Walter Anderson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Walter Carl Anderson also known as "Lefty" Anderson, was a professional baseball
player whose playing career spanned five season, including parts of two in Major League Baseball
with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1917 and 1919. Anderson compiled a major league record of 1–0 with a 3.25 earned run average
(ERA) and 20 strikeouts in 17 games, two starts
. He also played in the minor leagues
with the Class-B Fort Worth Panthers, the Double-A Louisville Colonels and the Class-B Rockford Rox. Before his professional career, Anderson attended Western Michigan University
. Anderson also served in World War I
. Anderson batted and threw left-handed
.
from 1916 to 1917. After making his debut in Major League Baseball
in 1918, he became the second attendee of Western Michigan to do so, behind Ernie Koob
who did it in 1915.
debut in 1913 with the Class-B Fort Worth Panthers of the Texas League
. Anderson then left his baseball career to serve in World War I
. He made his return to baseball in 1917 as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, a Major League Baseball
franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Anderson made his major league debut on May 14, 1917. With the Athletics that season, Anderson did not compile a record with a 3.03 earned run average
(ERA), 10 strikeouts in 14 games, two starts
. In 1918, Anderson did not play in the professional circuit, but returned to Athletics in 1919. In the majors that season, Anderson went 1–0 with a 3.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in three games, all in relief
. After completing his stint with the Athletics, Anderson joined the Double-A Louisville Colonels. That season in the minor leagues
, Anderson went 6–1 with a 2.88 ERA in 13 games played. Anderson would play two more season, 1920 and 1921, in professional baseball. With the Rockford Rox of the Class-B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Anderson went 2–6 in 1920 and 0–1 in 1921.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose playing career spanned five season, including parts of two 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...
with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1917 and 1919. Anderson compiled a major league record of 1–0 with a 3.25 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...
(ERA) and 20 strikeouts in 17 games, two 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....
. He also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Class-B Fort Worth Panthers, the Double-A Louisville Colonels and the Class-B Rockford Rox. Before his professional career, Anderson attended Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
. Anderson also served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Anderson batted and threw 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...
.
Amateur career
Anderson attended Western Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
from 1916 to 1917. After making his debut 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...
in 1918, he became the second attendee of Western Michigan to do so, behind Ernie Koob
Ernie Koob
Ernest Gerald Koob , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1915-1919 for the St. Louis Browns. On May 5, 1917, Koob pitched a 1-0 no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox...
who did it in 1915.
Professional career
Anderson officially made his professional baseballProfessional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
debut in 1913 with the Class-B Fort Worth Panthers of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. Anderson then left his baseball career to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He made his return to baseball in 1917 as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, a 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...
franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Anderson made his major league debut on May 14, 1917. With the Athletics that season, Anderson did not compile a record with a 3.03 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...
(ERA), 10 strikeouts in 14 games, two 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....
. In 1918, Anderson did not play in the professional circuit, but returned to Athletics in 1919. In the majors that season, Anderson went 1–0 with a 3.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in three games, all in relief
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...
. After completing his stint with the Athletics, Anderson joined the Double-A Louisville Colonels. That season in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, Anderson went 6–1 with a 2.88 ERA in 13 games played. Anderson would play two more season, 1920 and 1921, in professional baseball. With the Rockford Rox of the Class-B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Anderson went 2–6 in 1920 and 0–1 in 1921.