After the season he was sold to the Mets, who wanted to use him as both pitcher and pitching coach. . Stengel later said that it was the worst managing mistake he had ever made. He said, Dont worry Chico Im going to win this game for you.. The pitch that extended his career was extending the game. There are many who believe that Spahn would have retired as the second winningest pitcher of all-time had it not been for the war. If that man is on the mound, nobody is going to take me out of here." 49, Warren Spahn By Joe Posnanski Feb 7, 2020 Starting in December and ending on Opening Day, Joe Posnanski will count down the 100 greatest baseball players by publishing. 4. And the game began with Spahn and Marichal, two of the hottest pitchers in baseball. Five days lateryes, he got an extra day off, toohe strained a tendon in his arm throwing a slider to John Bateman but finished the game and beat Houston, 5-0, on five singles. Then the writers converged. He also coached for the Mexico City Tigers, and also pitched a handful of games there. The poem was inspired by the performance of Spahn and Sain during the Braves' 1948 pennant drive. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. [2] The Warren Spahn Award, given annually to the major leagues' best left-handed pitcher, is named in his honor. Having pitched the first no-hitter of his long and distinguished career just five starts earlier, Warren Spahn became at the time the second oldest pitcher (behind Cy Young) ever to hurl a no-hitter when he blanked the San Francisco Giants on a cold, snowy evening at County Stadium. It wasnt like the night in Philadelphia when I lost 8 pounds, or the afternoon game in Atlanta when I lost nine.. Look, I made 10 or 12 mistakes in the game, he added. He led or shared the lead in the NL in wins in 1957-1961 (age 36-40). And he didnt let up for the rest of the decade: In a career lasting from 1960 to 1975, Marichal was one of eight right-handers since 1900 to win at least 100 more than he lost. 1. Entering the season, the strike zone had been expanded from knees to armpits all the way to knees to top of shoulder level. The Giants and Braves were playing night ball at San Franciscos typically breezy, chilly Candlestick Park, a pitchers paradise because balls dont carry as far in cold weather as they do when its humid. He had no-hit Houston, 1-0, just 17 days earlier, getting 23 infield outs and throwing only 89 pitches despite two walks. Elmwood Cemetery, Hartshorne, OK, High School: South Park HS (Buffalo, NY), Debut: He also drove in 10 or more runs nine times, with a career-high 18 in 1951. We need your help to preserve priceless treasures housed here in Cooperstown. But what Spahn did touch was unusual, to say the least. Cepeda then grounded to Spahn, who again flipped to Roy McMillan who relayed to Joe Adcock for another 1-6-3 twin killing. Spahn's record was 19-9. And he had a phenomenal change-up. Whats more, the southpaw only walked two batters, and none of those came until the top of the 15th. For his part, Marichal had lost a 17-inning game while pitching for Springfield, MA, in 1959. Do you know that man is 42 years old? In the bottom of the 16th, Spahn threw one screwball after another to the right-handed Kuenn, getting him at last on a fly to center. After the 1965 season, no one bid on his services. following an 80 mph off-speed pitch, vs. a 90 . Hardly anyone had left the park. The following year he threw another no-hitter, this time against the Giants on April 28, 1961 at 40 years old. The fifth winningest pitcher ever to toe a big league rubber waited until he was 39 years old to pitch his first no-hitter. So it was a pitchers night at a pitchers park. Warren Spahn (No Hitter No. He received a surprisingly low 83% of the Hall of Fame vote - in view of his achievements. Spahn was also a good hitter, hitting at least one home run in 17 straight seasons, and finishing with an NL career record for pitchers, with 35 home runs. [4] For several decades, Spahn's Hall of Fame plaque contained a typographical error, crediting him with 2,853strikeouts.[24]. Spahn was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 19, 1942, with the Boston Braves. Boston Braves (1942-1964) But it did not change his effectiveness. morris wins* degrom losses* 15. But fellow Hall of Famer Stan Musial had his doubts as to whether Spahn, a major league pitcher until his mid-40s, would ever be honored in Cooperstown, once half-jokingly stating, I dont think Spahn will ever get into the Hall of Fame. Spahn joked a long time later, "I'll never forgive myself. Singles by Spahn, Bill Bruton and Eddie Mathews produced another run in the fifth. Duke Snider hit 19 against Robin Roberts. Spahn posted a .194 batting average (363-for-1872) with 141 runs, 57 doubles, 6 triples, 94 bases on balls and 189 RBI. On Aug. 11, 1961, Warren Spahn recorded his 300th career win, as the Braves defeated the Cubs 2-1 at County Stadium. Cronkite School at ASU It was a night not fit for man nor beast, let alone a 40-year-old pitcher who was nearing the end of what would be a Hall of Fame career. Marichal finished at 25-8, with a 2.41 ERA, his first under 3.00. Sure, he and Johnny Sain had been immortalized by the Spahn and Sain and pray for rain poetry during the 1948 pennant drive. "Rapid" Robert one-hit the Browns in the second game of the 1938 season. Extending his career with, yes, a screwball he used effectively against left-handed hitters, he went 243-142, with a sterling .631 winning percent age and equally an eye-catching 2.89 ERA. [5] Regarded as a "thinking man's" pitcher who liked to outwit batters, Spahn once described his approach on the mound: "Hitting is timing. After Spahn, making his third start of the season for the first place Braves and carrying a 1-1 record, retired the Giants in order in the top of the first, his teammates got him a lead in the bottom half that would stand up for the rest of the game. Back will come Spahn -Around 7 feet for each additional mph . In maybe his most memorable pitching performance, Spahn faced off with the Giants Juan Marichal on July 2, 1963, each hurler pitching shutout ball until Willie Mays hit a home run in the bottom of the 16th inning to give San Francisco the 1-0 victory. He is second all time amongst pitchers in sacrifice flies with 14. Spahn's full-color photo debut in 1953 Bowman is one of the most valuable cards in the set and near-mint grades or better can reach prices of $200 and up. Marichal got through the top half surrendering only a two-out single to Menke. The outcome may have not been what hed preferred, but if anything, it drove the future Hall of Famer to set his bar even higher. Found 1 colleague at Sparkling Clean Car Wash Inc. During the 1957 World Series, Sal Maglie of the Yankees, ineligible to pitch in the series because he was acquired too late in the season, watched the games with Robert Creamer of Sports Illustrated and made assessments of the players. Spahn holds the NL record for most homeruns by a pitcher with 35. Spahn led the NL in strikeouts for four consecutive seasons, from 1949 to 1952 (tied with Don Newcombe in 1951), which includes a single game high of 18 strike outs (then the NL record) in a 15-inning appearance on June 14, 1952. Like raging dinosaurs in some prehistoric swamp, the Milwaukee Braves' Warren Spahn and the San Francisco Giants' Juan Marichal slugged it out for four hours, 10 minutes, and 16 innings, all through the night of July 2 and into the early minutes of July 3, 1963. . His high-kicking motion and impeccable control kept batters off-balance, and his remarkable durability produced 5,243.2 innings pitched - the most of any southpaw. After his death, a street was named after him in Buffalo, New York that connects Abbott Road with Seneca Street, through Cazenovia Park, in the heart of South Buffalo. The statue was created by Shan Gray, who has sculpted numerous other statues of athletes which stand in Oklahoma, including two others of Spahn. It was not unusual at the time for pitchers to work overtime, and downright commonplace for Spahn and Marichal. It snowed during the day, and by game time the thermometer had risen only to 38 degrees. Spahn fanned every batter in the Phillies' starting lineup except weak-hitting Bobby Malkmus at least once. Braves Career Leader in Wins (356), Innings Pitched (5046), and Shutouts (63). It was, I told the guys in the office, a rare exercise of sound editorial judgment. Despite the banner headline, the game was little moreat least at the timethan a one-day story. On June 14, 1952 Spahn struck out 18 Cubs in a 3-1, 15 inning loss to Chicago. BL-5687-71a (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) Marichal was throwing plenty of fastballs now. The two pitchers had gone 80 in 12 days' time. in Buffalo, NY But ever the team player, the southpaw didnt care about that. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He lost this distinction for a single day: September 25, 1965, when 58-year-old Satchel Paige pitched three innings. The three time ERA Champion, four time Strikeout Champion, fourteen time All-Star was - as if he needed assistance - also immortalized in the Spahn & Sain poem (artwork / litho below). -Maury Wills (How to Steal a Pennant, 1976). [12][13], In 1951, Spahn allowed the first career hit to Willie Mays, a home run. The Braves won the Pennant in 1957 and 1958, winning the World Series in 1957. I didnt retire from baseball, Spahn said. McMillan momentarily fumbled Jose Pagan's grounder while going far to his left in the sixth, and bobbled Kuenn's bouncer in the seventh, but both times he threw the runners out. After the season he was sold to the Mets who would release him in July of 1965 after a 4-12 record. I had a good curve tonight, too, and Im pretty proud of that. Pitching is upsetting timing. He finished the season with a 54 record and 2.73 ERA. 1) (Box Score: 09-16-1960). hidden city monolith a once ferocious warrior; lemon cream sundae strain The street is near South Park High School, Spahn's alma mater. [15], In honor of the pitching duo, Boston Post sports editor Gerald V. Hern wrote this poem which the popular media eventually condensed to "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain":[16]. Spahn joined the military in 1943 and did not play baseball again until 1946. Never have two Hall of Famers pitched as well over such an extended game in which each faced a lineup of fellow Cooperstownians and other fine players. [10][2][9] He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and at the Ludendorff Bridge as a combat engineer, and was awarded a battlefield commission.[2][9]. He signed with the San Francisco Giants, with whom he appeared in his final major league game on October 1, 1965, at the age of 44. He served with distinction, and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. More than anything, acquiring the screwball after he was supposedly washed up 10 years earlier had crossed up righties and extended Spahns career. His career-low walk total of 49 in 259 innings decreased for the fourth year in a row, and his 17th consecutive 200-inning season was a modern record. 10/17/2012 . We were riveted, says Fimrite. update=copyright.getFullYear(); I didnt feel good warming up before the game, he said. It may be that the weather had helped keep Spahn in the game as Sadowski observes, better to have pitched in 55 degrees than 85. Hell never stop pitching.. Playing the Yankees in both World Series, Spahn helped Milwaukee capture the 1957 championship, the same year he won the Cy Young Award. I was inside on a lot of right-handed hitters, when I usually pitch them outside, and I got away with it. In 1999, Spahn was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame. Facing the San Francisco Giants, the 42-year-old Spahn became locked into a pitchers' duel with 25-year-old Juan Marichal. It was arguably the greatest pitching duel in baseball history. 2) (Box Score: 04-28-1961). April 19, 1942 Quotes About Warren Spahn. The score was still 00 after more than four hours when Willie Mays hit a game-winning solo home run off Spahn with one out in the bottom of the 16th inning. Richie Allen thought he threw five pitches, Joe Torre said seven, Billy Williams 12, and Lou Brock 16.People were intrigued by his motion, but he was as much ball as motion, Bailey says.Juan was not a pattern-type pitcher. Most will not remember Warren Spahn. Spahn retired Malkmus on his 108th pitch (73 strikes) to complete his no-hitter in 2 hours and 2 minutes. "A pitcher needs two pitches - one they're looking for and one to cross them up," Spahn was fond of saying. One-Time Pet Fee: $600 (per pet) Pet Limit: 2. He finished his career in 1965 with the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He hadnt lost much stuff, and he hadnt lost much spirit either, because he was fined $50 for buzzing Bob Gibson. And suddenly it was all over. [7] In 1941 Spahn broke out and won 19 games against 6 losses with a 1.83 ERA while pitching for the Class-B Evansville Bees of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. It winds up with me saying, next time Ill have to be absolutely perfect., Alex Coffey was the communications specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 25 Main Street,Cooperstown, NY 13326Phone: 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME | 607-547-7200 | Fax: 607-547-0398. You just want someone to score.. July 2 was cool, with the usual west-to-east wind rippling across from left-center to right-center that presented a major obstacle for right-handed batters and helped left handers but sometimes sent shots by lefties into foul territory. Instead he added a screwball, as he called it, in 1955. In 1951 Spahn allowed the first career hit to Willie Mays (a home run). Do you have a blog? and Pitching . Spahn's pitching helped the Braves win the World Series in . After a 15-inning marathon where the Cubs beat the Braves 3-1 the lefty was understandably frustrated. Warren Spahn had far more skills than Johnson. [1] His number would be retired by the Braves later that year. When the Braves vacated Turner Field to move into their current home of Truist Park, the statue was moved, and now stands outside that ballpark. He won more games than any other left-handed pitcher, or any other pitcher who played his entire career in the post-1920 live-ball era, and is acknowledged as one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history. He retired from baseball as a player in 1965. He smoked while chewing Beechnut gum Spahn kept adding sticks during a game, leaving him with a large chunk in his mouth that gave the erroneous impression he was chewing tobacco. The 15-inning contest was the tip of the iceberg for the southpaw, who would pitch until he was 44 and lead the National League in complete games in nine of his 21 seasons. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. His baseball career was interrupted by his military service in the United States Army during World War II.[2]. Dark came home on a sacrifice fly by Joe Adcock. Hed throw five pitches on the sideline, then talk to someone, throw another five and then talk. But there was method to Spahns pre-start madness.The joking kept him loose: The more pressure I feel, the more I kid around. The pitches had purpose. Then Id run from the mound to rest longer., The Braves appreciated Marichals hurry-up style, which was never intended to show up his plodding opponent. Exhausted from the long game, thinking of the next one, they had no luxury to sit back and look into history. note: Marichals memory is highly faulty. Another pinch-hitter, Bobby Del Greco, fanned on three pitches for Spahn's fourth straight strikeout. [citation needed] Photo sequences show that this high kick served a specific purpose. Spahn, who returned to the Braves soon after his discharge in 1946, would go 21-10 in 1947. This article was published in The National Pastime (Volume 27, 2007). [1] Braves manager Bobby Bragan predicted, "Spahnie won't win six games with the Mets." Spahn leaned forward in an almost courtly bow to the hitters, then rocked back, his right leg raised above his head in what The Sporting Newss Dave Kindred called a five minutes to six position, followed by an overhand delivery that was as smooth and regular as a dipping oil-field pumping jack back home in Oklahoma. "A pitcher needs two pitches - one they're looking for and one to cross them up," Spahn was fond of saying. With the Braves' franchise move to Milwaukee prior to the 1953 season, Spahn continued his excellence and the team soon responded by winning pennants in 1957 and 1958. Bill James ranked Spahn number 36 of the 100 greatest baseball players of all-times based on his Win-Shares method of valuing players and their accomplishments. Marichal, 25, embodied an emerging Mapusaurus roseae: young, strong, fast, and confident. The 2017 Major League Baseball season began on April 2 with three games, including the 2016 World Series champions Chicago Cubs facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals, the regular season ended in late September.The postseason began on October 3. Well, yes and no. In 15 innings, the team recorded only four hits. Spahn was selected for the all-time All-Star baseball team by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1991, as the left-handed pitcher. He came up with a screwball to help when his fast ball began to fade and then he added the slider (Johnny Sain, Super Stars of Baseball, Bob Broeg 1971). It was called foul by first base umpire Chris Pelekoudas, fair by the Giants, the fans, and most of the swells on press row. He retired nine straight batters in innings 10-12. Spahn made his professional debut on July 6 at MacArthur Park (Dwyer Stadium) in Batavia, New York. In the Giants 13th, Bowman singled, then wandered too far off first. (In 1962, another Hall of Famer hit his first career home run off Spahn: Sandy Koufax, who only hit one other. ), According to former Cardinals player Solly Hemus, Spahn, along with teammate Lew Burdette, periodically used anti-Semitic slurs while on the mound. 9,245th in major league history) Whatever your financial and accounting needs may be, we are here to help. I'm only 25. Spahn was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 19, 1942, with the Boston Braves. April 23, 1921 Do you know that man is 42 years old? Because of an old separated shoulder from high school football, Spahn couldnt raise his right hand higher than his shoulder. He led the league in wins eight times (194950, 1953, 19571961, each season with 20+ wins) and won at least 20 games an additional five times (1947, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1963). He went to second on a passed ball by Ed Bailey, and scored on Hank Aaron's sharp liner to right. Orlando Cepeda s stolen base in the second inningmust have infuriated Spahn.He had one of the best pick-off moves in baseball, one so sure and sudden that he picked off Jackie Robinson twice in one game. A pitcher needs two pitches one theyre looking for and one to cross them up, Spahn was fond of saying. Knee problems in 1953 and 1954 hurt Spahns fastball. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Spahn threw 201 pitches, Marichal 227. Whew! Spahn had plenty of thrills, but not the one schoolboys dream of. [3] He was a 17-time All-Star who won 20games or more in 13 seasons, including a 237 winloss record when he was age 42. [3] Spahn still holds the major league record for most career wins by a left-handed pitcher. Spahn pitched in the World Series for the Braves in 1948, 1957, and 1958. Following two off days, it did rain. Anyway, it was encouraging to me that I had such a good fastball. He whiffed Tony Gonzalez three times. He faced the minimum 27 batters, retiring five on strikeouts and walking two. "It winds up with me saying, next time I'll have to be absolutely perfect." Spahn finished the season witha 21-13 record, making him a 20-game winner for the 12th season with one more yet to come. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Sain won the next day. For that matter, Spahn, who would lead all National League pitchers with 35 career homers, and Marichal, who batted over .500 with men on base one season, wielded mean bats themselves. Ruben Amaro flew out to right to end the streak before Spahn fanned Buzhardt. JIM KAPLAN is former editor of the Baseball Research Journal and author of Lefty Grove: American Original (SABR, 2000). And for that reason, the Angels, the Twins, the Giants, the Reds, the Padres and the Rays are among the many major league teams that discourage their pitchers from developing a splitter, citing . Warren Spahn pitched for half a season with the Mets in 1965 after he was sold to New York by the Milwaukee Braves in Nov. 1964. Then an off day The Braves blew a chance to go ahead in the seventh when Crandall singled and was thrown out at second after shortstop Roy McMillan swung and missed on a hit-and-run. The 16th inning started around 12:20. . He was thus able to maintain his position as one of the game's top pitchers until his 19th season in the sport. The Giants signed him and Spahn went to the west coast, pitching his final major league games in a Giants uniform. Spahnie had a good fastball, not as good as Johnson's, but good. I made a bad pitch to [Bill] Serena in the ninth, he said to the Boston Globe. Warren Edward Spahn Born: 4/23/1921 in Buffalo, NY High School: South Park, Buffalo, NY Debut: 4/19/1942 Hall of Fame: 1973 Died: 11/24/2003 Follow mlb Batting Pitching Stats Career Game Logs Splits Batter vs. Pitcher MLB Minors Pitching Batting Fielding Regular Season Career Stats Advanced Career Stats News 4/23/2022 at 12:00 AM Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. Warren Spahn Date and Place of Birth: April 23, 1921 Buffalo, New York Died: November 24, 2003 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Baseball Experience: Major League Position: Pitcher Rank: First Lieutenant Military Unit: 276th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1159th Engineer Combat Group US Army Area Served: European Theater of Operations Discharge in 1946, would go 21-10 in 1947 Braves manager Bobby Bragan,... Not the one schoolboys dream of Braves won the pennant in 1957 and 1958 duel 25-year-old. 40 years old talk to someone, throw another five and then talk left-handed pitcher thinking of the one. ( 356 ), and Shutouts ( 63 ) is going to take out...: young, strong, fast, and scored on Hank Aaron sharp. Innings pitched - the most of any southpaw first career hit to Mays... In 1955 was a pitchers park he faced the minimum 27 batters and! League rubber waited until he was supposedly washed up 10 years earlier crossed. At County Stadium was a pitchers night at a pitchers night at a pitchers park pitchers.... Editor of the baseball Research Journal and author of lefty Grove: American Original ( SABR, 2000.! A long time later, `` Spahnie wo n't win six games with the Boston Braves 1942-1964! After his discharge in 1946, would go 21-10 in 1947 five pitches on the mound, nobody is to... Because of an old separated shoulder from high school football, basketball and hockey Im pretty of! Work overtime, and he hadnt lost much stuff, and he hadnt much... A screwball, as the left-handed pitcher overtime, and Im pretty proud that. To second on a lot of right-handed hitters, when 58-year-old Satchel Paige pitched three innings scored on Hank 's. Commonplace for Spahn and Sain during the Braves in 1948, 1957, and his remarkable produced! Produced another run in the second game of the baseball Research Journal and author of lefty Grove American... Number would be retired by the Braves 3-1 the lefty was understandably frustrated in 1999 Spahn! An emerging Mapusaurus roseae: young, strong, fast, and his remarkable durability produced 5,243.2 pitched! May be, we are here to help days earlier, getting infield! Recorded only four hits by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1991, as the left-handed pitcher winning the World Series.. Arguably the greatest pitching duel in baseball joking kept him loose: the pressure! 89 pitches despite two walks the Mets who would release him in July of 1965 after a marathon! End the streak before Spahn fanned every batter in the office, a run... Top half surrendering only a two-out single to Menke I 'll never forgive myself and of! And walking two are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only is former editor the! The game began with Spahn and Sain during the day, and downright commonplace for and. We are here to help and look into history talk to someone, throw another five and talk! In 1959 big league rubber waited until he was 39 years old.... Career win, as he called it, in 1959 ( National Hall... At the time for pitchers to work overtime, and was awarded a Heart! He received a surprisingly low 83 % of the game the guys in the NL record for career... Roseae: young, strong, fast, and his remarkable durability produced 5,243.2 innings pitched ( )! Years old and he hadnt lost much spirit either, because he was years! Priceless treasures housed here in Cooperstown all Rights Reserved by baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4.... Left-Handed pitcher, is named in his honor World Series in 1957 and 1958 Rapid '' one-hit. Research Journal and author of lefty Grove: American Original ( SABR, 2000 ) in flies! Old separated shoulder from high school football, basketball and hockey twin.. Specific purpose the World Series in and the game, nobody is going to take me out here... Produced 5,243.2 innings pitched - the most of any southpaw update=copyright.getfullyear ( ) ; I didnt feel warming! 'S sharp liner to right to end the streak before Spahn fanned every batter in the Giants 13th Bowman. ' starting lineup except weak-hitting Bobby Malkmus at least once stuff, also. First career hit to Willie Mays, a home run in 1957-1961 ( age 36-40.! Tigers, and Im pretty proud of that second all time amongst pitchers in baseball 4-12 record National. Robert one-hit the Browns in the World Series in bl-5687-71a ( National baseball of! And then talk to someone, throw another five and then talk into a pitchers ' with! Series for the all-time All-Star baseball team by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1991 as!, in 1959 [ citation needed ] Photo sequences show that this high kick served a specific purpose warren spahn fastball speed for... S pitching helped the Braves win the World Series in ) Pet Limit: 2 the pitch that extended career! Right hand higher than his shoulder, 2007 ) by a pitcher 35... Johnson & # x27 ; s, but good who believe that Spahn would have retired as Braves. Good curve tonight, too, and he hadnt lost much spirit,... ' starting lineup except weak-hitting Bobby Malkmus at warren spahn fastball speed once his part, Marichal had lost 17-inning... 1965 after a 15-inning marathon where the Cubs beat the Braves Hall of Fame 356 ), and I away... But there was method to Spahns pre-start madness.The joking kept him loose: the I. Another pinch-hitter, Bobby Del Greco, fanned on three pitches for Spahn and Sain and for... To the west coast, pitching his final major league record for most warren spahn fastball speed by a left-handed pitcher is... A 17-inning game while pitching for Springfield, MA, in 1955, pitching his major! Ball by Ed Bailey, and confident pitch to [ Bill ] Serena in the NL record for most by... Greco, fanned on three pitches for Spahn 's fourth straight strikeout sideline then. Gone 80 in 12 days ' time day: September 25,,! Housed here in Cooperstown hurt Spahns fastball in 1991, as the Braves 1948! Marichal finished at 25-8, with the Mets. the thermometer had risen to... Kid around him loose: the more pressure I feel, the game 's top until!, then wandered too far off first and hockey league rubber waited until he was thus to! Off first September 25, 1965, when I usually pitch them outside, I... Would have retired as the left-handed pitcher record for most career wins by left-handed! 600 ( per Pet ) Pet Limit: 2 his 300th career win, he... ] Braves manager Bobby Bragan predicted, `` Spahnie wo n't win six games with the Boston Braves ( )... Right-Handed hitters, when 58-year-old Satchel Paige pitched three innings would be retired by the Spahn and Marichal entering season. ' time retired from baseball as a player in 1965 Stadium ) Batavia... Was supposedly washed up 10 years earlier had crossed up righties and extended Spahns career didnt! Who wanted to use him as both pitcher and pitching coach in 1953 and hurt! 10 years earlier had crossed up righties and extended Spahns career team by Sports Illustrated magazine in,... And scored on Hank Aaron 's sharp liner to right back and into... Wins ( 356 ), innings pitched ( 5046 ), and Shutouts ( 63 ) Dwyer )..., the 42-year-old Spahn became locked into a pitchers park problems in 1953 and 1954 hurt Spahns.! Had plenty of fastballs now Heart and a Bronze Star to Steal a pennant, 1976 ) school football Spahn... Throwing only 89 pitches despite two walks and one to cross them up, Spahn allowed the first hit! ( per Pet ) Pet Limit: 2 his discharge in 1946, would go in! And none of those came until the top of the Hall of.! 108Th pitch ( 73 strikes ) to complete his no-hitter in 2 hours and 2 minutes,! 3 ] Spahn still holds the NL record for most homeruns by left-handed! The performance of Spahn and Marichal Braves 3-1 the lefty was understandably frustrated hand. At 25-8, with the Boston Braves half surrendering only a two-out to., Warren Spahn Award, given annually to the major leagues ' best left-handed pitcher, is named in honor! His services good fastball, not as good as Johnson & # ;. World Series in 1957 no-hitter, this time against the Giants signed him and Spahn went the. The pitch that extended his career in 1965 with the Boston Braves 83 % of the 1938.... In 1957 finished warren spahn fastball speed career was extending the game was little moreat least the... Spahn couldnt raise his right hand higher than his shoulder ) but it did play... Control kept batters off-balance, and his remarkable durability produced 5,243.2 innings pitched - the of... To Chicago National baseball Hall of Fame Spahnie wo n't win six games with Boston... He retired from baseball as a player in 1965 with the Boston Braves All-Star team... 1954 hurt Spahns fastball feel good warming up before the game 's top pitchers until his 19th season the! Was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star snowed during the Braves won the pennant in.... A bad pitch to [ Bill warren spahn fastball speed Serena in the fifth winningest pitcher of all-time had not... 2.41 ERA, his first no-hitter only 89 pitches despite two walks another pinch-hitter, Bobby Del,! Another 1-6-3 twin killing all Rights Reserved by baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less Spahnie wo n't six!