Buck O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph "Buck" O'Brien (May 9, 1882 - July 25, 1959) was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
and Chicago White Sox
.
O'Brien got a late start in professional baseball. However, as a spitball
er, he did have tremendous success for a few years. In 1910, when he was 28 years old, he went 20-10 for Hartford of the Connecticut State League. In 1911, he was 26-7 for the Western League
's Denver Grizzlies, leading the league in winning percentage and strikeout
s. The Grizzlies won 111 games en route to the league championship. In September of that year, O'Brien made his major league debut with the Red Sox and went 5-1 with a 0.38 earned run average
.
The next season, he was in the starting rotation, including the first game ever played at Fenway Park on April 20, 1912. In 34 starts and 275 innings pitched, O'Brien won 20 games with a 2.58 ERA and 115 strikeouts; he finished in the top 10 in the American League
in all five categories.
The Red Sox went 105-47 to win the AL pennant. O'Brien started Game 3 of the 1912 World Series
against the New York Giants
, but lost. Boston eventually took a 3-1 series lead, with ace pitcher Smokey Joe Wood
slated to start Game 6. However, club owner Jimmy McAleer
wanted the series to go back to Boston so he could get the gate receipts; he ordered manager Jake Stahl
to start O'Brien instead of Wood. Buck, not knowing that he was going to pitch, was hungover the day of the game. He gave up three earned runs in the first inning, and Boston lost. Despite this, the Red Sox ended up defeating the Giants.
By the next season, hitters seemed to have O'Brien's spitball figured out. He went 4-9 before being sold to the White Sox, and just one year after winning 20 games, his major league career ended.
O'Brien died in Boston at age 77.
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....
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 the 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"...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
O'Brien got a late start in professional baseball. However, as a 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....
er, he did have tremendous success for a few years. In 1910, when he was 28 years old, he went 20-10 for Hartford of the Connecticut State League. In 1911, he was 26-7 for the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
's Denver Grizzlies, leading the league in winning percentage and 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. The Grizzlies won 111 games en route to the league championship. In September of that year, O'Brien made his major league debut with the Red Sox and went 5-1 with a 0.38 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...
.
The next season, he was in the starting rotation, including the first game ever played at Fenway Park on April 20, 1912. In 34 starts and 275 innings pitched, O'Brien won 20 games with a 2.58 ERA and 115 strikeouts; he finished in the top 10 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...
in all five categories.
The Red Sox went 105-47 to win the AL pennant. O'Brien started Game 3 of the 1912 World Series
1912 World Series
In the 1912 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Giants four games to three .This dramatic series showcased great pitching from Giant Christy Mathewson and from Boston fireballer Smoky Joe Wood. Wood won two of his three starts and pitched in relief in the final game...
against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, but lost. Boston eventually took a 3-1 series lead, with ace pitcher Smokey Joe Wood
Smokey Joe Wood
Howard Ellsworth "Smoky Joe" Wood was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians during the early part of the 20th century...
slated to start Game 6. However, club owner Jimmy McAleer
Jimmy McAleer
James Robert "Loafer" McAleer was an American center fielder, manager, and stockholder in Major League Baseball who assisted in establishing the American League. He spent most of his 13-season playing career with the Cleveland Spiders, and went on to manage the Cleveland Blues, St. Louis Browns,...
wanted the series to go back to Boston so he could get the gate receipts; he ordered manager Jake Stahl
Jake Stahl
Jacob Garland "Jake" Stahl was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and New York Highlanders. A graduate of the University of Illinois, he was a member of the Kappa Kappa chapter of Sigma Chi...
to start O'Brien instead of Wood. Buck, not knowing that he was going to pitch, was hungover the day of the game. He gave up three earned runs in the first inning, and Boston lost. Despite this, the Red Sox ended up defeating the Giants.
By the next season, hitters seemed to have O'Brien's spitball figured out. He went 4-9 before being sold to the White Sox, and just one year after winning 20 games, his major league career ended.
O'Brien died in Boston at age 77.