Beany Jacobson
Encyclopedia
Albert Leonard Jacobson [born Albin Leonard Jacobson] (June 5, 1881 - January 31, 1933) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
.
A native of Port Washington, Wisconsin
, Jacobson always was a bad luck pitcher either due to injury or playing on a bad baseball team. He entered the majors in 1904 with the Washington Senators
, playing for them two years before joining the St. Louis Browns
(1906–1997) and Boston Americans
(1907).
Jacobson went 6-23 in his rookie season for the last-place 1904 Senators, despite a 3.55 earned run average
and career-best numbers in strikeout
s (75) and innings pitched
(253 ⅔). At the end of 1905, he was sent by Washington to the Browns in the same transaction that brought Willie Sudhoff
to the Senators. His most productive season came in 1906 with St. Louis, when he went 9-9 with a career-high 2.50 ERA. A year later, he suffered arm problems and was dealt to Boston in exchange for Bill Dineen. He had a combined 1-6 mark in only nine appearances and never played a major league game again.
In a four-season career, Jacobson posted a 23-46 record with 195 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA in 88 games, including 70 starts
, 53 complete game
s, one shutout
, and 612 ⅓ innings of work.
After that, Jacobson played for several minor league
teams. He enjoyed a good season with the 1911 Kalamazoo Celery Pickers champion team of the Southern Michigan League
, when he led the league pitchers with 26 wins
and a .743 winning percentage
.
Jacobson died in Decatur, Illinois
, at the age of 51.
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...
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
A native of Port Washington, Wisconsin
Port Washington, Wisconsin
Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467...
, Jacobson always was a bad luck pitcher either due to injury or playing on a bad baseball team. He entered the majors in 1904 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...
, playing for them two years before joining 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...
(1906–1997) and Boston Americans
Boston 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"...
(1907).
Jacobson went 6-23 in his rookie season for the last-place 1904 Senators, despite a 3.55 earned run average
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...
and career-best numbers in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (75) and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(253 ⅔). At the end of 1905, he was sent by Washington to the Browns in the same transaction that brought Willie Sudhoff
Willie Sudhoff
John William Sudhoff was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in the National League for the St. Louis Browns , Cleveland Spiders , St. Louis Perfectos and St. Louis Cardinals , and with the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators of the American League...
to the Senators. His most productive season came in 1906 with St. Louis, when he went 9-9 with a career-high 2.50 ERA. A year later, he suffered arm problems and was dealt to Boston in exchange for Bill Dineen. He had a combined 1-6 mark in only nine appearances and never played a major league game again.
In a four-season career, Jacobson posted a 23-46 record with 195 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA in 88 games, including 70 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, 53 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, one shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, and 612 ⅓ innings of work.
After that, Jacobson played for several minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
teams. He enjoyed a good season with the 1911 Kalamazoo Celery Pickers champion team of the Southern Michigan League
Southern Michigan League
The Southern Michigan League was a Minor League Baseball circuit which operated between 1906 and 1912. It was classified as a Class D league from 1906 to 1910 and as a Class C league from 1911 to 1912...
, when he led the league pitchers with 26 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...
and a .743 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
.
Jacobson died in Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, at the age of 51.