Vic Sorrell
Encyclopedia
Victor Garland Sorrell nicknamed "Lawyer" and "The Philosopher," was a Major League
pitcher
who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers
. In 10 Major League seasons, Sorrell had a 92-101 record with a 4.43 career ERA. Sorrell also coached the North Carolina State University
baseball team from 1946-1966.
, he attended Wake Forest University
, and did not break into Major League baseball until he was age 27. Sorrell was the subject of an eligibility controversy at Wake Forest in 1925. In April 1925, in a game attended by 8,000 fans (a record for a baseball game in North Carolina), North Carolina State College challenged Sorrell's eligibility, claiming he had played in an excessive number of games per week in semi-pro baseball the previous summer. Following the challenge, Sorrell went on to pitch a 12-inning victory over State College. http://www.baseballoutlaws.com/easter-monday-highlights.html Sorrell later became State College's baseball coach in 1946 after his professional career.
After the eligibility controversy at Wake Forest, Sorrell jumped from Wake Forest to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League and posted a 8-0, 3.08 record in 1926. He won his first four decisions with the Maple Leafs in 1927, giving him 12 victories in pro ball before he suffered his first loss. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=39 In 1927, he went 14-8, 3.98 and finally caught the attention of a major league scout from Detroit.
In 1928, Sorrell joined the Tigers and played there for ten years. He was one of the first major league pitchers to wear glasses. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=39 Sorrell was a starting pitcher and workhorse for the Tigers from 1928-1933, starting 175 games, and completing 80, in his first 6 seasons. His best season was 1930, when Sorrell had a 16-11 record, and was among the American League leaders in ERA (7th), wins (8th) and shutouts (4th). Sorrell was also among the AL leaders in strikeouts in 1931 with 99.
In 1934, the Tigers had the best season in the team's history, winning the American League pennant with a record of 101-53. Despite a high-scoring Detroit attack that included Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg
, Charlie Gehringer
, Mickey Cochrane
, and Goose Goslin
, Sorrell started only 28 games in 1934 (the fewest of his career to that point) and finished with a 6-9 record and a 4.79 ERA. Sorrell did not see action in the 1934 World Series.
In 1935, the Tigers won the first World Series in team history, but Sorrell's production continued to fade as he continued as a spot starter. He started only 8 games and pitched only 51-1/3 innings, with a 4-3 record. Once again, Sorrell did not play in the World Series.
Sorrell played two more seasons in 1936 and 1937, mostly as a reliever. He finished 6th in the American League in saves in 1936. He played his final game in June 1937 at age 36.
Sorrell died at age 71 on May 4, 1972 in Raleigh, North Carolina
.
Sorrell was posthumously elected to the Wake Forest University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/trads/wake-trads-halloffame.html
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...
who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. In 10 Major League seasons, Sorrell had a 92-101 record with a 4.43 career ERA. Sorrell also coached the North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
baseball team from 1946-1966.
Professional playing career
Born in Morrisville, North CarolinaMorrisville, North Carolina
Morrisville is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. A small portion of the town extends into Durham County. The population was 18,576 according to a April 1, 2010 census. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region...
, he attended Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, and did not break into Major League baseball until he was age 27. Sorrell was the subject of an eligibility controversy at Wake Forest in 1925. In April 1925, in a game attended by 8,000 fans (a record for a baseball game in North Carolina), North Carolina State College challenged Sorrell's eligibility, claiming he had played in an excessive number of games per week in semi-pro baseball the previous summer. Following the challenge, Sorrell went on to pitch a 12-inning victory over State College. http://www.baseballoutlaws.com/easter-monday-highlights.html Sorrell later became State College's baseball coach in 1946 after his professional career.
After the eligibility controversy at Wake Forest, Sorrell jumped from Wake Forest to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League and posted a 8-0, 3.08 record in 1926. He won his first four decisions with the Maple Leafs in 1927, giving him 12 victories in pro ball before he suffered his first loss. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=39 In 1927, he went 14-8, 3.98 and finally caught the attention of a major league scout from Detroit.
In 1928, Sorrell joined the Tigers and played there for ten years. He was one of the first major league pitchers to wear glasses. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=39 Sorrell was a starting pitcher and workhorse for the Tigers from 1928-1933, starting 175 games, and completing 80, in his first 6 seasons. His best season was 1930, when Sorrell had a 16-11 record, and was among the American League leaders in ERA (7th), wins (8th) and shutouts (4th). Sorrell was also among the AL leaders in strikeouts in 1931 with 99.
In 1934, the Tigers had the best season in the team's history, winning the American League pennant with a record of 101-53. Despite a high-scoring Detroit attack that included Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
, Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, and Goose Goslin
Goose Goslin
Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
, Sorrell started only 28 games in 1934 (the fewest of his career to that point) and finished with a 6-9 record and a 4.79 ERA. Sorrell did not see action in the 1934 World Series.
In 1935, the Tigers won the first World Series in team history, but Sorrell's production continued to fade as he continued as a spot starter. He started only 8 games and pitched only 51-1/3 innings, with a 4-3 record. Once again, Sorrell did not play in the World Series.
Sorrell played two more seasons in 1936 and 1937, mostly as a reliever. He finished 6th in the American League in saves in 1936. He played his final game in June 1937 at age 36.
Managerial career
After leaving Major League Baseball, Sorrell managed Bluefield (Mountain State) in 1939-40. For 21 years (1946-66) he was head coach at North Carolina State with a 223-196, and 5 ties. His 21 year tenure as head coach is tied by Sam Esposito for the longest baseball coaching career at NCSU. Under Sorrell the Pack went 96-89 in 13 years in the ACC, twenty-nine players were picked for all-Conference honors, and three were named all-Americans. According to player Bob Kennel (class of 1958), Coach Sorrell was a "pure baseball man." http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/exhibits/baseball/highlights.htmlSorrell died at age 71 on May 4, 1972 in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
Sorrell was posthumously elected to the Wake Forest University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/trads/wake-trads-halloffame.html