Elden Auker
Encyclopedia
Elden le Roy Auker was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
noted for his submarine
pitching style.
Auker was born and raised in Norcatur, Kansas
, the son of Fred and Florence Auker. He attended college at Kansas State University
in Manhattan
, where he was a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa
. Called by former Kansas State University President James McCain, "the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State history," Auker won nine varsity letters - three each in baseball, basketball and football during his college career from 1929-1932.* http://www.kshof.org/hof-profiles.cfm?record_id=3 He was first-team All-America
n in baseball and All-Big Six Conference in baseball, football
, and basketball
. In football, Auker starred at quarterback
, was named second team All-American by Grantland Rice
, and was offered a $6,000 contract by the Chicago Bears
. The Bears sent Bronko Nagurski
to Manhattan to try to convince him to join the team. Auker turned down the Bears, however, to pitch for the Detroit Tigers
.
During his ten-year Major League career, Auker played with the Tigers, Boston Red Sox
and St. Louis Browns
. While with Detroit, Auker went to consecutive World Series
, in 1934
and 1935
. In the 1934 Series against the St. Louis Cardinals
, Auker was the winning pitcher in Game 4, but the loser to Dizzy Dean
in the decisive Game 7. The next season, Auker led the American League
in winning percentage
with an 18-7 record. In the 1935 Series against the Chicago Cubs
, Auker started Game 3, which Detroit won in extra innings, and the Tigers went on to win the Series 4 games to 2.
During the 1935 World Series
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
. When they met after Reagan had been elected governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/05/AR2006080500842.html
Before the 1939 season, Auker was traded by Detroit to the Red Sox for Pinky Higgins
and Archie McKain
. That season was Ted Williams
's rookie year in Boston, and the two would develop what became a life-long friendship during the season. However, Auker chafed playing under Red Sox manager Joe Cronin
, and his 9-10 record in the year was the lowest win total of any full season he played. Auker finished his career playing three seasons with the Browns (-). During the season, he gave up hits to Joe DiMaggio
during two games of DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak
.
Auker retired in 1943 so that he could contribute to the war effort
. From 1943-1945, he worked on airplane and naval guns. From 1946 until 1975, Auker worked for Bay State Abrasives in Massachusetts, a company that made armaments and abrasive materials, retiring as the company president.
He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
in 1969.
Auker appeared at the last game played at Tiger Stadium on September 27, 1999. Auker spoke at the ceremony and told the crowd: “Never forget us, for we live on by those that carry on the Tiger tradition and who so proudly wear the olde English D.”
In 2001, Auker wrote his memoirs, entitled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms with Tom Keegan
. He died at age 95 in Vero Beach, Florida
.
Career statistics
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...
noted for his submarine
Submarine (baseball)
In baseball, a submarine pitch is one in which the ball is released underhand and just above the ground, with the torso bent at a right angle and shoulders tilted so severely that they rotate around a nearly horizontal axis...
pitching style.
Auker was born and raised in Norcatur, Kansas
Norcatur, Kansas
Norcatur is a city in Decatur County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 151.-Geography:Norcatur is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 169...
, the son of Fred and Florence Auker. He attended college at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in Manhattan
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, where he was a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa
-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
. Called by former Kansas State University President James McCain, "the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State history," Auker won nine varsity letters - three each in baseball, basketball and football during his college career from 1929-1932.* http://www.kshof.org/hof-profiles.cfm?record_id=3 He was first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in baseball and All-Big Six Conference in baseball, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. In football, Auker starred at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, was named second team All-American by Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, and was offered a $6,000 contract by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Bears sent Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski
Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
to Manhattan to try to convince him to join the team. Auker turned down the Bears, however, to pitch for 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...
.
During his ten-year Major League career, Auker played with the Tigers, 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"...
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...
. While with Detroit, Auker went to consecutive World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, in 1934
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
and 1935
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. In the 1934 Series against 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...
, Auker was the winning pitcher in Game 4, but the loser to Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
in the decisive Game 7. The next season, Auker led 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...
in winning percentage
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...
with an 18-7 record. In the 1935 Series against the 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...
, Auker started Game 3, which Detroit won in extra innings, and the Tigers went on to win the Series 4 games to 2.
During the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. When they met after Reagan had been elected governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/05/AR2006080500842.html
Before the 1939 season, Auker was traded by Detroit to the Red Sox for Pinky Higgins
Pinky Higgins
Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins was an American third baseman, manager, front office executive and scout in Major League Baseball who played for three teams and served as manager or general manager of the Boston Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing...
and Archie McKain
Archie McKain
Archie Richard McKain , nicknamed "Happy," was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played six seasons with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns . Born in Delphos, Kansas, McKain went 8-8 as a Red Sox rookie in 1937...
. That season was Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
's rookie year in Boston, and the two would develop what became a life-long friendship during the season. However, Auker chafed playing under Red Sox manager Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
, and his 9-10 record in the year was the lowest win total of any full season he played. Auker finished his career playing three seasons with the Browns (-). During the season, he gave up hits to Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
during two games of DiMaggio's record 56-game hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
.
Auker retired in 1943 so that he could contribute to the war effort
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...
. From 1943-1945, he worked on airplane and naval guns. From 1946 until 1975, Auker worked for Bay State Abrasives in Massachusetts, a company that made armaments and abrasive materials, retiring as the company president.
He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to preserving the history of sports in the state of Kansas. The museum provides exhibits, archives, facilities, services, and activities to honor those individuals and teams whose achievements in sports brought...
in 1969.
Auker appeared at the last game played at Tiger Stadium on September 27, 1999. Auker spoke at the ceremony and told the crowd: “Never forget us, for we live on by those that carry on the Tiger tradition and who so proudly wear the olde English D.”
In 2001, Auker wrote his memoirs, entitled Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms with Tom Keegan
Tom keegan
Tom Keegan is an American sportswriter and author who currently is sports editor at the Lawrence Journal-World in Lawrence, Kansas. Keegan, members of his staff, and local TV personalities combine to do sports podcasts entitled "Spodcasters" on KUsports.com, one of the newspaper's four websites...
. He died at age 95 in Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
.
Career statistics
| W 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... |
L 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... |
WP 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... |
GP 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... |
GS Games started In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter... |
CG 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... |
Sh 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.... |
SV 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... |
IP 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... |
BB 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... |
SO 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.... |
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... |
WHIP Walks plus hits per inning pitched In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base... |
| 130 | 101 | .563 | 333 | 261 | 126 | 14 | 2 | 1,963.1 | 706 | 594 | 4.42 | 1.495 |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- 1935 Detroit Tigers season1935 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 2. The season was their 35th since they entered the American League in 1901...
- 1937 Detroit Tigers season1937 Detroit Tigers seasonThe 1937 Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League with a record of 89-65. The team finished 13 games behind the New York Yankees. Their winning percentage of .578 ranks as the 15th best season in Detroit Tigers history....
External links
- Interview with Elden Auker
- Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
- Pitching in the Big League the Underhand Way by Jim Sargent
- Love of the Game Auker Interview 2002
- Baseball Digest Article on Auker
- Collection of Elden Auker Photographs
- New York Times Obituary
- Washington Post Obituary
- USA Today Obituary
- Sporting News Article on Auker
- http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/29/1245952/native-kansan-pitched-his-way.html, Coverage from the Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com