Earl Caldwell
Encyclopedia
Earl Welton Caldwell was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
(1928), St. Louis Browns
(1935–1937), Chicago White Sox
(1945–1947, 1948) and Boston Red Sox
(1948). A native of Sparks, Texas
, Caldwell batted and threw right-handed. He was nicknamed "Teach".
Caldwell debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 8, 1928, and pitched a 4–0, six-hit shutout
over the Boston Braves
, but lost four games after that, and was let go at the end of the season. After spending seven years in minor league baseball
, Caldwell was called up by the St. Louis Browns. He reappeared successfully on September 22, 1935, outdueling Schoolboy Rowe
in a three-hit, 1–0 shutout over the American League
leading Detroit Tigers
. Caldwell ended with a 3-2 mark and a 3.68 ERA
, but faded to a 7-16 with a 6.00 ERA in 1936 and was sent again to the minors.
In 1944, Caldwell helped the Milwaukee Brewers
to clinch the American Association
title. Caldwell compiled a 19-5 record, earning the most wins
in the league and finishing with the highest winning percentage
(.792). His fine season earned him another shot at the majors, where he won 13 games basically as reliever
for the Chicago White Sox in 1945, at 40 years of age. He also led the AL in games finished
(37) and had a 2.08 ERA in 90-2/3 innings pitched
. The next three years he divided his playing time with Chicago and the Boston Red Sox, and pitched his final game on September 15, 1948. In an eight-season career, Caldwell posted a 33-43 record with a 4.69 ERA, 202 strikeout
s, five shutouts, 18 complete games, 25 saves
, and 587-2/3 innings in 200 games pitched
(49 as a starter
).
Following his majors career, Caldwell twice led Gulf Coast League
in ERA with a 2.21 in 1951 and a 2.73 in 1952. He retired from baseball in 1953, after leading the Evangeline League
with a 2.07 ERA. Caldwell died in Mission, Texas
, at age of 76.
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...
who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1928), St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1935–1937), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1945–1947, 1948) and 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"...
(1948). A native of Sparks, Texas
Sparks, Texas
Sparks is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,974 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sparks is located at ....
, Caldwell batted and threw right-handed. He was nicknamed "Teach".
Caldwell debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 8, 1928, and pitched a 4–0, six-hit 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....
over the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, but lost four games after that, and was let go at the end of the season. After spending seven years in minor league baseball
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...
, Caldwell was called up by the St. Louis Browns. He reappeared successfully on September 22, 1935, outdueling Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
in a three-hit, 1–0 shutout over the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leading 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...
. Caldwell ended with a 3-2 mark and a 3.68 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...
, but faded to a 7-16 with a 6.00 ERA in 1936 and was sent again to the minors.
In 1944, Caldwell helped the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
to clinch the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
title. Caldwell compiled a 19-5 record, earning the most wins
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...
in the league and finishing with the highest 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...
(.792). His fine season earned him another shot at the majors, where he won 13 games basically as reliever
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...
for the Chicago White Sox in 1945, at 40 years of age. He also led the AL in 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...
(37) and had a 2.08 ERA in 90-2/3 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...
. The next three years he divided his playing time with Chicago and the Boston Red Sox, and pitched his final game on September 15, 1948. In an eight-season career, Caldwell posted a 33-43 record with a 4.69 ERA, 202 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, five shutouts, 18 complete games, 25 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...
, and 587-2/3 innings in 200 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...
(49 as a starter
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....
).
Following his majors career, Caldwell twice led Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
in ERA with a 2.21 in 1951 and a 2.73 in 1952. He retired from baseball in 1953, after leading the Evangeline League
Evangeline Baseball League
The Evangeline Baseball League began in 1934 as a six-team Class-D minor league in and around Louisiana, United States. The following season, the league was expanded to eight teams and ceased operations in 1942, with six teams, during World War II. It resumed activities in 1946, getting promoted to...
with a 2.07 ERA. Caldwell died in Mission, Texas
Mission, Texas
Mission is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,058 at the 2010 census Mission is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:Mission is located at ....
, at age of 76.
External links
- Baseball Library
- Earl Caldwell 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:...
- 1944 Milwaukee Brewers
- Retrosheet
- Tiger Blog