Hugh Bedient
Encyclopedia
Hugh Carpenter Bedient (October 23, 1889 – July 21, 1965) was a starting pitcher
who played in the American League
for the Boston Red Sox
(1912–1914) and with the Buffalo Blues of the Federal League
(1915). Bedient batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Gerry, New York
.
In 1908 Bedient gained notoriety when he struck out
42 batters in a 23-inning complete game
while pitching for a semi-pro baseball team. Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1910, he made his major league debut in 1912. He won 20 games as a Red Sox rookie and outdueled legend Christy Mathewson
, defeating the New York Giants
, 2–1, in Game Five of the 1912 World Series
. He also pitched the first seven innings of the final game, won by the Red Sox in the tenth, 3-2.
In three seasons with the Red Sox, Bedient had a mark of 43 wins and 35 losses with 314 strikeout
s and a 3.05 earned run average
in 667-1/3 innings pitched
. He later became a member of the outlaw Federal League. Pitching for the Buffalo Blues, he went 16-18 with 106 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA in 269-1/3 innings, leading the league with 10 saves
.
In a four-season career, Bedient posted a 59-53 record with 420 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 936-2/3 innings.
Bedient died in Jamestown, New York
, at the age of 75.
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....
who played 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...
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"...
(1912–1914) and with the Buffalo Blues of the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
(1915). Bedient batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Gerry, New York
Gerry, New York
Gerry is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,054 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Elbridge Gerry, a Vice-President of the U.S....
.
In 1908 Bedient gained notoriety when he struck out
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....
42 batters in a 23-inning 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...
while pitching for a semi-pro baseball team. Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1910, he made his major league debut in 1912. He won 20 games as a Red Sox rookie and outdueled legend Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
, defeating 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....
, 2–1, in Game Five 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...
. He also pitched the first seven innings of the final game, won by the Red Sox in the tenth, 3-2.
In three seasons with the Red Sox, Bedient had a mark of 43 wins and 35 losses with 314 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 3.05 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 667-1/3 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...
. He later became a member of the outlaw Federal League. Pitching for the Buffalo Blues, he went 16-18 with 106 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA in 269-1/3 innings, leading the league with 10 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...
.
In a four-season career, Bedient posted a 59-53 record with 420 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 936-2/3 innings.
Bedient died in Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
, at the age of 75.
Bedient's feat
- Pitching for a semi-pro Falconer, New YorkFalconer, New YorkFalconer is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,540 at the 2000 census.The Village of Falconer is within the Town of Ellicott. Falconer is on the eastern edge of the City of Jamestown, New York.- History :...
team, Bedient struck out 42 batters in a 23-inning, 3–1 victory against a Corry, PennsylvaniaCorry, PennsylvaniaCorry is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. With a population of 6,834 at the 2000 United States Census, it is the second largest city in Erie County. Corry is a part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area...
team, on July 25, . Two days later, the Jamestown Evening Journal ran the headline: Broke all records. Bedient of Falconer struck out 42 men, and the Corry Journal stated Corry and Falconer make World’s record. Twenty-three years later, Robert LeRoy RipleyRobert RipleyRobert LeRoy Ripley was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur and amateur anthropologist, who created the world famous Ripley's Believe It or Not! newspaper panel series, radio show, and television show which feature odd 'facts' from around the world.Subjects covered in Ripley's cartoons and text...
, in his syndicated Believe It Or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
of September 5, 1931, informed the world of Bedient's feat, giving the first national recognition of this event.