Pat Malone
Encyclopedia
Perce Leigh Malone was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Chicago Cubs
(1928–34) and New York Yankees
(1935–37). Listed at 6' 0", 200 lb., Malone batted left-handed
and threw right-handed. He was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
.
Malone was outstanding in his first three Major League seasons. As a rookie, he compiled a 18-13 record for the third-place 1928 Chicago Cubs, striking out
155 opponents to finish second in the National League
behind Dazzy Vance
(200). As a sophomore, he led the NL pitchers with 22 wins
, 166 strikeouts and six shutout
s, helping the Cubs reach the 1929 World Series
. Again in 1930, he led the league with 20 wins and finished in third place with 142 strikeouts, being surpassed only by Bill Hallahan
(177) and Vance (173). He also tied Erv Brame
for the lead in complete games, with 22.
The next four years Malone lowered his previous numbers, averaging 14 wins and 104 strikeouts for each year. Before the 1935 season he was part of consecutive transactions between the Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals
and New York Yankees
. Moved to the bullpen
by the Yankees, he collected 18 saves
during three seasons, including an American League
lead with nine saves in 1936.
In a 10-season career, Malone posted a 134-92 record with 1024 strikeouts and a 3.74 ERA in 357 appearances, including 220 starts
, 115 complete games, 15 shutouts, 26 saves, and 1915.0 innings pitched
.
A good-hitting pitcher, Malone recorded a .188 batting average
(129-for-688) with nine home run
s and 61 RBI
. According to the Elias Sports Bureau
, he is one of two pitchers in modern era to hit at least one home run
in his first five Major League seasons (1928–1932). The other is Dontrelle Willis
(2003–2007).
Malone was an alumnus of Juniata College
and died in his hometown of Altoona at the age of 40.
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...
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 from through for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1928–34) and 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...
(1935–37). Listed at 6' 0", 200 lb., Malone batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed. He was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
.
Malone was outstanding in his first three Major League seasons. As a rookie, he compiled a 18-13 record for the third-place 1928 Chicago Cubs, striking 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....
155 opponents to finish 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 Dazzy Vance
Dazzy Vance
Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance was a star Major League Baseball starting pitcher during the 1920s.-Biography:...
(200). As a sophomore, he led the NL pitchers with 22 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...
, 166 strikeouts and six 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....
s, helping the Cubs reach the 1929 World Series
1929 World Series
In the 1929 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in five games.The famous "Mack Attack" occurred in 1929, named for manager of the Athletics, Connie Mack, in which the Athletics overcame an eight-run deficit by scoring ten runs in the seventh inning of Game 4...
. Again in 1930, he led the league with 20 wins and finished in third place with 142 strikeouts, being surpassed only by Bill Hallahan
Bill Hallahan
William Anthony "Wild Bill" Hallahan was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s...
(177) and Vance (173). He also tied Erv Brame
Erv Brame
Erv Brame was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed.Brame was 6'2" and weighed 190 pounds....
for the lead in complete games, with 22.
The next four years Malone lowered his previous numbers, averaging 14 wins and 104 strikeouts for each year. Before the 1935 season he was part of consecutive transactions between the Cubs, 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...
and 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...
. Moved to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
by the Yankees, he collected 18 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...
during three seasons, including an 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...
lead with nine saves in 1936.
In a 10-season career, Malone posted a 134-92 record with 1024 strikeouts and a 3.74 ERA in 357 appearances, including 220 starts
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....
, 115 complete games, 15 shutouts, 26 saves, and 1915.0 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...
.
A good-hitting pitcher, Malone recorded a .188 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(129-for-688) with nine 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...
s and 61 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. According to the Elias Sports Bureau
Elias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of professional sports.In 1913, Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter established the Al Munro Elias Bureau in New York City...
, he is one of two pitchers in modern era to hit at least one 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...
in his first five Major League seasons (1928–1932). The other is Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis , nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American professional baseball pitcher. Willis is notable for his success during his first few years in the league and for his unconventional pitching style, which includes a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter...
(2003–2007).
Malone was an alumnus of Juniata College
Juniata College
Juniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
and died in his hometown of Altoona at the age of 40.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- MLB wins champions
- MLB strikeout champions
- MLB saves champions