Rube Walberg
Encyclopedia
George Elvin Walberg was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the New York Giants
(1923), Philadelphia Athletics
(1923-1933) and Boston Red Sox
(1934-1937). Walberg batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Pine City, Minnesota
.
In a 15-season career, Walberg posted a 155-141 record with 1085 strikeout
s and a 4.16 ERA
in 2644 innings
, including 15 shutout
s and 140 complete games.
A consistent and durable pitcher, Walberg averaged 16 wins
for the Philadelphia Athletics of Connie Mack
from 1926 to 1932, with career-highs of 20 wins in 1931 and 18 in 1929. He also had a 1-1 mark with a 1.93 ERA for the Athletics in five World Series
appearances. A good-hitting pitcher, Walberg collected a .220 batting average
with four home run
s and 84 runs batted in. When Mack dismantled the Athletics in 1933, he was sent along with Lefty Grove
and Max Bishop
to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for two players and $150.000. He was a spot starter and reliever
with Boston during three seasons and pitched his last game at the age of forty-one.
Walberg surrendered 17 home runs to Babe Ruth
, more than did any other pitcher.
Walberg died in Tempe, Arizona
at age 82. In , he was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
.
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 from through 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....
(1923), Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1923-1933) and 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"...
(1934-1937). Walberg batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Pine City, Minnesota
Pine City, Minnesota
Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...
.
In a 15-season career, Walberg posted a 155-141 record with 1085 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 4.16 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...
in 2644 innings
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...
, including 15 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 and 140 complete games.
A consistent and durable pitcher, Walberg averaged 16 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...
for the Philadelphia Athletics of Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
from 1926 to 1932, with career-highs of 20 wins in 1931 and 18 in 1929. He also had a 1-1 mark with a 1.93 ERA for the Athletics in five World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
appearances. A good-hitting pitcher, Walberg collected a .220 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 :...
with four 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 84 runs batted in. When Mack dismantled the Athletics in 1933, he was sent along with Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
and Max Bishop
Max Bishop
Max Frederick Bishop was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox . Bishop batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for two players and $150.000. He was a spot starter and reliever
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...
with Boston during three seasons and pitched his last game at the age of forty-one.
Walberg surrendered 17 home runs to 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...
, more than did any other pitcher.
Walberg died in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
at age 82. In , he was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame
The Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame is a collection of plaques, mounted on a brick wall in the Ashburn Alley section of Citizens Bank Park, the ballpark of the Philadelphia Phillies...
.