Milwaukee sports legend and one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Warren Spahn died yesterday at the age of 82. How good was he? Here's a few paragraphs from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story:
During his brilliant 21-year career, mostly with the Boston Braves and Milwaukee Braves, Spahn won 363 games, most ever by a left-hander, compiling 20-victory seasons 13 times. He was known for his longevity, winning 177 games after his 35th birthday, including No. 300 in 1961 at age 40....
Spahn's greatest season came in 1953, the Braves' first year in Milwaukee. He went 23-7 with 24 complete games in 32 starts and led the National League with a 2.10 earned run average.
He still holds or shares nine Braves franchise records and led the league in victories eight times, in ERA three times and in complete games nine times. He ranks fifth on the all-time victory list behind Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Grover Alexander and Christy Mathewson.
...
Spahn completed a remarkable 382 of his 665 career starts (57.4%), including at least 20 starts in 13 seasons.
He was so good he was the subject of a poem (along with teammate Johnny Sain):
First we'll use Spahn, then we'll use Sain,Then an off day, followed by rain.
Back will come Spahn, followed by Sain,
And followed, we hope, by two days of rain.
Spahn was also a World War II veteran who earned a bronze star and purple heart.
Godspeed, Warren.
"Warren Spahn: 1921-2003"
"Hall of Famer, 82, Won 363 Games"
"Hall of Famer Spahn Dead at 82"
"Warren Spahn Passes"
"I Don't Think Spahn Will Ever Get into the Hall of Fame"
"Warren Spahn, RIP"
[cross-posted to The American Mind]
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Comments (1)
He will be missed.... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Arizona DUI Lawyer | September 12, 2004 8:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He will be missed.
1. Posted by Arizona DUI Lawyer | September 12, 2004 8:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 12, 2004 20:03