Al Orth
Encyclopedia
Albert Lewis Orth was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He was born in Tipton, Indiana
and died at age 76 in Lynchburg, Virginia
. He went to DePauw University
.
When Orth was traded to the New York Highlanders in after struggling the year before, he picked up the spitball
from Jack Chesbro
and had his best year in , going 27-17 in 45 games (39 starts), and leading the American League
in wins
.
He had great control, usually finishing with around one walk per nine innings, leading the league in the category twice.
Known for changing speeds on his fastball
masterfully, it is believed by most that Orth never threw a curveball
in his career. He was often called the "The Curveless Wonder", winning 204 games without the incredibly common pitch in his repertoire. Orth is one of ten pitchers who have won at least 100 games in both the National and American Leagues.
Orth was also known for his hitting skills, finishing seventh all-time among pitchers in hits
, with 389. Orth would frequently hit above .300
. He was used as a pinch hitter
78 times and even played the field on a few occasions, including fifty-five games as an outfielder
and eight at shortstop
during his time with the Washington Senators
.
After ending his career because of knee injuries and a sore arm, he managed in the Virginia League
and coached in the majors and in college
. He also served as a National League
umpire
.
As an umpire he officated on May 2, 1917 when Fred Toney
and Hippo Vaughn
each pitched 9 innings of no-hit baseball, the only time in regulation when neither team got a hit.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was born in Tipton, Indiana
Tipton, Indiana
Tipton is a city in and the county seat of Tipton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and died at age 76 in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He went to DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
.
When Orth was traded to the New York Highlanders in after struggling the year before, he picked up the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
from Jack Chesbro
Jack Chesbro
John Dwight Chesbro was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Highlanders , and Boston Red Sox . His 41 wins during the 1904 season remains an MLB record for the modern era...
and had his best year in , going 27-17 in 45 games (39 starts), and leading the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
.
He had great control, usually finishing with around one walk per nine innings, leading the league in the category twice.
Known for changing speeds on his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
masterfully, it is believed by most that Orth never threw a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
in his career. He was often called the "The Curveless Wonder", winning 204 games without the incredibly common pitch in his repertoire. Orth is one of ten pitchers who have won at least 100 games in both the National and American Leagues.
Orth was also known for his hitting skills, finishing seventh all-time among pitchers in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, with 389. Orth would frequently hit above .300
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. He was used as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
78 times and even played the field on a few occasions, including fifty-five games as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and eight at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
during his time with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
After ending his career because of knee injuries and a sore arm, he managed in the Virginia League
Virginia League
The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928....
and coached in the majors and in college
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. He also served as a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
.
As an umpire he officated on May 2, 1917 when Fred Toney
Fred Toney
Fred Toney , of Nashville, Tennessee, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1911-1923. His career record was 139 wins, 102 losses, and a 2.69 earned run average...
and Hippo Vaughn
Hippo Vaughn
James Leslie "Hippo" Vaughn was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs during the 1910s...
each pitched 9 innings of no-hit baseball, the only time in regulation when neither team got a hit.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions