Barney Pelty
Encyclopedia
Barney Pelty was a major league baseball pitcher known as "the Yiddish Curver" because he was one of the first Jewish baseball players in the American League
. His career ERA is 2.63, 60th-best of all pitchers in major league baseball. Through 2006 he ranks 71st in hits per 9 innings, and 48th in batters plunked.
He was one of the best Jewish pitchers in major league history, ranking first through 2010 in career ERA (ahead of # 2 Sandy Koufax
), 6th in wins (92), and 7th in strikeouts (693).
He was born and died in Farmington, Missouri
.
, Missouri
to pitch for them. While attending Carlton, he met Eva Warsing, whom he married. After two years at Carlton, Pelty transferred to Blees Military Academy
in Macon
, Missouri and pitched for the Academy team in the 1899 and 1900 spring seasons.
Volunteers, but an arm injury cut his season short.
After playing semipro ball, he was signed by the Cedar Rapids Rabbits for 1903.
and the St. Louis Browns
got into a bidding war for him in 1903, and the Browns won with an offer of $850 ($ today). He became a coach when not pitching.
He was a workhorse for the St. Louis Browns
, a member of their starting rotation from 1904, when he pitched 31 complete game
s and 301 innings, through 1911.
In 1904 he led the league in hit batsmen (20), and was 6th in wild pitches (9).
In 1905 he was 14–14 with a 2.75 ERA, while the team's other pitchers were a combined 40–85.
His peak year was 1906, when he went 16–11 with a 1.59 ERA
(2nd in the AL). He also led the league in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (6.53) and lowest batting average (.206), and was 2nd in hit batsmen (19). He especially was dominant against the World Series champion 1906 White Sox, allowing one run in 32 innings. In one three-game series against Chicago, Pelty pitched every game, including a 0–0 tie in 10 innings. His 1.59 ERA is the lowest in the history of the Browns/Baltimore Orioles franchise.
In 1907 he lost a league-high 21 games and hit a league-high 19 batters, while pitching 5 shutouts (6th best in the league) and 29 complete games (also 6th best).
In 1908, the right-hander improved to 7–4, 1.99 in a reduced role.
In 1909 he pitched 5 shutouts, 5th-best in the AL. He also was 10th-best in the league in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (7.13)
On June 11, 1912, he was purchased by the Washington Senators
from the St. Louis Browns. He finished his career with the Senators that year.
He gave up 22 home runs in 1,908 innings in his career. He did not mind pitching inside, leading the league in hit batsmen in 1904 and 1907. While he gave up only 558 earned runs lifetime, errors by his teammates (and by him—he had 12 in 1906) let in nearly another 200 unearned runs lifetime.
Pelty pitched 22 career shutouts, but was shut out 32 times, including nine 1–0 defeats due to poor offensive support.
In his career, through 2010 he was one of the all-time best Jewish pitchers in major league history, ranking first in career ERA (ahead of # 2 Sandy Koufax
), 6th in wins (92; directly behind Jason Marquis
), and 7th in strikeouts (693; directly behind Barry Latman
).
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...
. His career ERA is 2.63, 60th-best of all pitchers in major league baseball. Through 2006 he ranks 71st in hits per 9 innings, and 48th in batters plunked.
He was one of the best Jewish pitchers in major league history, ranking first through 2010 in career ERA (ahead of # 2 Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
), 6th in wins (92), and 7th in strikeouts (693).
He was born and died in Farmington, Missouri
Farmington, Missouri
Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...
.
College
Pelty was offered free tuition at the now-defunct Carlton Institute in FarmingtonFarmington, Missouri
Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
to pitch for them. While attending Carlton, he met Eva Warsing, whom he married. After two years at Carlton, Pelty transferred to Blees Military Academy
Blees Military Academy
Blees Military Academy was founded in Macon, Missouri by Colonel Frederick W. V. Blees, and operated from 1899 to 1907.Blees Military Academy was founded in September 1899 by Colonel Frederick Wm. V. Blees. Blees was a Prussian immigrant who arrived in Macon in 1889 to take over as headmaster of...
in Macon
Macon, Missouri
Macon is a city in Macon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,471 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Macon County.-Geography:Macon is located at...
, Missouri and pitched for the Academy team in the 1899 and 1900 spring seasons.
Minor league career
Pelty began his professional career with the 1902 NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
Volunteers, but an arm injury cut his season short.
After playing semipro ball, he was signed by the Cedar Rapids Rabbits for 1903.
Major league career
The Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
got into a bidding war for him in 1903, and the Browns won with an offer of $850 ($ today). He became a coach when not pitching.
He was a workhorse for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, a member of their starting rotation from 1904, when he pitched 31 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s and 301 innings, through 1911.
In 1904 he led the league in hit batsmen (20), and was 6th in wild pitches (9).
In 1905 he was 14–14 with a 2.75 ERA, while the team's other pitchers were a combined 40–85.
His peak year was 1906, when he went 16–11 with a 1.59 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(2nd in the AL). He also led the league in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (6.53) and lowest batting average (.206), and was 2nd in hit batsmen (19). He especially was dominant against the World Series champion 1906 White Sox, allowing one run in 32 innings. In one three-game series against Chicago, Pelty pitched every game, including a 0–0 tie in 10 innings. His 1.59 ERA is the lowest in the history of the Browns/Baltimore Orioles franchise.
In 1907 he lost a league-high 21 games and hit a league-high 19 batters, while pitching 5 shutouts (6th best in the league) and 29 complete games (also 6th best).
In 1908, the right-hander improved to 7–4, 1.99 in a reduced role.
In 1909 he pitched 5 shutouts, 5th-best in the AL. He also was 10th-best in the league in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (7.13)
On June 11, 1912, he was purchased by 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...
from the St. Louis Browns. He finished his career with the Senators that year.
He gave up 22 home runs in 1,908 innings in his career. He did not mind pitching inside, leading the league in hit batsmen in 1904 and 1907. While he gave up only 558 earned runs lifetime, errors by his teammates (and by him—he had 12 in 1906) let in nearly another 200 unearned runs lifetime.
Pelty pitched 22 career shutouts, but was shut out 32 times, including nine 1–0 defeats due to poor offensive support.
In his career, through 2010 he was one of the all-time best Jewish pitchers in major league history, ranking first in career ERA (ahead of # 2 Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
), 6th in wins (92; directly behind Jason Marquis
Jason Marquis
Jason Scott Marquis is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks....
), and 7th in strikeouts (693; directly behind Barry Latman
Barry Latman
Arnold Barry Latman is a former professional baseball pitcher.-Career:He played all or part of 11 seasons in the majors, from until , for the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles/California Angels, and Houston Astros.He was an All Star in both 1961 and 1962...
).
Miscellaneous
- It was often erroneously reported that he had changed his name from Peltheimer.
- Pelty was proud of his Jewish heritage as indicated by his nicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, and did not change his name or hide his identity like some other Jewish players of the era.
- During his career, Pelty ran a bookstore in his Farmington hometown in the off-seasons. He worked as an inspector for the MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
State Food and Drug Department, and was an aldermanAldermanAn alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for several terms in Farmington.
- Pelty pitched one last game in 1937 in an exhibition against Grover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
, dropping the decision.
See also
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListMLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListThis is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...
- Jews and Baseball: An American Love StoryJews and Baseball: An American Love StoryJews and Baseball: An American Love Story is a 2010 American documentary film narrated by Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ira Berkow, and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Peter Miller...
, 2010 documentary - List of select Jewish baseball players