Curt Davis
Encyclopedia
Curtis Benton Davis was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. On October 2, 1933 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
from the Pacific Coast League
San Francisco Seals
in the 1933 rule V draft. He played for the Phillies (1934-1936), Chicago Cubs
(1935-1937), St. Louis Cardinals
(1938-1940), and Brooklyn Dodgers
(1940-1946). The right-hander was a native of Greenfield, Missouri
.
Even though Davis didn't pitch in the major leagues until he was 30, he still managed to have a 13-season National League
career. He had quite a list of accomplishments, including winning 19 games as a rookie
, 22 wins in 1939, eleven double-digit victory seasons, twice a N.L. All-Star
, and pitching in the 1941 World Series
. He had incredible control, leading the league in BB/9IP in 1938 and 1941, and finishing in the TOP TEN in that category ten times.
Other top ten rankings for Davis include wins
(4 times), winning percentage
(4 times), ERA
(4 times), H/9IP (3 times), WHIP
(5 times), shutouts (5 times), saves
(5 times), games finished
(1 time), and oldest player (5 times).
Career totals for 429 games pitched
include a 158-131 record, 281 games started
, 141 complete games, 24 shutouts, 111 games finished
, 33 saves
, and an ERA
of 3.42 in 2325 innings pitched
.
After pitching one game in the 1946 season (April 28), he was released by Brooklyn three days later.
Davis died at the age of 62 in Covina, California
.
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...
. On October 2, 1933 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
San Francisco Seals
San Francisco Seals (PCL)
The San Francisco Seals were a minor league baseball team in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957 before transferring to Phoenix, Arizona...
in the 1933 rule V draft. He played for the Phillies (1934-1936), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1935-1937), 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...
(1938-1940), and Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1940-1946). The right-hander was a native of Greenfield, Missouri
Greenfield, Missouri
Greenfield is a city in Dade County, Missouri. The population was 1,358 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dade County.-History:The Greenfield square is lined with buildings built in the 1880s out of bricks made in the Greenfield Brickyard...
.
Even though Davis didn't pitch in the major leagues until he was 30, he still managed to have a 13-season 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...
career. He had quite a list of accomplishments, including winning 19 games as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, 22 wins in 1939, eleven double-digit victory seasons, twice a N.L. All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
, and pitching in the 1941 World Series
1941 World Series
The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall....
. He had incredible control, leading the league in BB/9IP in 1938 and 1941, and finishing in the TOP TEN in that category ten times.
Other top ten rankings for Davis include 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...
(4 times), 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...
(4 times), 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...
(4 times), H/9IP (3 times), WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
(5 times), shutouts (5 times), saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
(5 times), games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
(1 time), and oldest player (5 times).
Career totals for 429 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
include a 158-131 record, 281 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 141 complete games, 24 shutouts, 111 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 33 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and an 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...
of 3.42 in 2325 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...
.
After pitching one game in the 1946 season (April 28), he was released by Brooklyn three days later.
Davis died at the age of 62 in Covina, California
Covina, California
Covina is a small city in Los Angeles County, California about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley region. The population was 47,796 at the 2010 census, up from 46,837 at the 2000 census...
.
Trivia
- Davis was one of the Cubs players involved in the 1938 trade which brought Dizzy DeanDizzy DeanJay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
over from the Cardinals. - His nickname was "Coonskin."