Ken McBride
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Faye McBride is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. The 6'0", 195 lb (88.5 kg). righty was signed by the Boston Red Sox
as an amateur free agent before the 1954 season. McBride played for the Chicago White Sox
(1959-1960) and Los Angeles/California Angels
(1961–1965).
On August 1, 1959 McBride was purchased by the White Sox from the Red Sox, and he made his major league debut three days later, starting against the Baltimore Orioles
at Memorial Stadium
. In 7.1 innings
he gave up three runs
(one earned
) and was the losing pitcher in the 3-2 game. He gave up five hits
, struck out three, and walked seven.
He pitched in eleven games for Chicago in 1959, five more in 1960, then was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the White Sox in the 1960 expansion draft
. This turned out to be a big break for McBride.
His first three seasons with the Angels were the best of his career. From 1961 to 1963 he made 95 starts, had a 36-32 record, 7 shutouts, a 3.46 earned run average
, and was on the American League
All-Star
team each year. During this span he finished in the league's top ten twice for games started
, complete games, and innings pitched
, and once for winning percentage
, strikeouts, shutouts, and WHIP
.
McBride struggled in 1964 and 1965, and had a combined record of 4-16 in 37 games, 25 of which were starts. His last major league appearance was on August 15, 1965.
He gave up Roger Maris
' 50th home run
of 1961, but still won the game, 4-3.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08220LAA1961.htm
During his 7-year baseball career, McBride compiled 40 wins
, 503 strikeout
s, and an earned run average
of 3.79.
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...
right-handed 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...
. The 6'0", 195 lb (88.5 kg). righty was signed by 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"...
as an amateur free agent before the 1954 season. McBride played 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...
(1959-1960) and Los Angeles/California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1961–1965).
On August 1, 1959 McBride was purchased by the White Sox from the Red Sox, and he made his major league debut three days later, starting against the Baltimore Orioles
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...
at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
. In 7.1 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
he gave up three runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(one earned
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
) and was the losing pitcher in the 3-2 game. He gave up five hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, struck out three, and walked seven.
He pitched in eleven games for Chicago in 1959, five more in 1960, then was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the White Sox in the 1960 expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
. This turned out to be a big break for McBride.
His first three seasons with the Angels were the best of his career. From 1961 to 1963 he made 95 starts, had a 36-32 record, 7 shutouts, a 3.46 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...
, and was on 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...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team each year. During this span he finished in the league's top ten twice for games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, complete games, and 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...
, and once for winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
, strikeouts, shutouts, and WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
.
McBride struggled in 1964 and 1965, and had a combined record of 4-16 in 37 games, 25 of which were starts. His last major league appearance was on August 15, 1965.
He gave up Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
' 50th home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
of 1961, but still won the game, 4-3.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08220LAA1961.htm
During his 7-year baseball career, McBride compiled 40 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 503 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 an 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...
of 3.79.