Jeff Tesreau
Encyclopedia
Charles Monroe "Jeff" Tesreau (March 5, 1888 – October 24, 1946) was an American
Major League Baseball
player.
Tesreau initially signed with a minor league team of the St. Louis Browns
in 1909. In , his contract was purchased by the New York Giants
.
After two years in the minors, Tesreau learned how to throw a spitball
, which became his signature pitch. He started the second game of the season for the Giants. The New York Times wrote, "Tesreau has curves which bend like barrel hoops and speed like lightning. He's just the kind of a strong man McGraw has been looking for." In the 1912 World Series
, Tesreau went 1–2 against Boston Red Sox
ace Smoky Joe Wood.
In , Tesreau was 17–7 and had a league leading ERA
of 1.96. ERA officially became a statistic of Major League Baseball
in , and Tesreau along with the American League
's Walter Johnson
became the first players recognized for leading the major leagues in that category.
From 1912 to 1917, Tesreau remained a starting pitcher with the Giants. In 1918, he had an argument with manager John McGraw
and quit the team in the middle of the season. In 1919, Tesreau refused to play for the Giants, and McGraw refused to trade or release him. Tesreau took a position as baseball coach for Dartmouth College
, a position he held until his death on September 24, 1946. He won 348 games as coach for Dartmouth, often coaching against Joe Wood, who had become the Yale University
baseball coach.
Due to his height of 6'2", Tesreau was given the nickname "Jeff" in reference to either the comic Mutt and Jeff or to boxer Jim Jeffries
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
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.
Tesreau initially signed with a minor league team of the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 1909. In , his contract was purchased by 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....
.
After two years in the minors, Tesreau learned how to throw a spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
, which became his signature pitch. He started the second game of the season for the Giants. The New York Times wrote, "Tesreau has curves which bend like barrel hoops and speed like lightning. He's just the kind of a strong man McGraw has been looking for." In the 1912 World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, Tesreau went 1–2 against 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"...
ace Smoky Joe Wood.
In , Tesreau was 17–7 and had a league leading 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 1.96. ERA officially became a statistic of Major League Baseball
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...
in , and Tesreau along with 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...
's Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
became the first players recognized for leading the major leagues in that category.
From 1912 to 1917, Tesreau remained a starting pitcher with the Giants. In 1918, he had an argument with manager John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
and quit the team in the middle of the season. In 1919, Tesreau refused to play for the Giants, and McGraw refused to trade or release him. Tesreau took a position as baseball coach for Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, a position he held until his death on September 24, 1946. He won 348 games as coach for Dartmouth, often coaching against Joe Wood, who had become the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
baseball coach.
Due to his height of 6'2", Tesreau was given the nickname "Jeff" in reference to either the comic Mutt and Jeff or to boxer Jim Jeffries
James J. Jeffries
James Jackson Jeffries was a world heavyweight boxing champion.His greatest assets were his enormous strength and stamina. Using a technique taught to him by his trainer, former welterweight and middleweight champion Tommy Ryan, Jeffries fought out of a crouch with his left arm extended forward...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters