Hank Borowy
Encyclopedia
Henry Ludwig Borowy (May 12, 1916 - August 23, 2004) was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees
(1942–45), Chicago Cubs
(1945–48), Philadelphia Phillies
(1949–50), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1950) and Detroit Tigers
(1950–51). He batted and threw right-handed.
Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey
, Borowy graduated from Bloomfield High School and Fordham University
. He pitched in six World Series
games and posted a 108-82 record with 690 strikeout
s and a 3.50 earned run average
in 1717 innings pitched
.
Borowy debuted on April 18, 1942 with the Yankees, finishing with a 15-4 record, 85 SO, 2.82 ERA. Then, he started Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals
without a decision.
In 1943 Borowy went 14-9, 107, 2.82, and won Game 3 of the World Series against St. Louis. Named an All-Star
in 1944, he pitched three scoreless innings in the game, ending the season with 17-12, 107, 2.64.
Borowy enjoyed his best season in 1945 when he pitched for both the Yankees and Cubs and registered a combined 21-7, 82, 2.65, between the two teams. After a 10-5 start with the Yankees and being selected again to the All-Star Game, he was put on waivers inexplicably and was passed over by 15 teams. The Cubs snatched him for $97,500. Borowy went 11-2 for the remainder of the season, including three wins over the Cardinals down the stretch, and led the National League
in winning percentage
(.846) and ERA (2.14), as the Cubs won the pennant behind a Borowy's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. The final margin for Chicago was 3 games over the Cardinals.
On October 3, , the Tigers
and Cubs meet in the World Series for the 4th time. In the opener, Borowy pitched a 6-hitter 9-0 shutout
. He lost the fifth game, and then came back to win the sixth with four scoreless relief
innings. Borowy started the final game on one day's rest but gave up hits to the first three batters before leaving. He took the loss and the Tigers won the Series. Borowy helped put the Cubs into their last World Series, and led to the end of Joe McCarthy's 15-season tenure as Yankees manager. McCarthy resigned in 1946. He is the last Chicago Cubs pitcher to win a World Series game.
For the remainder of his career, Borowy was plagued by finger blisters and a chronic sore shoulder. He pitched his final game on September 14, 1951.
Borowy grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey
, and was a longtime resident of Brick Township, New Jersey
, where he died at age of 88.
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....
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...
. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1942–45), 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...
(1945–48), 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...
(1949–50), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1950) and 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...
(1950–51). He batted and threw right-handed.
Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
, Borowy graduated from Bloomfield High School and Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
. He pitched in six 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...
games and posted a 108-82 record with 690 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 and a 3.50 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...
in 1717 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...
.
Borowy debuted on April 18, 1942 with the Yankees, finishing with a 15-4 record, 85 SO, 2.82 ERA. Then, he started Game 4 of the World 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...
without a decision.
In 1943 Borowy went 14-9, 107, 2.82, and won Game 3 of the World Series against St. Louis. Named an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1944, he pitched three scoreless innings in the game, ending the season with 17-12, 107, 2.64.
Borowy enjoyed his best season in 1945 when he pitched for both the Yankees and Cubs and registered a combined 21-7, 82, 2.65, between the two teams. After a 10-5 start with the Yankees and being selected again to the All-Star Game, he was put on waivers inexplicably and was passed over by 15 teams. The Cubs snatched him for $97,500. Borowy went 11-2 for the remainder of the season, including three wins over the Cardinals down the stretch, and led 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...
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...
(.846) and ERA (2.14), as the Cubs won the pennant behind a Borowy's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. The final margin for Chicago was 3 games over the Cardinals.
On October 3, , the 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...
and Cubs meet in the World Series for the 4th time. In the opener, Borowy pitched a 6-hitter 9-0 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....
. He lost the fifth game, and then came back to win the sixth with four scoreless relief
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...
innings. Borowy started the final game on one day's rest but gave up hits to the first three batters before leaving. He took the loss and the Tigers won the Series. Borowy helped put the Cubs into their last World Series, and led to the end of Joe McCarthy's 15-season tenure as Yankees manager. McCarthy resigned in 1946. He is the last Chicago Cubs pitcher to win a World Series game.
For the remainder of his career, Borowy was plagued by finger blisters and a chronic sore shoulder. He pitched his final game on September 14, 1951.
Borowy grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
, and was a longtime resident of Brick Township, New Jersey
Brick Township, New Jersey
-Transportation:The major county routes that pass through are CR 528, and CR 549 . Two state routes pass through: Route 70 and Route 88...
, where he died at age of 88.
Fact
- Borowy has been one of two pitchers in major league history to win at least 10 games for two different teams in the same season. The other is Bartolo ColónBartolo ColónBartolo Colón is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2009 and again in 2011...
with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and Montreal ExposMontreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in .