Al Brazle
Encyclopedia
Alpha Eugene Brazle was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. The left-hander was signed by the Boston Red Sox
as an amateur free agent in 1936, and later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
for pitcher Mike Ryba
in September, 1940. He played his entire MLB
career for the Cards (1943, 1946–1954). In 1954, at the age of 40, he was the oldest player to appear in a National League
game that season.
A native of Loyal, Oklahoma
, Brazle played 7½ years in the minor leagues before he became a 29-year old Cardinal rookie
. He completed 47 of 117 starts, with 7 shutouts, and twice led the National League in saves
(1952 and 1953).
Brazle finished in the league's top ten in a dozen pitching categories, including games pitched
(7 times), saves (6 times), games finished
(5 times), winning percentage
(4 times), and earned run average
(3 times).
His career totals include a record of 97-64 (.602), 441 games, 60 saves, 178 games finished, 1376.2 innings pitched
, 554 strikeouts, and a 3.31 ERA
. He was a member of two pennant-winning clubs, losing in the 1943 World Series
to the New York Yankees
, and winning the 1946 World Series
against the Boston Red Sox.
Brazle died at the age of 60 in Grand Junction, Colorado
.
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...
. The left-hander was signed by the 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"...
as an amateur free agent in 1936, and later 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...
for pitcher Mike Ryba
Mike Ryba
Dominic Joseph "Mike" Ryba was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania.. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox...
in September, 1940. He played his entire MLB
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...
career for the Cards (1943, 1946–1954). In 1954, at the age of 40, he was the oldest player to appear in a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
game that season.
A native of Loyal, Oklahoma
Loyal, Oklahoma
Loyal is a town in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 81 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Loyal is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
, Brazle played 7½ years in the minor leagues before he became a 29-year old Cardinal rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
. He completed 47 of 117 starts, with 7 shutouts, and twice led the National League in saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
(1952 and 1953).
Brazle finished in the league's top ten in a dozen pitching categories, including games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
(7 times), saves (6 times), games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
(5 times), winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(4 times), and 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...
(3 times).
His career totals include a record of 97-64 (.602), 441 games, 60 saves, 178 games finished, 1376.2 innings pitched
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...
, 554 strikeouts, and a 3.31 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...
. He was a member of two pennant-winning clubs, losing in the 1943 World Series
1943 World Series
The 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees, in a rematch of the 1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win...
to 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...
, and winning the 1946 World Series
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
against the Boston Red Sox.
Brazle died at the age of 60 in Grand Junction, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
.
See also
External links
- The Deadball Era
- Al Brazle 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:...