Pea Ridge Day
Encyclopedia
Henry Clyde Day was a champion Arkansas hog-caller and right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
who committed suicide after an operation to repair his throwing arm proved unsuccessful.
, Day grew up in Pea Ridge, Arkansas
, which gave him his nickname. He was a colorful player who was known as the "hog calling pitcher" for his habit of making Arkansas hog calls while on the pitcher’s mound – sounds that one newspaper described as "piercing yells." Also known for his screwball pitch and his eccentric personality, Day was described in his obituary as "a care-free, fun-loving figure who gave the game one of its most widely known characters."
, Fort Smith
, Little Rock
, and Muskogee
from 1921-1924. He made his major league debut in September 1924 with the St. Louis Cardinals
, starting three games and going 1-1 in 17-2/3 innings with a 4.58 earned run average
. In 1925, he played in 17 games for the Cardinals, four as a starter, with a record of 2-4 and a 6.30 ERA.
The Cardinals sent him to the minor leagues in Syracuse
, and from there he signed for the 1926 season with the Cincinnati Reds
, where he appeared in four games and 7-1/3 innings with a 7.36 earned run average
. After being released by the Reds, Day spent the next five years in the minor leagues with the Syracuse Chiefs, Los Angeles Angels
, Wichita Larks, Omaha Crickets, Kansas City Blues
, and Minneapolis Millers
.
In 1929, Day was the ace for the Blues (111-56), considered one of the best minor league baseball teams of all time. Day went 12-5 for the Blues, and his 2.98 ERA was second-lowest in the American Association. While playing for the Blues, Day was teammates with pitcher Max Thomas
who went 18-11 that year and became friends with Day. Five years later, Day would visit Thomas in Kansas City, and Thomas would try unsuccessfully to save Pea Ridge's life.
-- now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He went 2-2 with a career-low 4.55 ERA for the Robins. He played in his final major league game in September 1931 and spent the 1932 and 1933 seasons with minor league stints in Minneapolis and Baltimore.
Hall-of-Fame catcher Al Lopez
caught for Day in 1931. In an Associated Press
interview, Lopez recounted a story about a 1931 exhibition game against the New York Yankees
. "The fans had been reading about him being a champion hog caller, so they all started calling 'Yip, yip yeeee!' He strikes out the first hitter, puts the ball and glove down and lets out this call. He strikes out the next batter and does it again. Babe Ruth
was on deck, and he gets a big kick out of it. He’s laughing at this guy. Then he has Ruth with two strikes. It gets real quiet. The fans are hoping he'll strike out Ruth so he can yell again. On the third pitch, Ruth hits one a mile over the fence. Pea Ridge never did his hog call again.”
, going 9-8, but by 1933, Day’s pitching arm was shot, and he was released by Baltimore in August 1933. Day reportedly “brooded almost continually” over the end of his pitching career. Desperate to revive his pitching career, Day went to the world renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
for a delicate and expensive operation to restore his arm. Day told his family that he had spent $10,000 (more than $150,000 in 2007 dollars) on the arm, and he was "crestfallen" when the surgery proved unsuccessful.
In early 1934, Day’s wife of eleven years gave birth to a baby boy, but Day was despondent at the loss of his pitching arm. Day reportedly turned to alcohol and in March 1934, traveled to Kansas City
, "seeking treatment for lapses of memory." On March 21, 1934, while staying in the apartment of former teammate, Max Thomas, Day slit his throat with a hunting knife. Thomas tried to stop Day but was pushed aside. His funeral in Pea Ridge
was attended by more than 500 people.
Day was buried at the Pea Ridge Cemetery, in Pea Ridge, Arkansas
.
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 committed suicide after an operation to repair his throwing arm proved unsuccessful.
The "Hog-Calling Pitcher"
Born in Center, MissouriCenter, Missouri
Center is a city in Ralls County, Missouri, United States. The population was 644 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Center is located at ....
, Day grew up in Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Pea Ridge is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The name Pea Ridge comes from a combination of the physical location of the original settlement of the town, across the crest of an Ozark Mountains ridge, and for the hog peanuts or turkey peas that had been originally cultivated by...
, which gave him his nickname. He was a colorful player who was known as the "hog calling pitcher" for his habit of making Arkansas hog calls while on the pitcher’s mound – sounds that one newspaper described as "piercing yells." Also known for his screwball pitch and his eccentric personality, Day was described in his obituary as "a care-free, fun-loving figure who gave the game one of its most widely known characters."
Early career (1921-1930)
Day began his pitching career playing in the minor leagues for JoplinJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, and Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
from 1921-1924. He made his major league debut in September 1924 with 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...
, starting three games and going 1-1 in 17-2/3 innings with a 4.58 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...
. In 1925, he played in 17 games for the Cardinals, four as a starter, with a record of 2-4 and a 6.30 ERA.
The Cardinals sent him to the minor leagues in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and from there he signed for the 1926 season with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, where he appeared in four games and 7-1/3 innings with a 7.36 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...
. After being released by the Reds, Day spent the next five years in the minor leagues with the Syracuse Chiefs, Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
, Wichita Larks, Omaha Crickets, 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....
, and Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
.
In 1929, Day was the ace for the Blues (111-56), considered one of the best minor league baseball teams of all time. Day went 12-5 for the Blues, and his 2.98 ERA was second-lowest in the American Association. While playing for the Blues, Day was teammates with pitcher Max Thomas
Max Thomas
Maxwell McNee "Max" Thomas was an Australian Anglican bishop in the last third of the 20th century.Born into an ecclesiastical family on 23 August 1926 and educated at St. Paul's College, Sydney, he was ordained in 1952 and served first as a curate at East Maitland. Later he was Priest in Charge...
who went 18-11 that year and became friends with Day. Five years later, Day would visit Thomas in Kansas City, and Thomas would try unsuccessfully to save Pea Ridge's life.
The "Hog-Calling Pitcher" Faces Babe Ruth
In 1931, Day got a second shot at the big leagues, playing in 22 games with the Brooklyn RobinsLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
-- now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He went 2-2 with a career-low 4.55 ERA for the Robins. He played in his final major league game in September 1931 and spent the 1932 and 1933 seasons with minor league stints in Minneapolis and Baltimore.
Hall-of-Fame catcher Al Lopez
Al Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
caught for Day in 1931. In an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
interview, Lopez recounted a story about a 1931 exhibition game against the 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...
. "The fans had been reading about him being a champion hog caller, so they all started calling 'Yip, yip yeeee!' He strikes out the first hitter, puts the ball and glove down and lets out this call. He strikes out the next batter and does it again. Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
was on deck, and he gets a big kick out of it. He’s laughing at this guy. Then he has Ruth with two strikes. It gets real quiet. The fans are hoping he'll strike out Ruth so he can yell again. On the third pitch, Ruth hits one a mile over the fence. Pea Ridge never did his hog call again.”
An Unsuccessful Arm Operation at the Mayo Clinic
In 1932, Day pitched 145 innings for the Minneapolis MillersMinneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, going 9-8, but by 1933, Day’s pitching arm was shot, and he was released by Baltimore in August 1933. Day reportedly “brooded almost continually” over the end of his pitching career. Desperate to revive his pitching career, Day went to the world renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
for a delicate and expensive operation to restore his arm. Day told his family that he had spent $10,000 (more than $150,000 in 2007 dollars) on the arm, and he was "crestfallen" when the surgery proved unsuccessful.
Pea Ridge Day's Suicide
Aside from the deterioration of his arm, Day's life had been riddled with problems. His brother, Lemmie Day, was also a promising pitcher who had his leg amputated in 1922 and later died from "blood poisoning.” In 1929, Day’s mother committed suicide by drinking poison, and his father died of a heart attack in 1932.In early 1934, Day’s wife of eleven years gave birth to a baby boy, but Day was despondent at the loss of his pitching arm. Day reportedly turned to alcohol and in March 1934, traveled to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, "seeking treatment for lapses of memory." On March 21, 1934, while staying in the apartment of former teammate, Max Thomas, Day slit his throat with a hunting knife. Thomas tried to stop Day but was pushed aside. His funeral in Pea Ridge
Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Pea Ridge is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The name Pea Ridge comes from a combination of the physical location of the original settlement of the town, across the crest of an Ozark Mountains ridge, and for the hog peanuts or turkey peas that had been originally cultivated by...
was attended by more than 500 people.
Day was buried at the Pea Ridge Cemetery, in Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Pea Ridge is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The name Pea Ridge comes from a combination of the physical location of the original settlement of the town, across the crest of an Ozark Mountains ridge, and for the hog peanuts or turkey peas that had been originally cultivated by...
.