Johnny Rigney
Encyclopedia
John Dungan Rigney was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox
(-, -). Listed at 6' 2", 190 lb., Rigney batted and threw right-handed. A native of River Forest, Illinois
, he was signed out of the University of St. Thomas
.
Rigney was one of the Chicago White Sox top pitchers in the years prior to World War II
. His most productive season came in , when he won a career-high 15 games, including the first win for a pitcher during the first night game ever played at Comiskey Park
(August 14). In , he recorded 14 wins with a career-high 3.11 ERA
, pitching an 11-inning
, 1–0 shutout
against the visitors New York Yankees
(June 20). It was the first time since 1919 that the Yankees had been shut out in extra innings by one pitcher. After that, he won 13 games in and was 3-3 before joining the United States Navy
in May 1942. After being discharged in 1945, he returned to Chicago, but his playing time was limited by arm injuries. He retired after the season.
In an eight-season career, Rigney posted a 63-64 record with 605 strikeout
s and a 3.59 ERA in 197 appearances
, including 132 starts, 66 complete games, 10 shutouts, five saves
, and 1186 ⅓ innings of work.
Rigney married Dorothy Comiskey, granddaughter of Charles Comiskey
, founding owner of the White Sox, and daughter of J. Louis Comiskey
, another former club president. Following his playing retirement, Rigney took a position in the White Sox front office. In 1956, he became the club's co-general manager
along with Chuck Comiskey
in replacement of Frank Lane
.
Rigney died in Wheaton, Illinois
, seven days shy of his 70th birthday.
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 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...
who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(-, -). Listed at 6' 2", 190 lb., Rigney batted and threw right-handed. A native of River Forest, Illinois
River Forest, Illinois
River Forest is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The village is closely tied to the larger neighboring community of Oak Park, Illinois. There are significant...
, he was signed out of the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
.
Rigney was one of the Chicago White Sox top pitchers in the years prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His most productive season came in , when he won a career-high 15 games, including the first win for a pitcher during the first night game ever played at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
(August 14). In , he recorded 14 wins with a career-high 3.11 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...
, pitching an 11-inning
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...
, 1–0 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....
against the visitors 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...
(June 20). It was the first time since 1919 that the Yankees had been shut out in extra innings by one pitcher. After that, he won 13 games in and was 3-3 before joining the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in May 1942. After being discharged in 1945, he returned to Chicago, but his playing time was limited by arm injuries. He retired after the season.
In an eight-season career, Rigney posted a 63-64 record with 605 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 3.59 ERA in 197 appearances
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, including 132 starts, 66 complete games, 10 shutouts, 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 1186 ⅓ innings of work.
Rigney married Dorothy Comiskey, granddaughter of Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
, founding owner of the White Sox, and daughter of J. Louis Comiskey
J. Louis Comiskey
J. Louis Comiskey was the owner of the Chicago White Sox of the American League from through . Comiskey inherited the team from his father, Charles Comiskey, in 1931, and had worked for the White Sox since 1910. Control of the White Sox passed to Comiskey's widow, Grace Comiskey, upon his...
, another former club president. Following his playing retirement, Rigney took a position in the White Sox front office. In 1956, he became the club's co-general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
along with Chuck Comiskey
Chuck Comiskey
Charles Albert Comiskey II was part-owner of the Chicago White Sox from to . A native of Chicago, Comiskey was the grandson of the team's founder, Charles Comiskey....
in replacement of Frank Lane
Frank Lane
Frank Lane was an American executive in professional baseball, most notably serving as a general manager in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, St...
.
Rigney died in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, seven days shy of his 70th birthday.