MLB career Early Wynn

1 mlb career

1.1 career
1.2 middle career
1.3 later career

mlb career
early career

wynn made mlb debut in 1939, appearing in 3 games before returning minor leagues 1940. made major leagues in 1941, starting 5 games, completing 4 of them , finishing 3-1 win-loss record. wynn named washington s four-man pitching rotation in 1942. pitched 30 games season, finishing 10-16 record , 5.12 earned run average (era). next season, in 37 games, finished 18-12 2.91 era. led league in losses in 1944, compiling 8-17 record.

wynn joined united states army in 1944, going philippines serve in world war ii. though missed 1945 major league season, wynn played pacific army team known manila dodgers.

he returned united states in june 1946 , rejoined senators. in 17 games year, finished 8-5 record. pitched 33 games next year , earned decision in every game, totaling 17 wins 15 losses. wynn made 1947 al all-star squad (did not pitch) first time replacement injured bob feller. in 1948, wynn struggled 8-19 record 5.82 era, giving league-high 128 earned runs.

in december 1948 trade, wynn , mickey vernon sent cleveland indians in exchange joe haynes, ed klieman , eddie robinson. month earlier, boston red sox had offered johnny pesky washington wynn, trade did not go through. indians pitching coach , former star pitcher mel harder taught him how throw curveball, slider, changeup , knuckleball. wynn assimilated harder s lessons easily, , after 1949 season adjustment, next year recorded 18 wins , led al 3.20 era.

middle career

wynn in 1953

between 1950 , 1956, wynn won @ least 17 games per season. first 20-win season came in 1951. time had become part of 1 of greatest pitching rotations in mlb history, joining bob feller, bob lemon , mike garcia. manager al lópez later called 4 pitchers greatest pitching staff ever saw during 33 years in majors.

in 1954, wynn posted 2.73 era, won 23 games , struck out 155 batters. team went 1954 world series; wynn pitched 1 game , indians defeated new york giants in 4 straight games. after suffering pneumonia @ beginning of 1955 season, wynn earned first win in may. all-star second time in career , pitched 3 scoreless innings in game; selection marked start of 6 consecutive all-star seasons. finished 1955 season 17-11 record , 2.82 era.

in 1956 game, struck in face sharp line drive off bat of washington senators shortstop jose valdivielso. did not leave game immediately, later realizing had lost 7 teeth. facial wound required 16 stitches.

in 1957, wynn became second pitcher in major league history win game score of 1-0 while recording @ least ten strikeouts , hitting home run. wynn traded chicago white sox after 1957 season. wynn , al smith exchanged minnie miñoso , fred hatfield.

in 1958 wynn became first mlb pitcher lead league in strikeouts in consecutive years different teams (184 cleveland, 189 chicago). won cy young award in 1959 @ age of 39, posting record of 22–10, 179 strikeouts , 3.16 era helped lead white sox al pennant championship. third oldest mlb pitcher win 20 games in season, following cy young , grover cleveland alexander. starting pitcher in first of 2 all-star games held in 1959 (mlb held 2 all-star games 1959 through 1962).

wynn began throwing knuckleball in 1959 after fastball began lose velocity. years ve been accusing me of throwing when didn t know how hold ... can t throw hard did six, 7 years ago. , tired quicker. find can throw knuckler little more effort , no strain , wynn said.

in 1950s wynn had more strikeouts (1,544) other pitcher in majors , quite capable bat well. switch hitter, wynn batted .214 (365 1704), 17 home runs , 173 rbi. 90 pinch-hit appearances included grand slam, making him 1 of 5 mlb pitchers record grand slam pinch-hitter.

later career

in 1960, wynn all-star seventh , last time (7 seasons) , pitched 2 scoreless innings in second all-star game held season (his 9th all-star game). finished 1960 season 13-12. in 1961, 8-2 season ended in july because of gout caused persistent pain in arm , legs. pitched 7-15 record in 1962, having shifted pitching slider , knuckleball. last win of season 299th career victory. wynn had expressed desire 300 career wins.

wynn returned cleveland in 1963 last run. in season, won 300th game, after failing collect milestone win in 7 starts on 9 months in 1962–63. both timeframe , number of attempts longest between pitcher s 299th , 300th wins in mlb history. opposing kansas city batter ed charles recalled wynn s 300th win: fastball, if reached 80, stretching it. laboring, throwing nothing bloopers , junk. last game appearance on september 13, 1963, pitching last third inning of 6th against los angeles angels in relief of jack kralick. allowed 1 hit , 0 earned runs.

long after retirement, came @ end of 1963 season, wynn reflected on 300th win , said not proud of milestone. if had pitched game , gone 9 innings, something. s not way , wynn said. left game 5-4 lead after pitching 5 innings. jerry walker relieved me , saved game me. roommate , pitched man possessed , wynn recalled. wynn said had been awake night before game, suffering pain related gout had long affected him.

wynn last active major leaguer played in 1930s, becoming 1 of 29 players in baseball history have appeared in major league games in 4 decades. durability helped him lead american league in innings 3 times (1951, 1954, 1959) , propelled him al record years pitched (23). wynn won 300 games. registered 5 20-win seasons, 2,334 strikeouts, 290 complete games, 49 shutouts, , 4,556 innings pitched in 691 games.