Charley Wensloff
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Charles William "Butch" Wensloff (December 3, 1915 – February 18, 2001) was an American right-handed
Wensloff began his career in the Arizona–Texas League before joining the New York Yankees farm system. He played on various minor league teams for the next six seasons and made his debut during the 1943 New York Yankees season. He pitched in 29 games, and after the season ended, he served in the United States Army during World War II. Wensloff rejoined the Yankees in 1947, pitching in 11 regular-season games and in the 1947 World Series. After the season ended, he was sent to the Cleveland Indians and pitched in one game for the team before retiring at the end of the season.
Minor leagues
Wensloff began his professional career in the
In 1938, Wensloff spent his first season in the New York Yankees minor league system, playing for the
In 1940, Wensloff was promoted to the
Wensloff played his third and final season with the Blues in 1942. That season, he was one of five pitchers named to the American Association All-Star Team, which Kansas City hosted.[10] Wensloff won his 19th game of the season on August 24, 1942, pitching the shortest game of the season, which only lasted one hour and 20 minutes.[11] Wensloff had a 21–10 record with a 2.47 ERA in 33 games, had the most wins in the league, and was sixth in ERA during that season.[12] On September 27, 1942, the New York Yankees purchased nine contracts from their minor league teams, including Herb Karpel and Wensloff's contracts from Kansas City, which placed them on the major league roster.[13]
New York Yankees
"Off to a poor start, Wensloff has come along in grand style. His present record is 10 wins and seven losses but included in his bag are five games in which he limited the opposition to five hits and five games in which he limited the enemy to six blows per game."
—
Upon signing a contract with the Yankees, Wensloff spent the 1943 season on the Yankees' major league roster. During spring training, Yankees manager
During the second half of the season, Wensloff remained a major part of the starting rotation. His losses included a 1–0 defeat in which he only allowed one unearned run on a wild throw against the St. Louis Browns.[20] During the season, Wensloff added a knuckleball to his selection of pitches, which he threw regularly during the season.[21] As the end of the season approached, Wensloff was being promoted as a rookie of the year candidate, due to being second on the team in strikeouts, as well as his 13 wins.[14] Wensloff finished the season with a 13–11 record and a 2.54 ERA in 29 games, 27 of them starts.[16] He did not pitch in the 1943 World Series, though he was on the roster.
Military service
At the conclusion of the 1943 season, Wensloff enlisted in the United States Army and served in World War II.[22] When the Yankees were preparing for the start of the 1944 season, the team originally had no idea where Wensloff was, as they had not heard from him.[23] He was inactive for the 1944 season. In 1945, Wensloff was traded from the Yankees to the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League for Johnny Kreevich, allowing him to simultaneously pitch professionally and continue serving in the war.[24] In 10 games for the Padres, he won three and lost four with a 3.82 ERA.[4] After the 1945 season and the war ended, Wensloff remained in military service, and as a result did not play in 1946.[25]
Later career
After his service, Wensloff returned to the New York Yankees for the 1947 season. He made his first appearance at the start of June and pitched despite having a sore arm throughout the season, pitching infrequently.[26] In 11 games with the Yankees, Wensloff compiled a record of 3–1 with a 2.61 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 51+2⁄3 innings pitched, and pitched two innings of one game in the 1947 World Series.[16]
As the 1948 season began, Wensloff did not report to
Upon ending his career, Wensloff retired to San Rafael, California, and died on February 18, 2001.
References
- ^ "1937 El Paso Texans". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "1937 Arizona–Texas League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Greenberg Hits Three for Circuit, But Reds Conquer Tigers, 14-11". The New York Times. April 15, 1938. p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e "Butch Wensloff Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Western Association". The Sporting News. July 27, 1939. p. 12.
- ^ "1939 Western Association Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Blues Shut Out Colonels, 1-0; Play-Off Tied". Chicago Tribune. September 29, 1940. p. B2.
- ^ "1941 American Association Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "A.A. Twinkle Game Goes To Kansas City". The Sporting News. July 16, 1942. p. 2.
- The Milwaukee Journal. August 25, 1942. p. 7. Archived from the originalon November 20, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
- ^ "1942 American Association Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Wensloff, Karpel Bought by Yanks". The Milwaukee Journal. September 27, 1942. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ Beaver County Times. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ Dawson, James P. (March 20, 1943). "Yankees Try Hand At Another Sport; Athletes Enjoy Basketball Workout in Preparing for Baseball Campaign". The New York Times. p. 20.
- ^ a b c d "Butch Wensloff Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Nats Win, 4-1, After 11-3 Upset". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 3, 1943. p. 21.
- ^ Lazarus, Paul (May 8, 1943). "6 Runs Scored in Rally". Berkeley Daily Gazette. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ Bailey, Judson (June 26, 1943). "Yankees' Wensloff Hard Luck Pitcher of Year". Evening Independent. p. 9.
- The Deseret News. July 22, 1943. p. 8.
- The Southeast Missourian. August 2, 1943. p. 5.
- ^ "Those Who Served: All Major League Players, Umpires, Managers and Coaches who Served with the Armed Forces in WWII". Baseball in Wartime. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Uncle Sam Cuts Down Yanks to Size of Other A.L. Teams". The Sporting News. March 23, 1944. p. 7.
- ^ "Kreevich is Optioned to Kansas City Blues". The Spokesman-Review. July 2, 1945. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "38 still in service". The Milwaukee Journal. April 13, 1946. p. 2. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Daniel, Dan (August 13, 1947). "Yankees Dealt New Blow by Injury to DiMaggio". The Sporting News. p. 8.
- ^ Hall, Dan (March 28, 1948). "Hallucinaations". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Yankees Sell Wensloff to Phillie Club". The Miami News. March 28, 1948. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ a b "Indians Purchase Charley Wensloff". St. Petersburg Times. April 13, 1948. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Sanders Shuffles Off to Buffalo". The Pittsburgh Press. May 20, 1948. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ "Cleveland Indians Reduce Farm Club System to Fifteen". The Christian Science Monitor. October 21, 1948. p. 16.
- ^ "Indians Option Rosen". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 14, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved September 30, 2016 – via United Press.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs