George Cunningham (baseball)
Encyclopedia
George Harold Cunningham (July 13, 1894 - March 10, 1972) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher who played 5 years with the Detroit Tigers
from 1916–1919 and 1921. Born in Sturgeon Lake
, Minnesota
, Cunningham pitched in 123 games for the Tigers, including 36 as a starter. Over his 4 years with the Tigers, he compiled a record of 16-25 in 477 innings with an earned run average
of 3.13. He pitched in 44 games in 1917, which was the 10th highest among American League
pitchers that year. He also finished 24 games in 1917, which was the 2nd most among American League
pitchers. Cunningham was a respectable batter for a pitcher, with a career on base percentage
of .337 (.438 in 1919), 36 walks, 10 extra base hits, 13 RBI
s. When Cunningham complained to manager Hughie Jennings
about the injury-depleted Tiger outfield of 1918, Jennings had Cunningham play right field for three weeks. His only appearance in the 1921 season was as an outfielder, not as a pitcher. Cunningham died in 1972 at age 77 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
.
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 who played 5 years with 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...
from 1916–1919 and 1921. Born in Sturgeon Lake
Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
Sturgeon Lake is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 439 at the 2010 census.Interstate 35, County Road 46, and County 61 are three of the main routes in the community.-Geography:...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Cunningham pitched in 123 games for the Tigers, including 36 as a starter. Over his 4 years with the Tigers, he compiled a record of 16-25 in 477 innings with an 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...
of 3.13. He pitched in 44 games in 1917, which was the 10th highest among 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...
pitchers that year. He also finished 24 games in 1917, which was the 2nd most among 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...
pitchers. Cunningham was a respectable batter for a pitcher, with a career on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .337 (.438 in 1919), 36 walks, 10 extra base hits, 13 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s. When Cunningham complained to manager Hughie Jennings
Hughie Jennings
Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
about the injury-depleted Tiger outfield of 1918, Jennings had Cunningham play right field for three weeks. His only appearance in the 1921 season was as an outfielder, not as a pitcher. Cunningham died in 1972 at age 77 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
.