Ed Killian
Encyclopedia
Edwin Henry Killian nicknamed "Twilight Ed," was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
primarily of the Detroit Tigers
.
Twice a 20 game winner (including a 25-13 season in 1907), Killian's career ERA of 2.38 is tied for 24th best in Major League history, ahead of such legendary pitchers as Cy Young and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin
, Killian did not start his first game in the majors until he was age 26. He came up late in the 1903 season and was 3-4 for the Cleveland Naps.
In January 1904, Killian was traded by the Naps with Jesse Stovall
to the Detroit Tigers
for Billy Lush. Killian pitched the rest of his major league career with the Tigers. In 1904, Killian had 32 complete games and a 2.44 ERA in 331 innings, but without support from the 7th place Tigers, Killian had the dubious distinction of losing 20 games in his first full season.
As proof that his 1904 win-loss record was not indicative of his talents, Killian battled Cy Young
in one of the most remarkable pitching duels in history on May 11, 1904. Young and Killian each pitched 14 scoreless innings, before the Red Sox scored a run in the 15th inning, winning 1-0.
In 1905, Killian turned things around, reducing his ERA to 2.27. He started 37 games and completed 33. He wound up with a 23-14 record, the third best win total in the AL and 4th best in complete games. His eight shutouts in 1905 was tops in the American League.
Killian started only 16 games in 1906 and finished 10-6, but 1907 saw Killian reach the high point of his career. That year, Killian started 41 games for the American League Champion Detroit team. He had a record of 25-13 and an ERA of 1.78—81 points lower than the league average ERA of 2.59. Killian's performance in 1907 helped lead the Tigers to their first AL pennant and was one of the best pitching performances in the history of the Detroit Tigers. Caught in a close race at the end of the 1907 season with Connie Mack's Athletics, Killian pitched and won both games of a double-header to clinch the penant. Unfortunately, the Tigers' ace was worn out for the post-season and was only able to pitch 4 innings with no-decision in the 1907 World Series against the Cubs.
After his workhorse performance in 1907, Killian never again pitched more than 180 innings, continuing to have a winning record in his three remaining years, but no longer having the stamina to pitch 331 innings or start 41 games as he had in 1905 and 1907.
Killian also holds the record for fewest home runs allowed, giving up only 9 in his entire career, an average of one home run every 178 innings. At one point, Killian pitched a record 1001 innings, spanning parts of five seasons (from September 19, 1903 until August 7, 1907), without allowing a home run. His interment was located at Woodlawn Cemetery
.
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...
primarily of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Twice a 20 game winner (including a 25-13 season in 1907), Killian's career ERA of 2.38 is tied for 24th best in Major League history, ahead of such legendary pitchers as Cy Young and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
, Killian did not start his first game in the majors until he was age 26. He came up late in the 1903 season and was 3-4 for the Cleveland Naps.
In January 1904, Killian was traded by the Naps with Jesse Stovall
Jesse Stovall
Jesse Cramer Stovall was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He played for the Cleveland Naps in 1903 and the Detroit Tigers in 1904, pitching in 28 career games. His brother, George Stovall, was also a baseball player.-External links:...
to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for Billy Lush. Killian pitched the rest of his major league career with the Tigers. In 1904, Killian had 32 complete games and a 2.44 ERA in 331 innings, but without support from the 7th place Tigers, Killian had the dubious distinction of losing 20 games in his first full season.
As proof that his 1904 win-loss record was not indicative of his talents, Killian battled Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
in one of the most remarkable pitching duels in history on May 11, 1904. Young and Killian each pitched 14 scoreless innings, before the Red Sox scored a run in the 15th inning, winning 1-0.
In 1905, Killian turned things around, reducing his ERA to 2.27. He started 37 games and completed 33. He wound up with a 23-14 record, the third best win total in the AL and 4th best in complete games. His eight shutouts in 1905 was tops in the American League.
Killian started only 16 games in 1906 and finished 10-6, but 1907 saw Killian reach the high point of his career. That year, Killian started 41 games for the American League Champion Detroit team. He had a record of 25-13 and an ERA of 1.78—81 points lower than the league average ERA of 2.59. Killian's performance in 1907 helped lead the Tigers to their first AL pennant and was one of the best pitching performances in the history of the Detroit Tigers. Caught in a close race at the end of the 1907 season with Connie Mack's Athletics, Killian pitched and won both games of a double-header to clinch the penant. Unfortunately, the Tigers' ace was worn out for the post-season and was only able to pitch 4 innings with no-decision in the 1907 World Series against the Cubs.
After his workhorse performance in 1907, Killian never again pitched more than 180 innings, continuing to have a winning record in his three remaining years, but no longer having the stamina to pitch 331 innings or start 41 games as he had in 1905 and 1907.
Killian also holds the record for fewest home runs allowed, giving up only 9 in his entire career, an average of one home run every 178 innings. At one point, Killian pitched a record 1001 innings, spanning parts of five seasons (from September 19, 1903 until August 7, 1907), without allowing a home run. His interment was located at Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)
Woodlawn Cemetery is a cemetery located at 19975 Woodward Avenue, across from the Michigan State Fairgrounds, between 7 Mile Road and 8 Mile Road, in Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the area's most well-known cemeteries.-History:...
.
See also
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- List of MLB individual streaks