Ed Baecht
Encyclopedia
Edward Joseph Baecht was a right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Philadelphia Phillies
, Chicago Cubs
, and St. Louis Browns
. Baecht made his Major League debut on April 24, 1926. He was the third-youngest man to appear in a Major League game that season, trailing only Rufus Meadows
and Mel Ott
.
Baecht posted a 2-0 record and completed his only start in his rookie season, but made his mark primarily as a reliever, a role he fulfilled in 27 games. Despite a high ERA
of 6.11, Baecht was given a chance as a starter again in 1927. After allowing six runs in just eight innings of work and taking the loss, Baecht was returned to the minor leagues. He returned in 1928, pitching in 9 games, again with a single starting appearance. His ERA remained high at 6.00, and Baecht was again returned to the minors for further seasoning.
He would not return to the majors until 1931, this time as a member of the Chicago Cubs. There, he enjoyed his finest professional season, sporting a career-low ERA of 3.76 in 22 games, including a career-high six starts and two complete game
s. Unfortunately, this didn't translate to a lasting job in the majors, as Baecht made just one relief appearance in 1932, firing a scoreless inning.
After another extended absence from the major leagues, Baecht reemerged in 1937 at age 30 with the St. Louis Browns after signing as a free agent on August 11. He appeared in just three games, allowing fifteen runs (nine earned) on thirteen hits, including three home runs. His ERA of 12.79 in 6 1/3 innings was a career worst. His September 3, 1937 appearance proved to be his last at baseball's highest level.
Baecht died on August 15, 1957 in Grafton, Illinois
.
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...
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...
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...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and 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...
. Baecht made his Major League debut on April 24, 1926. He was the third-youngest man to appear in a Major League game that season, trailing only Rufus Meadows
Rufus Meadows
Rufus Rivers Meadows was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in 1926. He appeared in just one game, an 18-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Meadows faced the Cubs' final batter of the game, inducing an out to finish off the blowout loss by his Reds...
and Mel Ott
Mel Ott
Melvin Thomas Ott , nicknamed "Master Melvin", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire career for the New York Giants . Ott was born in Gretna, Louisiana. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
.
Baecht posted a 2-0 record and completed his only start in his rookie season, but made his mark primarily as a reliever, a role he fulfilled in 27 games. Despite a high 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...
of 6.11, Baecht was given a chance as a starter again in 1927. After allowing six runs in just eight innings of work and taking the loss, Baecht was returned to the minor leagues. He returned in 1928, pitching in 9 games, again with a single starting appearance. His ERA remained high at 6.00, and Baecht was again returned to the minors for further seasoning.
He would not return to the majors until 1931, this time as a member of the Chicago Cubs. There, he enjoyed his finest professional season, sporting a career-low ERA of 3.76 in 22 games, including a career-high six starts and two complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s. Unfortunately, this didn't translate to a lasting job in the majors, as Baecht made just one relief appearance in 1932, firing a scoreless inning.
After another extended absence from the major leagues, Baecht reemerged in 1937 at age 30 with the St. Louis Browns after signing as a free agent on August 11. He appeared in just three games, allowing fifteen runs (nine earned) on thirteen hits, including three home runs. His ERA of 12.79 in 6 1/3 innings was a career worst. His September 3, 1937 appearance proved to be his last at baseball's highest level.
Baecht died on August 15, 1957 in Grafton, Illinois
Grafton, Illinois
Grafton is the oldest city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 674. Prior to the Great Flood of 1993, Grafton had enjoyed a stable population of nearly...
.