Harry Krause
Encyclopedia
Harry William "Hal" Krause (July 12, 1888 - October 23, 1940) was a Major League Baseball
player. He was a pitcher
over parts of five seasons (1908–1912) with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Naps
. He led the American League
in earned run average
in 1909 while playing for Philadelphia. For his career, he compiled a 36-26 record, with a 2.50 ERA and 298 strikeout
s.
and attended Saint Mary's College of California
. He started his professional baseball career in 1907. In 1908, at the age of 19, Krause ventured east. He went 17-4 in the Tri-State League
and joined the Athletics.
Krause made an immediate impact in the major leagues. He started out 1909 with a 10-game winning streak, which included six shutouts
. He finished the season 18-8 with a league-leading 1.39 ERA. It is the lowest ERA ever for an American League rookie.
Krause didn't pitch as often or as well in 1910 and 1911. In 1912, he came down with a sore arm, pitched badly in six games, and then went to the minor league Toledo Mud Hens
. He went 13-4 with Toledo. The following season, he returned to the west coast and joined the Portland Beavers
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1913 and 1914, Krause won a total of 39 games with ERAs below 2.30. He had an off year in 1915, however, and played in the Western League
in 1916. He went back to the PCL in 1917 with the Oakland Oaks
.
Krause spent 12 years in Oakland. In his first season there, he set career-highs in wins and innings pitched in the long PCL season, going 28-26 with a 2.35 ERA in 428.2 innings. He continued to pitch well for the Oaks over the next decade, becoming a fixture in the starting rotation and winning over 20 games two more times. In 1928, he joined the Mission Reds
, where he finished his playing career. Krause won a total of 249 games in the PCL over 16 seasons. He is also a member of the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
.
Krause was involved in a car accident and killed in 1940.
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...
player. He was a 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...
over parts of five seasons (1908–1912) with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Naps
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...
. He led 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 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 1909 while playing for Philadelphia. For his career, he compiled a 36-26 record, with a 2.50 ERA and 298 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.
Biography
Krause was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and attended Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
. He started his professional baseball career in 1907. In 1908, at the age of 19, Krause ventured east. He went 17-4 in the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
and joined the Athletics.
Krause made an immediate impact in the major leagues. He started out 1909 with a 10-game winning streak, which included six shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
. He finished the season 18-8 with a league-leading 1.39 ERA. It is the lowest ERA ever for an American League rookie.
Krause didn't pitch as often or as well in 1910 and 1911. In 1912, he came down with a sore arm, pitched badly in six games, and then went to the minor league Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
. He went 13-4 with Toledo. The following season, he returned to the west coast and joined the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of 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...
. In 1913 and 1914, Krause won a total of 39 games with ERAs below 2.30. He had an off year in 1915, however, and played in 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...
in 1916. He went back to the PCL in 1917 with the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
.
Krause spent 12 years in Oakland. In his first season there, he set career-highs in wins and innings pitched in the long PCL season, going 28-26 with a 2.35 ERA in 428.2 innings. He continued to pitch well for the Oaks over the next decade, becoming a fixture in the starting rotation and winning over 20 games two more times. In 1928, he joined the Mission Reds
Mission Reds
The Mission Reds were a minor league baseball team located in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1926 through 1937.-Original Missions:...
, where he finished his playing career. Krause won a total of 249 games in the PCL over 16 seasons. He is also a member of the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
The Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was created in 1942 by the Helms Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles. The foundation selected players, managers and executives who they felt best contributed to the ideals of the Pacific Coast League. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1943...
.
Krause was involved in a car accident and killed in 1940.