Vic Raschi
Encyclopedia
Victor John Angelo "Vic" Raschi (March 28, 1919 – October 14, 1988) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He was responsible for allowing Hank Aaron's first career home run.
He was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts
and went on to graduate from the College of William and Mary
.
His debut on the New York Yankees
was September 23, 1946, wearing uniform number 12. The next year he wore three different numbers (17, 19, and 43) but number 17 became his from then on during his Yankee career. He was one of the top pitchers for the Yankees in the late 1940s and early 1950s, forming (with Allie Reynolds
, and Eddie Lopat
) the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff. From 1946 to , Raschi won 120 games while losing 50. He led the American League
in won/lost percentage with a .724 record in , and in strikeouts with 164 in . And he was a better hitter than most pitchers, with a .184 career batting average
, and had 7 runs batted in (RBI) in one game, an American League record for pitchers, on August 3, 1953. But on February 24, 1954, Yankee fans were surprised to see him traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
. Apparently the Yankees' management knew what they had done, because in the remaining two years of his career, with the Cardinals and Kansas City Athletics (who signed him as a free agent on April 28, 1955 when the Cardinals released him), Raschi won only 12 games while losing 16.
On April 23, 1954, Raschi gave up the first of Hank Aaron's 755 career home runs. Aaron, Major League Baseball′s future home run king, had also notched his first career hit off Raschi eight days earlier.
He kept his uniform number 17 on the Cardinals, but on the A's took number 16.
While playing with the Yankees, he and his wife Sally lived in a home in Hillsdale, New Jersey
. He retired to Conesus, New York
, where he ran a liquor store and served as a baseball coach at Geneseo State College (now the State University of New York at Geneseo
). In 1975, the college dedicated the Victor J. Raschi Baseball Field, which is now used as a softball field. Raschi died in Groveland, New York
.
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...
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...
. He was responsible for allowing Hank Aaron's first career home run.
He was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
and went on to graduate from the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
.
His debut on 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...
was September 23, 1946, wearing uniform number 12. The next year he wore three different numbers (17, 19, and 43) but number 17 became his from then on during his Yankee career. He was one of the top pitchers for the Yankees in the late 1940s and early 1950s, forming (with Allie Reynolds
Allie Reynolds
Allie Pierce Reynolds was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
, and Eddie Lopat
Eddie Lopat
Edmund Walter ""The Junkman"" Lopat was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox....
) the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff. From 1946 to , Raschi won 120 games while losing 50. He led 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...
in won/lost percentage with a .724 record in , and in strikeouts with 164 in . And he was a better hitter than most pitchers, with a .184 career 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 :...
, and had 7 runs batted in (RBI) in one game, an American League record for pitchers, on August 3, 1953. But on February 24, 1954, Yankee fans were surprised to see him traded to 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...
. Apparently the Yankees' management knew what they had done, because in the remaining two years of his career, with the Cardinals and Kansas City Athletics (who signed him as a free agent on April 28, 1955 when the Cardinals released him), Raschi won only 12 games while losing 16.
On April 23, 1954, Raschi gave up the first of Hank Aaron's 755 career home runs. Aaron, Major League Baseball′s future home run king, had also notched his first career hit off Raschi eight days earlier.
He kept his uniform number 17 on the Cardinals, but on the A's took number 16.
While playing with the Yankees, he and his wife Sally lived in a home in Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.The populated area today known as Hillsdale took form in the mid-to-late 19th century as land speculators, led by David P. Patterson, developed subdivisons to profit from the...
. He retired to Conesus, New York
Conesus, New York
Conesus is a town in Livingston County, New York , United States. The population was 2,353 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a native word meaning "Berry place."...
, where he ran a liquor store and served as a baseball coach at Geneseo State College (now the State University of New York at Geneseo
State University of New York at Geneseo
The State University of New York at Geneseo—also known as SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo State, or, colloquially, Geneseo—is located in Geneseo, Livingston County, New York, United States. It is a University College of the State University of New York...
). In 1975, the college dedicated the Victor J. Raschi Baseball Field, which is now used as a softball field. Raschi died in Groveland, New York
Groveland, New York
Groveland is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 3,853 at the 2000 census.The Town of Groveland is centrally located in the county, south of Geneseo.- History :...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
External links
- Baseball Almanac
- Baseball Library
- The Deadball Era
- Vic Raschi at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...