Bill Zuber
Encyclopedia
William Henry Zuber was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who had an 11 year career in the American League
from 1936 to 1947. He pitched with the Cleveland Indians
, Washington Senators
, New York Yankees
and Boston Red Sox
.
, finishing with a 17-8 record and over 200 strikeouts. He made his Major League debut on September 16, 1936 with the Cleveland Indians. In his first game against the Boston Red Sox, he pitched five innings and earned a win
in the six-inning affair which was shortened due to rain. After starting a second game and finishing the season with one win and one loss, he spent the 1937 season playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
of the American Association
. He rejoined the Indians during the 1938 and 1939 seasons, and was used as a relief pitcher
. In the two seasons, he posted a 2-3 record and finished 16 games. He finished the 1940 season with a 1-1 record, and on April 21, 1941, the Washington Senators purchased his contract from the Indians.
Zuber spent two seasons with the Senators, starting seven games and finishing 19 both seasons. He was classified 4-F by the military, and as a result was able to remain with the team during World War II
. In 1942, he won a career high nine games. On January 29, 1943, Zuber was traded to the Yankees with cash for Jerry Priddy
and Milo Candini. The 1943 New York Yankees
went on to win the world series, with Zuber finishing the season with an 8-4 record over 20 games, which included 13 starts and 7 complete game
s. He did not pitch in the 1943 World Series
. He remained an occasional starter the following two seasons, winning five games in both seasons and earning a 3.19 earned run average
in 1945. Although he only posted a 5-11 record for the season, the Yankees were shutout
14 times during the season, seven when Zuber was pitching, a club record.
At the start of the 1946 New York Yankees season
, Zuber pitched three games and had an ERA of over 12 before he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox on June 18. He went on to post a 5-1 record and a career-low 2.54 ERA during the 1946 Boston Red Sox season
. On September 21, Zuber won a game against the Senators, which gave the Red Sox their 100th victory of the season. Zuber pitched in game four of the 1946 World Series
, pitching two innings and allowing one run in a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
. After pitching 20 games during the 1947 season, Zuber retired.
After retirement, Zuber started a restaurant in Homestead, Iowa of the Amana Colonies in 1949. Zuber died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 2, 1982.
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...
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...
who had an 11 year career in 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...
from 1936 to 1947. He pitched with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Boston Red Sox
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"...
.
Biography
Zuber spent most of the 1936 season playing for Zanesville of the Middle Atlantic LeagueMiddle Atlantic League
The Middle Atlantic League was a lower-level circuit in American minor league baseball that played during the second quarter of the 20th century.-History:...
, finishing with a 17-8 record and over 200 strikeouts. He made his Major League debut on September 16, 1936 with the Cleveland Indians. In his first game against the Boston Red Sox, he pitched five innings and earned a win
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...
in the six-inning affair which was shortened due to rain. After starting a second game and finishing the season with one win and one loss, he spent the 1937 season playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. He rejoined the Indians during the 1938 and 1939 seasons, and was used as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. In the two seasons, he posted a 2-3 record and finished 16 games. He finished the 1940 season with a 1-1 record, and on April 21, 1941, the Washington Senators purchased his contract from the Indians.
Zuber spent two seasons with the Senators, starting seven games and finishing 19 both seasons. He was classified 4-F by the military, and as a result was able to remain with the team during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1942, he won a career high nine games. On January 29, 1943, Zuber was traded to the Yankees with cash for Jerry Priddy
Jerry Priddy
Gerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
and Milo Candini. The 1943 New York Yankees
1943 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 41st season in New York, and its 43rd season overall. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 14th pennant, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Washington Senators. Managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World...
went on to win the world series, with Zuber finishing the season with an 8-4 record over 20 games, which included 13 starts and 7 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. He did not pitch in the 1943 World Series
1943 World Series
The 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees, in a rematch of the 1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win...
. He remained an occasional starter the following two seasons, winning five games in both seasons and earning a 3.19 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...
in 1945. Although he only posted a 5-11 record for the season, the Yankees were 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....
14 times during the season, seven when Zuber was pitching, a club record.
At the start of the 1946 New York Yankees season
1946 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 44th season in New York, and its 46th overall. The team finished with a record of 87-67, finishing 17 games behind of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey, and Johnny Neun...
, Zuber pitched three games and had an ERA of over 12 before he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox on June 18. He went on to post a 5-1 record and a career-low 2.54 ERA during the 1946 Boston Red Sox season
1946 Boston Red Sox season
During the 1946 Boston Red Sox season, the Red Sox won their sixth American League championship, with a record of 104 wins and 50 losses. In the World Series, the Sox lost in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals...
. On September 21, Zuber won a game against the Senators, which gave the Red Sox their 100th victory of the season. Zuber pitched in game four of the 1946 World Series
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
, pitching two innings and allowing one run in a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. After pitching 20 games during the 1947 season, Zuber retired.
After retirement, Zuber started a restaurant in Homestead, Iowa of the Amana Colonies in 1949. Zuber died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 2, 1982.