Kirby Higbe
Encyclopedia
Walter Kirby Higbe was an American
right-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from to . He was born and died in Columbia, South Carolina
.
before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
in the middle of the season. A hard thrower, he was selected to the All-Star
team in . Following the season, he was traded again, this time to the Brooklyn Dodgers
. He enjoyed his most successful season in when he went 22-9, tying teammate Whit Wyatt
for the league lead in wins and finishing seventh in the MVP
voting.
After the season, Higbe joined the United States Army
. Initially assigned to the military police
, he soon received training as a rifleman and saw combat in Germany
. In 1945, Higbe and his fellow soldiers went to the Philippines
; however, when they arrived there, they learned that Japan
had surrendered. Nonetheless, he stayed in Manila
until March 1946, at which point he finally returned to the United States
. That year
, he posted a 17-8 record and made his second All-Star appearance (where he gave up a home run to Ted Williams
), but the Dodgers lost the National League
pennant to the eventual world champion
St. Louis Cardinals
.
Higbe stayed in Brooklyn until just after the start of the campaign, when he was traded with four other players (one of whom was future Major League manager Gene Mauch
) to the Pittsburgh Pirates
in exchange for Al Gionfriddo
. The reason for this trade was his refusal to play alongside Jackie Robinson
. Before the season, Higbe joined Pee Wee Reese
, Bobby Bragan
, Dixie Walker
, and Carl Furillo
in boycotting Robinson; all except Furillo were Southerners
. Higbe, who claimed that he had developed his arm throwing rocks at blacks while growing up in South Carolina
, told Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey
that he would rather not play with a "negruh". When Rickey threatened to trade anyone who refused to play with Robinson, Bragan and Walker relented, as did Reese, who eventually became Robinson's closest friend on the team. Higbe, however, refused to budge on the issue, resulting in his trade to the Pirates.
While Higbe began the 1947 season with a 2-0 record for the eventual NL champion Dodgers, after his trade to Pirates he collapsed to 11-17. He was traded during the season, to the New York Giants
, with whom he finished his career. He was buried in Columbia's Elmwood Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed starting 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...
from to . He was born and died in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
Career
Higbe began his career in 1937 with the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
before being traded to 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...
in the middle of the season. A hard thrower, he was selected to the 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...
team in . Following the season, he was traded again, this time to the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He enjoyed his most successful season in when he went 22-9, tying teammate Whit Wyatt
Whit Wyatt
John Whitlow Wyatt was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Brooklyn Dodgers , and Philadelphia Phillies...
for the league lead in wins and finishing seventh in the MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting.
After the season, Higbe joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Initially assigned to the military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
, he soon received training as a rifleman and saw combat in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1945, Higbe and his fellow soldiers went to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
; however, when they arrived there, they learned that Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
had surrendered. Nonetheless, he stayed in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
until March 1946, at which point he finally returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. That year
1946 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...
, he posted a 17-8 record and made his second All-Star appearance (where he gave up a home run to 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...
), but the Dodgers lost 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...
pennant to the eventual world champion
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
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...
.
Higbe stayed in Brooklyn until just after the start of the campaign, when he was traded with four other players (one of whom was future Major League manager Gene Mauch
Gene Mauch
Gene William Mauch was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , Boston Braves , St...
) to the 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...
in exchange for Al Gionfriddo
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis "Al" Gionfriddo was a slightly built 5' 6" and 165 lb. professional baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
. The reason for this trade was his refusal to play alongside Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
. Before the season, Higbe joined Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
, Bobby Bragan
Bobby Bragan
Robert Randall Bragan was a shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in American Major League Baseball. He also was an influential executive in minor league baseball...
, Dixie Walker
Dixie Walker
Fred E. "Dixie" Walker was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, and Carl Furillo
Carl Furillo
Carl Anthony Furillo , nicknamed "The Reading Rifle" and "Skoonj," was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
in boycotting Robinson; all except Furillo were Southerners
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. Higbe, who claimed that he had developed his arm throwing rocks at blacks while growing up in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, told Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
that he would rather not play with a "negruh". When Rickey threatened to trade anyone who refused to play with Robinson, Bragan and Walker relented, as did Reese, who eventually became Robinson's closest friend on the team. Higbe, however, refused to budge on the issue, resulting in his trade to the Pirates.
While Higbe began the 1947 season with a 2-0 record for the eventual NL champion Dodgers, after his trade to Pirates he collapsed to 11-17. He was traded during the season, to the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, with whom he finished his career. He was buried in Columbia's Elmwood Cemetery.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
External links
- Baseball Library: Kirby Higbe
- The Baseball Biography Project: Kirby Higbe
- Kirby Higbe at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...