Gordon Rhodes
Encyclopedia
John Gordon Rhodes [Dusty] (August 11, 1907 - March 22, 1960) was a starting pitcher
in Major League
who played from through for the New York Yankees
(1929–1932), Boston Red Sox
(1932–1935) and Philadelphia Athletics
(1936). Listed at 6' 0", 187 lb., Rhodes batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Winnemucca, Nevada
.
(PCL
), hard-throwing Rhodes was 21 years old when he made his first major league appearance. He went 9-19 in 63 games with New York before being traded to Boston in the same transaction that brought Wilcy Moore
to the Yankees. Between 1933 and 1934 he won 12 games each season, but dropped to 2-10 in 1935. Traded to the Athletics in a deal that included Jimmie Foxx
and Johnny Marcum
, he collected nine wins
in 1936, but led American League
pitchers with 20 losses and 26 home runs allowed
.
In an eight-year career, Rhodes posted a 43-74 record with 356 strikeout
s and a 4.85 ERA
in 200 appearances, including 135 starts, 47 complete game
s, one shutout
, five saves
, and 1048⅔ innings of work. He was a competent hitter for a pitcher, collecting a .194 batting average
(69-for-356) with two home runs and 34 runs batted in.
Rhodes died at the age of 52 in Long Beach, California
.
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
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 from through for the 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...
(1929–1932), 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"...
(1932–1935) and Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1936). Listed at 6' 0", 187 lb., Rhodes batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Winnemucca, Nevada
Winnemucca, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,174 people, 2,736 households, and 1,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 867.5 people per square mile . There were 3,280 housing units at an average density of 396.6 per square mile...
.
Career
Purchased by the Yankees from the Hollywood StarsHollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
(PCL
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...
), hard-throwing Rhodes was 21 years old when he made his first major league appearance. He went 9-19 in 63 games with New York before being traded to Boston in the same transaction that brought Wilcy Moore
Wilcy Moore
William Wilcy "Cy" Moore was a former professional baseball right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He led the American League in ERA as a rookie in 1927 while playing for New York.For his career, he compiled a 51-44 record, with a 3.70 ERA and...
to the Yankees. Between 1933 and 1934 he won 12 games each season, but dropped to 2-10 in 1935. Traded to the Athletics in a deal that included Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx
James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx , nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was a right-handed American Major League Baseball first baseman and noted power hitter....
and Johnny Marcum
Johnny Marcum
John Alfred "Footsie" Marcum was a professional baseball pitcher, for seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, St...
, he collected nine 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...
in 1936, but led 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...
pitchers with 20 losses and 26 home runs allowed
Home runs allowed
In baseball statistics, home runs allowed signifies the total number of home runs a pitcher allowed.The record for the most home runs allowed by any pitcher belongs to Jamie Moyer , the oldest active pitcher in the major leagues...
.
In an eight-year career, Rhodes posted a 43-74 record with 356 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 and a 4.85 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...
in 200 appearances, including 135 starts, 47 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....
, five 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 1048⅔ innings of work. He was a competent hitter for a pitcher, collecting a .194 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(69-for-356) with two home runs and 34 runs batted in.
Rhodes died at the age of 52 in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.