Luke Hamlin
Encyclopedia
Luke Daniel Hamlin nicknamed "Hot Potato," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
for 9 years with the Detroit Tigers
(1933–34), Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–41), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1942), and Philadelphia Athletics (1944).
Born in Ferris Center, Michigan, Hamlin won the nickname "Hot Potato" because of his tendency to juggle the ball while getting ready to pitch. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Luke_Hamlin_1906 He pitched two years with the Tigers, going 3-3 in 23 games for the Bengals.
After two years out of the major leagues, Hamlin returned in 1937 with the Dodgers, where he played five seasons from 1927-1941. His best year was 1939 when he went 20-13 and had 10 complete games in 269-2/3 innings pitched. Hamlin's 20 wins was 4th best in the National League, his WHIP
was 1.146 (3rd in the NL), and he also finished #10 in the National League Most Valuable Player voting in 1939. He had another strong year in 1940 with a 3.06 earned run average
for an Adjusted ERA+
of 131 (4th best in the NL). He was also #1 in the National League in 1940 with a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.68.
Hamlin's performance declined after 1940, as his ERA jumped from 3.06 to 4.24 in 1941. Dodgers manager Leo Durocher
lost faith in "Hot Potato," who had blown a number of leads over the 1941 season. When Dodgers boss Larry MacPhail
sent a messenger between games of a double header telling Durocher to start Hamlin in the second game, Durocher erupted in anger. But Durocher complied with the boss's order and started Hamlin, who gave up 4 runs before getting an out and lasted only 2 innings. (G. Richard, "The MacPhails: Baseball's First Family of the Front Office" (2000), p. 48) http://books.google.com/books?id=kbqJuGymK8MC&pg=RA1-PA48&lpg=RA1-PA48&dq=%22luke+hamlin%22+durocher&source=web&ots=556Smp7n_i&sig=JGrvsQ3MZqiwrKJT3qqJEbN5KZk After seeing an old political campaign poster for the Abe Lincoln-Hannibal Hamlin
ticket, Durocher once quipped: "It proves Lincoln was a great man; he could even win with Hamlin." http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Luke_Hamlin_1906
Hamlin died in 1978 at age 73 in Clare, Michigan
.
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 9 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...
(1933–34), Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–41), 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...
(1942), and Philadelphia Athletics (1944).
Born in Ferris Center, Michigan, Hamlin won the nickname "Hot Potato" because of his tendency to juggle the ball while getting ready to pitch. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Luke_Hamlin_1906 He pitched two years with the Tigers, going 3-3 in 23 games for the Bengals.
After two years out of the major leagues, Hamlin returned in 1937 with the Dodgers, where he played five seasons from 1927-1941. His best year was 1939 when he went 20-13 and had 10 complete games in 269-2/3 innings pitched. Hamlin's 20 wins was 4th best in the National League, his WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
was 1.146 (3rd in the NL), and he also finished #10 in the National League Most Valuable Player voting in 1939. He had another strong year in 1940 with a 3.06 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...
for an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 131 (4th best in the NL). He was also #1 in the National League in 1940 with a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.68.
Hamlin's performance declined after 1940, as his ERA jumped from 3.06 to 4.24 in 1941. Dodgers manager Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
lost faith in "Hot Potato," who had blown a number of leads over the 1941 season. When Dodgers boss Larry MacPhail
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail, Sr. was an American lawyer, and an executive and innovator in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
sent a messenger between games of a double header telling Durocher to start Hamlin in the second game, Durocher erupted in anger. But Durocher complied with the boss's order and started Hamlin, who gave up 4 runs before getting an out and lasted only 2 innings. (G. Richard, "The MacPhails: Baseball's First Family of the Front Office" (2000), p. 48) http://books.google.com/books?id=kbqJuGymK8MC&pg=RA1-PA48&lpg=RA1-PA48&dq=%22luke+hamlin%22+durocher&source=web&ots=556Smp7n_i&sig=JGrvsQ3MZqiwrKJT3qqJEbN5KZk After seeing an old political campaign poster for the Abe Lincoln-Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
ticket, Durocher once quipped: "It proves Lincoln was a great man; he could even win with Hamlin." http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Luke_Hamlin_1906
Hamlin died in 1978 at age 73 in Clare, Michigan
Clare, Michigan
Clare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the city had a population of 3,173 at the 2000 census....
.