Larry Jacobus
Encyclopedia
Stuart Louis "Larry" Jacobus (December 13, 1894 – August 19, 1965) was a professional baseball pitcher
from 1915 to 1927. He spent most of his career in the Texas League
and played five games in Major League Baseball
for the Cincinnati Reds
. Jacobus was 6 feet, 2 inches (1.87 meters) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84 kilograms).
's Portsmouth Cobblers. That season, he had a win–loss record of 19-9 and helped Portsmouth win the pennant. Jacobus then moved on to the Texas League's Galveston Pirates
in 1916. He went 2-3 in his first year in the league and 10-13 in his second.
In September 1917, Jacobus was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft
. He was with the team early in the following season but did not pitch well enough to appear in a regular season game until July. Jacobus made five relief appearances for the Reds in July and August 1918 and went 0-1 with a 5.71 earned run average
. On August 13, he was released, and the Pittsburgh Press
reported that he "[was] not in shape to work and [was] of no use to the team."
Jacobus then spent the rest of his career in the Texas League. He had winning records from 1919 to 1921. In 1921, he had his only 20-win season, going 20-16 with a 3.08 ERA for the Beaumont Exporters
. In 1925, he went 9-22 to set a career-high in losses and lead the league in that category, as well. Jacobus pitched for the Houston Buffaloes in 1926 and 1927.
In February 1928, Jacobus was involved in a car accident. He lost the use of his right eye and never played professional baseball again. He died in North College Hill, Ohio
, in 1965.
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...
from 1915 to 1927. He spent most of his career in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
and played five games 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...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Jacobus was 6 feet, 2 inches (1.87 meters) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84 kilograms).
Career
Jacobus was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1894. He started his professional baseball career in 1915 with the Ohio State LeagueOhio State League
The first Ohio State League was a baseball league in 1887 before changing names to the Tri-State League.The first 20th century Ohio State League started in 1908 as a class D loop and ran through 1916. Another Ohio State League was formed in 1936 and ran through 1947 except for a break in '42-'43...
's Portsmouth Cobblers. That season, he had a win–loss record of 19-9 and helped Portsmouth win the pennant. Jacobus then moved on to the Texas League's Galveston Pirates
Galveston Pirates (baseball)
The Galveston Pirates were a Texas League baseball team based in Galveston, Texas, USA that existed from 1912 to 1917 and from 1919 to 1921.-Beach Park:Beach Park was the home venue of the Galveston Pirates from 1912 to 1914...
in 1916. He went 2-3 in his first year in the league and 10-13 in his second.
In September 1917, Jacobus was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He was with the team early in the following season but did not pitch well enough to appear in a regular season game until July. Jacobus made five relief appearances for the Reds in July and August 1918 and went 0-1 with a 5.71 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...
. On August 13, he was released, and the Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press is an online newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, currently owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Historically, it was a major afternoon paper...
reported that he "[was] not in shape to work and [was] of no use to the team."
Jacobus then spent the rest of his career in the Texas League. He had winning records from 1919 to 1921. In 1921, he had his only 20-win season, going 20-16 with a 3.08 ERA for the Beaumont Exporters
Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American minor league baseball that played in the Texas League from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the...
. In 1925, he went 9-22 to set a career-high in losses and lead the league in that category, as well. Jacobus pitched for the Houston Buffaloes in 1926 and 1927.
In February 1928, Jacobus was involved in a car accident. He lost the use of his right eye and never played professional baseball again. He died in North College Hill, Ohio
North College Hill, Ohio
North College Hill is a city in Hamilton County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio approximately ten miles north of downtown Cincinnati. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,397...
, in 1965.