Ham Iburg
Encyclopedia
Herman Edward "Ham" Iburg (October 30, 1873 – February 11, 1945) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
with the Philadelphia Phillies
. He stood at 5' 11", weighed 165 lbs., and batted and threw right-handed.
In 1901, Iburg broke out while playing for the San Francisco Wasps. He went 37–27 that season and led the California League in wins and games pitched. That performance earned him a spot on the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation in 1902. Iburg pitched 236 innings as an MLB rookie
and went 11–18 with a 3.89 earned run average
. He allowed the third-most earned runs in the National League
.
After the season, Iburg went back west because he "simply preferred life on the Pacific Coast to life in the eastern major league cities." 1902 was his only season in the majors, and he set a modern NL record for most losses by a pitcher in his lone MLB season. He was long the all-time MLB leader in wins for pitchers who have a last name starting with the letter "I" (since 1900), although that record was surpassed in 1996 by Jason Isringhausen
.
Iburg continued his heavy workload in the Pacific Coast League
. He pitched over 420 innings in 1903, 1904, and 1905, and he won over 20 games each year, as well. In 1905, he went 22–26 with a career-low 2.04 ERA. That was his last season in professional baseball.
Iburg died in San Francisco at the age of 71.
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...
with 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...
. He stood at 5' 11", weighed 165 lbs., and batted and threw right-handed.
Career
Iburg was born in San Francisco, California. He started his professional baseball career in 1896 with the California League's San Francisco Metropolitans. Over the next few years, he played with various teams in the California League and Pacific Coast League. Iburg was once told that he could name his salary if he joined a team in the Montana League, but he refused to leave the west coast.In 1901, Iburg broke out while playing for the San Francisco Wasps. He went 37–27 that season and led the California League in wins and games pitched. That performance earned him a spot on the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation in 1902. Iburg pitched 236 innings as an MLB rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
and went 11–18 with a 3.89 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...
. He allowed the third-most earned runs in the 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...
.
After the season, Iburg went back west because he "simply preferred life on the Pacific Coast to life in the eastern major league cities." 1902 was his only season in the majors, and he set a modern NL record for most losses by a pitcher in his lone MLB season. He was long the all-time MLB leader in wins for pitchers who have a last name starting with the letter "I" (since 1900), although that record was surpassed in 1996 by Jason Isringhausen
Jason Isringhausen
Jason Derik Isringhausen is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-New York Mets:Isringhausen was chosen as a draft-and-follow prospect by the New York Mets in the 44th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
Iburg continued his heavy workload in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He pitched over 420 innings in 1903, 1904, and 1905, and he won over 20 games each year, as well. In 1905, he went 22–26 with a career-low 2.04 ERA. That was his last season in professional baseball.
Iburg died in San Francisco at the age of 71.