Oscar Judd
Encyclopedia
Thomas William Oscar Judd (February 14, 1908 - December 27, 1995) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Boston Red Sox
(1941–1945) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1945–1948). A native of London, Ontario
, Canada
, the left-hander stood 6'0" and weighed 180 lbs.
Judd was primarily used as a starting pitcher
during his eight-season career. He made his major league debut in relief on April 16, 1941 against the Washington Senators
at Fenway Park
. He pitched in just six more games for Boston that year but did earn his first big league save
.
His first major league win
came in his second season and second major league start, a 13-4 victory over the Senators at Griffith Stadium
on April 22, 1942. The losing pitcher was Hall of Famer Early Wynn
. Judd finished the season 8-10 with a 3.89 earned run average
.
Judd's best season was 1943. The 36-year-old was 11-6 with a 2.90 ERA and was an American League
All-Star
. Two years later, on May 31, 1945 he was selected off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Red Sox. His overall record for Boston in five seasons was 20-18 with an ERA of 3.68 in 72 games.
His best season with Philadelphia was 1946, when he won 11 games, lost 12, and hit .316 for a mediocre Phillies team that finished in fifth place with a 69-85 record. He finished in a tie for 36th place in the National League
MVP
voting.
Judd was 40 years old when he made his final major league appearance on May 11, 1948. He was the sixth-oldest player to appear in a National League game that season.
Career totals for 206 games (161 as a pitcher) include a 40-51 record, 99 games started
, 43 complete games, 4 shutouts, 32 games finished
, and 7 saves. He allowed 334 earned runs in 771.1 innings pitched
for an ERA
of 3.90. As a hitter he was well above average for a pitcher, and was used many times a pinch hitter
. His lifetime batting average
was .262 (83-for-317) with 3 home run
s, 19 runs batted in, a .322 on base percentage
, and a slugging average of .356. He only grounded into two double plays during his entire career. Judd finished in his league's top ten five times for wild pitch
es, leading the National League with 8 in 1947.
Judd died at the age of 87 in Ingersoll, Ontario
.
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...
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...
for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1941–1945) and 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...
(1945–1948). A native of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the left-hander stood 6'0" and weighed 180 lbs.
Judd was primarily used as a starting pitcher
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....
during his eight-season career. He made his major league debut in relief on April 16, 1941 against the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. He pitched in just six more games for Boston that year but did earn his first big league save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
.
His first major league win
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...
came in his second season and second major league start, a 13-4 victory over the Senators at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
on April 22, 1942. The losing pitcher was Hall of Famer Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
. Judd finished the season 8-10 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...
.
Judd's best season was 1943. The 36-year-old was 11-6 with a 2.90 ERA and was an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
. Two years later, on May 31, 1945 he was selected off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Red Sox. His overall record for Boston in five seasons was 20-18 with an ERA of 3.68 in 72 games.
His best season with Philadelphia was 1946, when he won 11 games, lost 12, and hit .316 for a mediocre Phillies team that finished in fifth place with a 69-85 record. He finished in a tie for 36th place 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...
MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
voting.
Judd was 40 years old when he made his final major league appearance on May 11, 1948. He was the sixth-oldest player to appear in a National League game that season.
Career totals for 206 games (161 as a pitcher) include a 40-51 record, 99 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 43 complete games, 4 shutouts, 32 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, and 7 saves. He allowed 334 earned runs in 771.1 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...
for an ERA
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...
of 3.90. As a hitter he was well above average for a pitcher, and was used many times a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. His lifetime batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was .262 (83-for-317) with 3 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 19 runs batted in, a .322 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and a slugging average of .356. He only grounded into two double plays during his entire career. Judd finished in his league's top ten five times for wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es, leading the National League with 8 in 1947.
Judd died at the age of 87 in Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll, Ontario
Ingersoll is a town in Oxford County on the Thames River in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The nearest cities are Woodstock to the east and London to the west....
.