Monday, August 1, 2011

Grover Cleveland Alexander: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1938

Grover Cleveland Alexander

Born: February 26, 1887

1907: Signs first pro contract

1910: Sold to Phillies

Debut: April 15, 1911 (Phillies)

1911: Led league in wins (28), shutouts (7), complete games (31), and innings (367) as a rookie

1915: Won Triple Crown (31 wins, 241 strikeouts, 1.22 ERA)

1915: Phillies won the pennant; Alexander wins a game in the WS. Phillies would not win another postseason game until 1977. Philadelphia lost the World Series to Boston.

1916: Won Triple Crown (33 wins, 167 strikeouts, 1.55 ERA)

1917: Sold to Cubs after season

1918: Drafted and shipped to France for World War I

1918: Cubs win Pennant; Lose World Series to Boston

1920: Won Triple Crown (27 wins, 173 strikeouts, 1.91 ERA)

1926: Sold to Cardinals mid-season

1926: Cards win Pennant

1926 World Series: Won Complete Game victories in Game 2 and 6

1926: World Series Game 7- Came out of the bullpen with bases loaded and 2 outs to face Tony Lazzeri. Cards led 3-2. Alexander struckout Lazzeri ending the threat. He finished the game and did not allow a run. It was one of the World Series’ great moments.

1928: Cards win the Pennant; swept by Yankees in World Series

1930: Returned to Phillies, but excessive drinking led to an end of his big league career

Final Game: May 28, 1930

1931-1938: Pitched for the House of David

1938: Elected to Hall of Fame (3rd Ballot)

1950: Attended World Series between Yankees and Phillies

Died: November 4, 1950

1952: Ronald Reagan starred as Alexander in The Winning Team


Accomplishments:
1926 World Champion

Triple Crown: 1915, 1916, 1920

373 wins (3rd All Time)

.642 career winning %

2.56 ERA

1.121 WHIP

90 Shutouts (2nd All Time)

Won 20+ games: 9 times

Won 30+ games: three times

Led the NL in wins: 6x

Win % Leader: 1915 (.756)

ERA Leader: 4x

Games Start Leader: 3x

Complete Game leader: 6x

437 Complete Games

Shutout Leader: 7x

IP leader: 7x

300+ Innings: 9x

5190 Innings Pitched

Strikeout leader: 6x

200+ strikeouts: 4x

2198 Career Strikeouts

Postseason Record: 3-2, 3.56 ERA

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