Babe Adams
Encyclopedia
Charles Benjamin "Babe" Adams (May 18, 1882 – July 27, 1968) was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from 1906 to 1926 who spent nearly his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Noted for his outstanding location control
, his career average of 1.29 walks
per 9 innings pitched
was the second lowest of the 20th century; his mark of 1 walk per 14.6 innings was a modern record until . He shares the Pirates' franchise record for career victories
by a right-hander (194), and holds the team mark for career shutout
s (47); from 1926 to 1962 he held the team record for career games pitched
(481).
Adams was born in Tipton, Indiana
. He made his Major League debut on April 18, 1906 with the St. Louis Cardinals
, taking the loss in a 4-inning start, but did not pitch again for them. In September 1907 his contract was sold to the Pirates, with whom he spent the remainder of his career. After going 12-3 with a 1.11 ERA
in the regular season, his first full year, Adams became the star of the 1909 World Series
after being named the surprise starter of Game 1 following a tip by National League
president John Heydler
that Adams' style was similar to that of an AL pitcher against whom the Detroit Tigers
had had difficulty. He won three complete game victories – each of them a six-hitter. With a shutout in Game 7, Adams became the first rookie in World Series history to start and win Game 7, which has only been repeated once in baseball history by John Lackey
in 2002
. He was also the only member of that team who would be on the Pirates' World Series champions in 1925
. He later won 20 games in both and . An off year in that saw his ERA rise to 5.72 got him farmed out to the Western Association
, but late in he found his stride again and rejoined the Pirates, where he stayed until .
Adams was known as an excellent control pitcher
. On July 17, 1914, he pitched an entire 21-inning game against the New York Giants
without allowing a single walk, surrendering only 12 hits, but losing 3-1 on Larry Doyle
's home run in the top of the 21st; it is the longest game without a walk in Major League history. Rube Marquard
also went the distance for New York to gain the victory, allowing two walks. In , Adams allowed only 18 walks in 263 innings.
In his career Adams won 194 games and lost 140. His ERA was 2.76. His last game was on August 11, 1926; he was released days later after joining a group of players who requested that former manager and team vice president Fred Clarke
, who had been openly criticizing manager Bill McKechnie
, not be permitted to sit on the bench. Adams later managed in the minor leagues, farmed in Mount Moriah, Missouri
, and worked as a reporter and foreign correspondent during World War II
and the Korean War
.
Adams died of throat cancer in Silver Spring, Maryland
at age 86.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed 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...
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...
from 1906 to 1926 who spent nearly his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Noted for his outstanding location control
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
, his career average of 1.29 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
per 9 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...
was the second lowest of the 20th century; his mark of 1 walk per 14.6 innings was a modern record until . He shares the Pirates' franchise record for career victories
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
by a right-hander (194), and holds the team mark for career shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (47); from 1926 to 1962 he held the team record for career 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...
(481).
Adams was born in Tipton, Indiana
Tipton, Indiana
Tipton is a city in and the county seat of Tipton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He made his Major League debut on April 18, 1906 with 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...
, taking the loss in a 4-inning start, but did not pitch again for them. In September 1907 his contract was sold to the Pirates, with whom he spent the remainder of his career. After going 12-3 with a 1.11 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...
in the regular season, his first full year, Adams became the star of the 1909 World Series
1909 World Series
The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first championship of the modern Major League Baseball era and the second championship in the club's history....
after being named the surprise starter of Game 1 following a tip by 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...
president John Heydler
John Heydler
John Arnold Heydler was an American executive in Major League Baseball.-Biography:Born in La Fargeville, New York, he began working as a printer, eventually being employed at the U.S. Government Printing Office....
that Adams' style was similar to that of an AL pitcher against whom 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...
had had difficulty. He won three complete game victories – each of them a six-hitter. With a shutout in Game 7, Adams became the first rookie in World Series history to start and win Game 7, which has only been repeated once in baseball history by John Lackey
John Lackey
John Derran Lackey is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Lackey was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 1999 and helped the franchise win its first World Series title in 2002, which was his first season in the major leagues...
in 2002
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
. He was also the only member of that team who would be on the Pirates' World Series champions in 1925
1925 World Series
In the 1925 World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the defending champion Washington Senators in seven games.In a reversal of fortune on all counts from the previous 1924 World Series, when Washington's Walter Johnson had come back from two losses to win the seventh and deciding game, Johnson...
. He later won 20 games in both and . An off year in that saw his ERA rise to 5.72 got him farmed out to the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, but late in he found his stride again and rejoined the Pirates, where he stayed until .
Adams was known as an excellent control pitcher
Control pitcher
A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as opposed to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches...
. On July 17, 1914, he pitched an entire 21-inning game against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
without allowing a single walk, surrendering only 12 hits, but losing 3-1 on Larry Doyle
Larry Doyle (baseball player)
Lawrence Joseph Doyle , nicknamed "Laughing Larry," was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1907 to 1920 who played almost his entire career for the New York Giants...
's home run in the top of the 21st; it is the longest game without a walk in Major League history. Rube Marquard
Rube Marquard
Richard William "Rube" Marquard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1910s and early 1920s...
also went the distance for New York to gain the victory, allowing two walks. In , Adams allowed only 18 walks in 263 innings.
In his career Adams won 194 games and lost 140. His ERA was 2.76. His last game was on August 11, 1926; he was released days later after joining a group of players who requested that former manager and team vice president Fred Clarke
Fred Clarke
Fred Clifford Clarke was a Major League Baseball player from 1894 to and manager from 1897 to 1915. A Hall of Famer, Clarke played for and managed both the Louisville Colonels and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a left fielder and left-handed batter.Of the nine pennants in Pittsburgh franchise...
, who had been openly criticizing manager Bill McKechnie
Bill McKechnie
William Boyd McKechnie was an American third baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He was the first manager to win World Series titles with two different teams , and remains one of only two managers to win pennants with three teams, also capturing the National League title in 1928...
, not be permitted to sit on the bench. Adams later managed in the minor leagues, farmed in Mount Moriah, Missouri
Mount Moriah, Missouri
Mount Moriah is a village in Harrison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town.-Geography:Mount Moriah is located at ....
, and worked as a reporter and foreign correspondent during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Adams died of throat cancer in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
at age 86.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB
- BaseballLibrary - biography and career highlights
- Photo - Library of Congress