Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | May 20, 1921|
Died: November 10, 1998 Southfield, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 77)|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
September 29, 1939, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
May 3, 1955, for the Cleveland Indians | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 207–150 |
Earned run average | 3.06 |
Strikeouts | 1,796 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Member of the National | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 1992 |
Election method | Veterans Committee |
Harold Newhouser (May 20, 1921 – November 10, 1998), nicknamed "Prince Hal," was an American
Newhouser was an
After his retirement from baseball, Newhouser stepped away from the sport for 20 years, serving as a bank vice president. He later worked as a scout for several MLB teams, including the Houston Astros. Angered when they rebuffed his recommendation to draft future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter in favor of Phil Nevin, he quit shortly after.
Early life
Newhouser was a schoolboy star at
He was signed by the
Playing career
Early career
Newhouser made his debut for Detroit on September 29, 1939. In
As World War II got under way, the Tigers moved up in the standings because several of their top players, including Newhouser, were classified as 4-F (ineligible to be drafted). Newhouser was 4-F due to a leaky heart valve; he attempted to join the service anyway but was turned down several times.[3]
He blossomed in 1944, becoming a dominant pitcher in wartime baseball. That season, Newhouser rang up a 29–9 record, leading the league in wins and strikeouts (187).[4] His 2.22 ERA was second in the league, as were his 25 complete games and six shutouts. The Tigers jumped into contention, finishing second in the American League, with Newhouser named MVP. Newhouser won the first Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award in 1944.[5]
By the
Later career
In 1946, he went 26–9 with a 1.94 ERA, again leading the league in wins and ERA.[10] His 275 strikeouts was second in the league. Newhouser was runner-up in the MVP race to Ted Williams. Newhouser continued to rate among the game's best pitchers for the next five years. He won 17 games in 1947, led the AL with 21 wins in 1948 and rang up an 18–11 mark in 1949. After a 15–13 season in 1950, he hurt his arm and his workload was cut significantly.
After being released by the Tigers following the
As a hitter, Newhouser had a .201 career
Newhouser tried to vary his pitch selection. Even if he threw a batter the same variety of pitch twice in a row, he would always change speeds slightly, to keep the hitters guessing.[12]
Later life
Newhouser spent his first 20 years after retiring from baseball away from the sport, working as a bank vice president in Pontiac, Michigan.[13]
Eventually, he served as a scout for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros. As a scout with the Orioles, Newhouser discovered Milt Pappas, a Detroit high schooler who went on to win 209 games in an All-Star career—two more than Newhouser did. He also signed future Cy Young Award winner Dean Chance, who later earned the trophy with the Los Angeles Angels in 1964.[14]
While with the Astros, Newhouser was credited with discovering Derek Jeter, whom the Astros passed over for Phil Nevin.[15] He quit his job with the Astros after they ignored his advice to draft Jeter,[16] though he had planned to retire after that season in any case.[17]
In 1992, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His induction class included Tom Seaver, Rollie Fingers and Bill McGowan. The ceremony was attended by a then-record-setting crowd of 20,000 people.[18] The Tigers retired Newhouser's number 16 in 1997. He died on November 10, 1998, in a hospital in Southfield, Michigan. He had been ill with emphysema and heart problems.[1]
Personal life
Newhouser was married to his wife, the former Beryl Margaret Steele (1922–2012), from 1941 until his death. They had two daughters, Charlene and Sherrill.[19][20]
During his playing days, Newhouser's teammates nicknamed him "Prince Hal" because of the way he carried himself.[21]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- Major League Baseball Triple Crown
- List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
- Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award
Notes
- ^ MLB cancelled the 1945 All-Star Game and did not name All-Stars that season.
References
- ^ a b c Goldstein, Richard (November 11, 1998). "Hal Newhouser, 77, a Hall of Fame pitcher". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Hal Newhouser Stats". BaseballReference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "Hal Newhouser Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ "Hal Newhouser Stats". BaseballReference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Pitcher of the Year
- ^ Baseball Did You Know? – VII, 1945 All Star Game Replacements [1] Retrieved July 28, 2015
- ^ Baseball Almanac [2] Retrieved July 8, 2015
- ^ "Hal Newhouser Stats". BaseballReference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "Hall of Famer Newhouser dies". Los Angeles Times. November 11, 1998. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- ^ "Hal Newhouser Stats". BaseballReference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "MLB Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". BaseballReference.com. Sports Reference, LLC.
- ASIN B00B6JBVV6.
- ^ Olney, Buster (August 23, 2004). "Jeter: Dynasty's child". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0803254718.)
{{cite book}}
:|first=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Buster Olney (August 23, 2004). "Jeter: Dynasty's child". ESPN. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ^ Olney, Buster (October 17, 2001). "Baseball – What Can We Do Next? Just Watch Jeter Play". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Nightengale, Bob (April 1, 2014). "Hal Newhouser, Phil Nevin and how Derek Jeter almost didn't become a Yankee". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ Holtzman, Jerome (August 4, 1992). "Constant change keeps Hall Of Fame up to date". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Pitcher Newhouser Gets Marriage License". The Washington Post. December 6, 1941. p. 85.
- ^ Guidi, Gene (November 11, 1998). ""Prince Hal" Was Crafty Competitor, Top Lefty". The Detroit Free Press. p. 2A.
- ^ Stewart, Mark. "Hal Newhouser". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Retrieved October 8, 2018.
External links
- Hal Newhouser at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Hal Newhouser at Find a Grave
- Hal Newhouser Oral History Interview (1 of 2) - National Baseball Hall of Fame Digital Collection Archived July 11, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
- Hal Newhouser Oral History Interview (2 of 2) - National Baseball hall of Fame Digital Collection Archived July 11, 2019, at the Wayback Machine