Jesse Winters
Encyclopedia
Jesse Franklin Winters (December 23, 1893 – June 5, 1986), nicknamed "Buck" and "T-Bone," was a 6' 1", 165-pound right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the New York Giants
and the Philadelphia Phillies
from 1919 to 1923. He also played in the minor leagues until 1925 for the Kansas City Blues
, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Senators
, Portland Beavers
and Wichita Falls Spudders
. At all levels, both major and minor league, Winters went a combined 49–60 with a 4.22 earned run average
(ERA) in 216 games.
He began his professional career in 1916 at the age of 22 and played for nine seasons, until the age of 31 in 1925. He split his career between the major leagues and the minors, spending four full seasons and a part of a fifth at the former level. In the minors, he spent two full seasons at the Double-A level, parts of two seasons at the Double-A level and part of one season at the Single-A level. Based on the record that is available, it is known that he pitched in 106 minor league games, going 36–36 with a 3.70 ERA in 656 innings. He also had 241 at-bats, hitting .212 with four doubles.
He played in the major leagues from 1919 to 1923, appearing in 110 games and going 13–24 with a 5.04 ERA in 405 innings. He allowed 510 hits and 164 walks, while striking out 94 batters. He was used both as a relief pitcher
and a starting pitcher
, finishing in the top 10 on the National League
leader board in games finished
and saves multiple times. As a batter, he hit .171 in 117 at-bats and in the field, he committed 10 errors for a .929 fielding percentage. He was also involved in six double plays.
He was a highly-touted young player at the onset of his career, being initially compared to Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson
and eventually former 21-game winner Ferdie Schupp
. According to contemporary accounts of the time, his assets were many-fold: "He has every physical qualification," stated the New York Tribune
, "as well as a varied assortment in the pitching line." He also had a quick pickoff
move to first base, with Giants' manager John McGraw
claiming "(Winters) can peg to first base more quickly than any other man in the National League
." He performed well in the minor leagues, however a lack of control at the major league level, an indifference towards the game, a lack of ambition and eventually a bad arm ended his hopes of stardom.
Following his playing career, he owned a tire company in Abilene, Texas
, later becoming that town's mayor.
, to John W. Winters and Fannie Winters, the oldest of three children. Prior to playing baseball professionally, he attended two Texas-based universities, playing football and baseball at John Tarleton Junior College, now known as Tarleton State University
(into whose Hall of Fame he was elected in 1980), and Hardin-Simmons University
. It was during his time at Tartleton State University that he acquired the nickname "T-Bone." While dining at a restaurant on a road trip, he ordered a T-bone steak
. When his waitress brought him a boneless piece of meat, he became unhappy and created a scene. As a result, his teammates stuck him with the nickname "T-Bone."
There have been multiple printed variations of his name. He is listed as Jesse Frank Winters on Baseball-Reference.com, however his middle name is also listed as Franklin by other sources and his first name was commonly spelled "Jess" during his playing days.
of the Western Association
, though the league disbanded in midsummer. Following his tryout with Denison, he was preparing to enter medical school; however the Giants signed him to a professional contract. He practiced with the Giants during spring training
in 1918, trying out for the team out of college.
He was released to the Kansas City Blues of the American Association
under an optional agreement prior to the beginning of the season.
He spent his entire 1918 season with the Blues, going 3–2 with a 2.42 ERA in 13 games. In 67 innings, he allowed 64 hits, 23 walks and nine unearned runs. His early performance impressed Hall of Fame
Giants manager John McGraw
so much that McGraw considered Winters "...the finest pitching prospect he had seen since Christy Mathewson
..."
Winters also served in the United States Army
after being drafted in June of that year. He served as a lieutenant at a San Antonio
-area training camp. His professional career was threatened that year, as his outfit had been ordered overseas to fight in World War I
. However, the war soon ended and Winters was never ordered overseas, allowing him to make his major league debut the following season.
Pitching against the Philadelphia Phillies
that day, Giants' starter Jean Dubuc
allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Winters was called upon to relieve Dubuc and pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and walked one, while allowing three hits. The Giants won the game 4–3, with Winters earning the win.
At the start of the regular season, manager McGraw was "banking heavily" on the success of Winters as a regular on the staff. Winters played 16 games with the Giants that year, appearing mostly in relief. He won one game while losing two, posting a 5.46 ERA with 13 walks and six strikeouts in 28 innings. He saved three games that year, tying for second in the National League
behind Oscar Tuero
with, among others, Jean Dubuc. He also finished
11 games, which tied for seventh most in the league and second-most on the team, behind Dubuc. He also hit three batters, which was second on the team behind Rube Benton
.
Despite being used primarily as a reliever, Winters also started two matches. His first start came on August 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He allowed five hits, four walks and three runs to score in 2 1/3 innings and was replaced by Dubuc.
He made his second start on August 28 against the Phillies. In six innings, he allowed 10 hits and four walks, which led to nine earned runs. He was again replaced by Dubuc and earned the loss.
During that year's spring training, he got into a quarrel with batter Benny Kauff
, which came to fisticuffs before teammates pried them apart and on August 28 of that year, he got into a fistfight with teammate Ross Youngs
. He would later be described by the The Oklahoma Miner as temperamental and high-strung.
Winters appeared as a reliever in 21 games for the Giants that year, going 0–0 with a 3.50 ERA. He walked 28 batters and struck out 14 in 46 1/3 innings. He also finished 13 games, which tied with Earl Hamilton
and George Smith
for seventh most in the league.
In 1920, Winters set a record that would stand until 1925. He became the first pitcher ever to appear in 20 or more games in a season without earning a decision. The previous record was 17 appearances, reached by Hooks Wiltse
in 1913. The record was broken five years later by Jack Wisner
, who made 25 appearances without a win or loss. Coincidentally, both Wiltse and Wisner pitched for the Giants when they set their respective marks.
of the American Association, though by early February Winters' release was recalled and he returned to the Giants. He was then released to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
with Vern Spencer
on April 11. He pitched in 21 games for the Maple Leafs, going 11–8 with a 2.91 ERA. In 161 innings, he allowed 156 hits, 54 walks and 23 unearned runs. He also finished third on the team in winning percentage (.579).
In July, the Giants traded Winters to the Phillies. There seems to be some uncertainty as to who precisely was involved in the deal that sent Winters to the Phillies and when the deal took place. One source says he was traded on July 25 with Curt Walker
, Butch Henline
and $30,000 for Irish Meusel
and another source claims he was traded with John Monroe
for pitcher Cecil "Red" Causey
on July 10.
He was used mostly as a starting pitcher for the Phillies in 1921, starting 14 of the 18 games in which he appeared. He went 5–10 with 10 complete games and a 3.63 ERA in 114 innings, allowing 142 hits, 27 unearned runs and 28 walks while striking out 22 batters. He led the team's starting pitchers in ERA. At the plate, he collected five hits in 39 at-bats for a .128 batting average.
On July 21, he was involved in a triple play
. He was on first base when Goldie Rapp
hit a line drive to the St. Louis Cardinals
' second baseman Rogers Hornsby
, who tossed the ball to second base to get John Peters. The ball was thrown to first before Winters could return, thus completing the triple play.
Winters began the 1922 season by posting a 2.25 ERA in his first 16 innings of work. He then posted a 5.74 ERA the rest of the way, en route to a season record of 6–6 and an ERA of 5.34 in 34 games, nine of which he started. He walked 56 batters and had 29 strikeouts. He was second on the team in winning percentage (.500, behind Petie Behan
) and games finished (16, one behind George Smith), also leading the club in saves, with two. He tied for seventh in the league in saves and eighth in the league in games finished. At the plate, he hit .256 with two doubles in 45 at-bats.
He played his final major league season in 1923, going 1–6 with a 7.35 ERA in 21 games, six of which he started. In 78 1/3 innings, he allowed 116 hits and 39 walks, while striking out 23 batters. He threw one complete game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 27. His four fielding errors were the fourth-most in the league.
Through May 16, he was 1–2 with a 4.60 ERA in seven games. Due to his performance to that point in the season, Phillies manager Art Fletcher
requested waivers for Winters, which could have potentially ended the pitcher's major league career at that point. However, he stuck around until July 30, his final major league game. After his final big league appearance, the Phillies sent Winters to the Hartford Senators
of the Eastern League, with whom he played until the end of the season.
before the season began. He appeared in 42 games for the Beavers that year, going 16–20 with a 4.11 ERA. In 285 innings, he allowed 333 hits and 101 walks, leading the team in victories, innings pitched, runs allowed (174) and bases on balls. He finished second behind Charlie Eckert
in losses, games, hits allowed and earned runs allowed (144).
He spent the majority of 1925 with the Beavers, going 5–6 with a 5.17 ERA. He also appeared in eight games for the Wichita Falls Spudders
, posting a 1–0 record and a 2.57 ERA. Combined, he went 6–6 with a 4.41 ERA in 30 games, walking 71 batters and allowing 116 hits in 143 innings. He retired due to a bad pitching arm.
, in 1929, which he owned until 1950. He later served as the mayor of Abilene from 1957 to 1959, where he died on June 5, 1986, at the age of 92. The Winters Freeway, which runs through Abilene, is named after him. He was interred at Elmwood Memorial Park
in Abilene, Texas.
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 who played for 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....
and the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from 1919 to 1923. He also played in the minor leagues until 1925 for the Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues (American Association)
The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Senators
Hartford Senators
The Hartford Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They operated in the Connecticut League from 1902-1912, the Eastern Association from 1913-1914, the Eastern League from 1916-1932 and the Northeastern League in 1934. For the 1932 season they were affiliated...
, 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...
and Wichita Falls Spudders
Wichita Falls Spudders
The Wichita Falls Spudders were a minor league baseball team that formed in 1920 and played its last game in 1957. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas....
. At all levels, both major and minor league, Winters went a combined 49–60 with a 4.22 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...
(ERA) in 216 games.
He began his professional career in 1916 at the age of 22 and played for nine seasons, until the age of 31 in 1925. He split his career between the major leagues and the minors, spending four full seasons and a part of a fifth at the former level. In the minors, he spent two full seasons at the Double-A level, parts of two seasons at the Double-A level and part of one season at the Single-A level. Based on the record that is available, it is known that he pitched in 106 minor league games, going 36–36 with a 3.70 ERA in 656 innings. He also had 241 at-bats, hitting .212 with four doubles.
He played in the major leagues from 1919 to 1923, appearing in 110 games and going 13–24 with a 5.04 ERA in 405 innings. He allowed 510 hits and 164 walks, while striking out 94 batters. He was used both as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
and a starting pitcher
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....
, finishing in the top 10 on the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
leader board in games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
and saves multiple times. As a batter, he hit .171 in 117 at-bats and in the field, he committed 10 errors for a .929 fielding percentage. He was also involved in six double plays.
He was a highly-touted young player at the onset of his career, being initially compared to Hall of Fame pitcher 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...
and eventually former 21-game winner Ferdie Schupp
Ferdie Schupp
Ferdinand Maurice Schupp born in Louisville, Kentucky was a Pitcher for the New York Giants , St...
. According to contemporary accounts of the time, his assets were many-fold: "He has every physical qualification," stated the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
, "as well as a varied assortment in the pitching line." He also had a quick pickoff
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
move to first base, with Giants' 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...
claiming "(Winters) can peg to first base more quickly than any other man in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
." He performed well in the minor leagues, however a lack of control at the major league level, an indifference towards the game, a lack of ambition and eventually a bad arm ended his hopes of stardom.
Following his playing career, he owned a tire company in Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, later becoming that town's mayor.
Early and personal life
Winters was born on December 22, 1893, in Stephenville, TexasStephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
, to John W. Winters and Fannie Winters, the oldest of three children. Prior to playing baseball professionally, he attended two Texas-based universities, playing football and baseball at John Tarleton Junior College, now known as Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
(into whose Hall of Fame he was elected in 1980), and Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
. It was during his time at Tartleton State University that he acquired the nickname "T-Bone." While dining at a restaurant on a road trip, he ordered a T-bone steak
T-bone steak
The T-bone and Porterhouse are steaks of beef cut from the short loin and including a T-shaped bone with meat on each side: the larger is a strip steak and the smaller a tenderloin steak...
. When his waitress brought him a boneless piece of meat, he became unhappy and created a scene. As a result, his teammates stuck him with the nickname "T-Bone."
There have been multiple printed variations of his name. He is listed as Jesse Frank Winters on Baseball-Reference.com, however his middle name is also listed as Franklin by other sources and his first name was commonly spelled "Jess" during his playing days.
Early years
Winters began his professional career in 1916 with the Denison RailroadersDenison Railroaders
The Denison Railroaders were a baseball team based in Denison, Texas, USA that played from 1914 to 1917. They were known as the Denison Champions in 1914. They played in the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1914, but they joined the Western Association in 1915. Multiple major league baseball players played...
of the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, though the league disbanded in midsummer. Following his tryout with Denison, he was preparing to enter medical school; however the Giants signed him to a professional contract. He practiced with the Giants during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1918, trying out for the team out of college.
He was released to the Kansas City Blues of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
under an optional agreement prior to the beginning of the season.
He spent his entire 1918 season with the Blues, going 3–2 with a 2.42 ERA in 13 games. In 67 innings, he allowed 64 hits, 23 walks and nine unearned runs. His early performance impressed Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Giants 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...
so much that McGraw considered Winters "...the finest pitching prospect he had seen since 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...
..."
Winters also served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
after being drafted in June of that year. He served as a lieutenant at a San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
-area training camp. His professional career was threatened that year, as his outfit had been ordered overseas to fight in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. However, the war soon ended and Winters was never ordered overseas, allowing him to make his major league debut the following season.
Major league debut
On April 12, 1919, it was announced that Winters had made the Giants' roster for the upcoming season. The team played its first game of the year on April 23, and about two weeks later, on May 3, Winters made his major league debut.Pitching against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
that day, Giants' starter Jean Dubuc
Jean Dubuc
Jean Joseph Octave "Chauncey" Dubuc was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played with the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Giants during his nine year career. Dubuc had an overall record of 85–76 with a 3.04 ERA.-Early life and amateur career:Born in St. Johnsbury,...
allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Winters was called upon to relieve Dubuc and pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and walked one, while allowing three hits. The Giants won the game 4–3, with Winters earning the win.
At the start of the regular season, manager McGraw was "banking heavily" on the success of Winters as a regular on the staff. Winters played 16 games with the Giants that year, appearing mostly in relief. He won one game while losing two, posting a 5.46 ERA with 13 walks and six strikeouts in 28 innings. He saved three games that year, tying for second in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
behind Oscar Tuero
Oscar Tuero
Oscar Tuero was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals...
with, among others, Jean Dubuc. He also finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
11 games, which tied for seventh most in the league and second-most on the team, behind Dubuc. He also hit three batters, which was second on the team behind Rube Benton
Rube Benton
John Cleave "Rube" Benton was a pitcher, born in Clinton, North Carolina, for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants ....
.
Despite being used primarily as a reliever, Winters also started two matches. His first start came on August 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He allowed five hits, four walks and three runs to score in 2 1/3 innings and was replaced by Dubuc.
He made his second start on August 28 against the Phillies. In six innings, he allowed 10 hits and four walks, which led to nine earned runs. He was again replaced by Dubuc and earned the loss.
1920: Last year with the Giants
While prior to his major league career, Winters was being compared to Christy Mathewson, by April 12, 1920, the Milwaukee Sentinel was comparing him to Ferdie Schupp. The newspaper noted Winters' lack of control on the mound and related him to Schupp, who, like Winters, was a very highly touted prospect that initially showed poor control. As Winters did not appear in many games in his rookie season, Schupp too spent the early part of his career primarily in the dugout. However, by 1917, he blossomed by winning 21 games for the Giants. The newspaper predicted a similar blossoming for Winters.During that year's spring training, he got into a quarrel with batter Benny Kauff
Benny Kauff
Benjamin Michael Kauff was a professional baseball player, who played centerfield and batted and threw left-handed. Kauff was known as the “Ty Cobb of the Feds.” He is the only player to be permanently banned from baseball for reasons other than gambling...
, which came to fisticuffs before teammates pried them apart and on August 28 of that year, he got into a fistfight with teammate Ross Youngs
Ross Youngs
Ross Middlebrook Youngs was a Major League Baseball outfielder best known for his superb defense and consistent hitting....
. He would later be described by the The Oklahoma Miner as temperamental and high-strung.
Winters appeared as a reliever in 21 games for the Giants that year, going 0–0 with a 3.50 ERA. He walked 28 batters and struck out 14 in 46 1/3 innings. He also finished 13 games, which tied with Earl Hamilton
Earl Hamilton
Earl Andrew Hamilton was a MLB left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Philadelphia Phillies . He pitched a no-hitter against Detroit on August 30, 1912. The Tigers did get a run on a Ty Cobb walk and an error, making the final score 5-1 Browns...
and George Smith
George Smith (National League pitcher)
George Allen Smith born in Byram, Connecticut was a pitcher for the New York Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies ....
for seventh most in the league.
In 1920, Winters set a record that would stand until 1925. He became the first pitcher ever to appear in 20 or more games in a season without earning a decision. The previous record was 17 appearances, reached by Hooks Wiltse
Hooks Wiltse
George Leroy "Hooks" Wiltse was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1904 to 1915. He was the brother of pitcher Snake Wiltse....
in 1913. The record was broken five years later by Jack Wisner
Jack Wisner
John Henry Wisner , known as "Big" Jack Wisner, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants.-External links:...
, who made 25 appearances without a win or loss. Coincidentally, both Wiltse and Wisner pitched for the Giants when they set their respective marks.
Back to the minors and Philadelphia Athletics
On January 7, 1921, the Giants released Winters and fellow pitcher Bunny Hearn to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
of the American Association, though by early February Winters' release was recalled and he returned to the Giants. He was then released to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
with Vern Spencer
Vern Spencer
Vernon Murray "Vern" Spencer was a Major League Baseball outfielder. Spencer played for the New York Giants in the season. In 45 career games, he had 28 hits in 140 at-bats. He batted left and threw right-handed....
on April 11. He pitched in 21 games for the Maple Leafs, going 11–8 with a 2.91 ERA. In 161 innings, he allowed 156 hits, 54 walks and 23 unearned runs. He also finished third on the team in winning percentage (.579).
In July, the Giants traded Winters to the Phillies. There seems to be some uncertainty as to who precisely was involved in the deal that sent Winters to the Phillies and when the deal took place. One source says he was traded on July 25 with Curt Walker
Curt Walker
William Curtis Walker , was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1919-1930. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants.-External links:...
, Butch Henline
Butch Henline
Walter John "Butch" Henline was an American catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball who played from 1921-1931 for the New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox...
and $30,000 for Irish Meusel
Irish Meusel
Emil Frederick "Irish" Meusel was an American baseball Left fielder.He was first signed with the Washington Senators in 1914 and played one game. After a tour in the minor league, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1918...
and another source claims he was traded with John Monroe
John Monroe (baseball)
John Allen Monroe was an infielder in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies in 1921.-References:...
for pitcher Cecil "Red" Causey
Red Causey
Cecil Algerton "Red" Causey was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1918 to 1922.Prior to playing professionally, he attended Georgetown High School....
on July 10.
He was used mostly as a starting pitcher for the Phillies in 1921, starting 14 of the 18 games in which he appeared. He went 5–10 with 10 complete games and a 3.63 ERA in 114 innings, allowing 142 hits, 27 unearned runs and 28 walks while striking out 22 batters. He led the team's starting pitchers in ERA. At the plate, he collected five hits in 39 at-bats for a .128 batting average.
On July 21, he was involved in a triple play
Triple Play
A triple play is a baseball play in which three outs are made as a result of continuous action without any intervening errors between outs.Triple play may also refer to:...
. He was on first base when Goldie Rapp
Goldie Rapp
Joseph Aloysius "Goldie" Rapp was a professional baseball player for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1921–1923. He was 5 ft 10 in tall and weighed 165 lb. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and died in La Mesa, California....
hit a line drive to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
' second baseman Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
, who tossed the ball to second base to get John Peters. The ball was thrown to first before Winters could return, thus completing the triple play.
Winters began the 1922 season by posting a 2.25 ERA in his first 16 innings of work. He then posted a 5.74 ERA the rest of the way, en route to a season record of 6–6 and an ERA of 5.34 in 34 games, nine of which he started. He walked 56 batters and had 29 strikeouts. He was second on the team in winning percentage (.500, behind Petie Behan
Petie Behan
Charles Frederick "Petie" Behan was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Behan played for the Philadelphia Phillies from to . He batted and threw right-handed....
) and games finished (16, one behind George Smith), also leading the club in saves, with two. He tied for seventh in the league in saves and eighth in the league in games finished. At the plate, he hit .256 with two doubles in 45 at-bats.
He played his final major league season in 1923, going 1–6 with a 7.35 ERA in 21 games, six of which he started. In 78 1/3 innings, he allowed 116 hits and 39 walks, while striking out 23 batters. He threw one complete game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 27. His four fielding errors were the fourth-most in the league.
Through May 16, he was 1–2 with a 4.60 ERA in seven games. Due to his performance to that point in the season, Phillies manager Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher
Arthur Fletcher was an American shortstop, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. Fletcher was associated with two New York City baseball dynasties: the Giants of John McGraw as a player; and the Yankees of Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy as a coach.Born in Collinsville, Illinois, Fletcher...
requested waivers for Winters, which could have potentially ended the pitcher's major league career at that point. However, he stuck around until July 30, his final major league game. After his final big league appearance, the Phillies sent Winters to the Hartford Senators
Hartford Senators
The Hartford Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They operated in the Connecticut League from 1902-1912, the Eastern Association from 1913-1914, the Eastern League from 1916-1932 and the Northeastern League in 1934. For the 1932 season they were affiliated...
of the Eastern League, with whom he played until the end of the season.
Final years
He began 1924 with the Phillies in spring training, however he was sold to the Portland BeaversPortland 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...
before the season began. He appeared in 42 games for the Beavers that year, going 16–20 with a 4.11 ERA. In 285 innings, he allowed 333 hits and 101 walks, leading the team in victories, innings pitched, runs allowed (174) and bases on balls. He finished second behind Charlie Eckert
Charlie Eckert
Charles William Eckert was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons, , and , for the Philadelphia Athletics. He continued to pitch in the minors until .-External links:...
in losses, games, hits allowed and earned runs allowed (144).
He spent the majority of 1925 with the Beavers, going 5–6 with a 5.17 ERA. He also appeared in eight games for the Wichita Falls Spudders
Wichita Falls Spudders
The Wichita Falls Spudders were a minor league baseball team that formed in 1920 and played its last game in 1957. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas....
, posting a 1–0 record and a 2.57 ERA. Combined, he went 6–6 with a 4.41 ERA in 30 games, walking 71 batters and allowing 116 hits in 143 innings. He retired due to a bad pitching arm.
Post-playing career and death
Following his playing career, Winters became a businessman, opening up D&W Tire Company in Abilene, TexasAbilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, in 1929, which he owned until 1950. He later served as the mayor of Abilene from 1957 to 1959, where he died on June 5, 1986, at the age of 92. The Winters Freeway, which runs through Abilene, is named after him. He was interred at Elmwood Memorial Park
Elmwood Memorial Park
Elmwood Memorial Park is a cemetery located in Abilene, Texas. It has in excess of 4,000 interments. The first burials at this cemetery took place in 1946.One-time professional baseball player Jesse Winters is interred there....
in Abilene, Texas.