here.

Randy Johnson

Career: 1988-2009; 303-166 record. Big Unit won five Cy Young Awards, four of them after the age of 35. He ranks second all-time in strikeouts, and he tossed a perfect game.

Best Pitch: His fastball scared the shit out of people. Just watch John Kruk.

Iconic Moment: In the 7th game of the 2001 World Series, in Arizona, Johnson came out of the bullpen to pitch in relief. He was going on no days rest, and got four outs without anyone reaching base. When Luis Gonzalez punched a single over the drawn-in infield to win the game, Johnson became the most recent pitcher to win three games in a Fall Classic.

Trivia Question: Which player on this list gave Randy Johnson tips early in his career that helped him become a better pitcher? (Answer is Nolan Ryan, who told Johnson to finish his delivery stronger to get better command on his pitches).

Mike Mussina

Career: 1991-2008; 270-153 record, he won at least 15 games in a season eleven times.

Best Pitch: Mussina tossed as many as six different pitches during his career, and probably more. His bread-and-butter pitch was typically his two-seam fastball. He was famous for throwing a knuckle-curve, an unusual pitch that Mussina threw with his fingertips, and he usually got great action on it.

Iconic Moment: In Game Three of the 1997 Al Championship Series, Mussina struck out 15 Cleveland batters, a record for the playoff round. Amazingly, his Orioles lost the game 2-1.

Trivia Question: Who is one of only five pitchers to win 20 games in his final MLB season? (Mussina, as well as Henry Schmidt, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, and Sandy Koufax).

CC Sabathia

Career: 2001-2019; 251-161 record, won the Cy Young Award in 2007 with Cleveland. He set the American League record for strikeouts by a lefthander, breaking the previous record held by Mickey Lolich.

Best Pitch: Sabathia had a fantastic slider, but also featured a plus-fastball. All of his pitches came out of the same arm slot. His fastball touched 97 miles per hour, but usually hovered around 95.

Iconic Moment: Twice in the 2009 AL Championship Series, Sabathia manhandled the Angels, pitching the Yankees to a pair of victories in Games One and Four. He had a 1.13 ERA and struck out 12 batters in 16 innings, earning MVP honors for the series. A little over a week later, the Yankees won the Fall Classic.

Trivia Question: How many games did CC Sabathia pitch in relief? (Answer: the first 560 games of Sabathia’s career were all starts. In his last outing on September 24, 2019, the final time he ever pitched in the majors, he pitched to three batters in the fourth inning out of the bullpen. It was the only time he ever pitched as a reliever in the regular season.)

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Dan Holmes

Dan Holmes

Dan Holmes is the author of three books about baseball, including Ty Cobb: A Biography. He previously worked for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Major League Baseball Advanced Media. He lives in Michigan where he writes, runs, and enjoys a good orange soda now and again.
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