Ralph Savidge
Encyclopedia
Ralph Austin Savidge nicknamed "Human Ripcord" and "the finger nail artist," was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Cincinnati Reds
in 1908 and 1909 and also had an eight-year minor league career. He stood at 6' 2" and weighed 210 lbs.
. He started his professional baseball career in 1904 and played four seasons in the South Atlantic League
. He went 17-13 during his first year, with 185 strikeout
s in 33 games. He then slumped to win–loss records of 10-13 and 14-17, but rebounded in 1907, going 19-12 for the Jacksonville Jays. Savidge's 216 strikeouts that year ranked second in the league to Bugs Raymond
's total.
Savidge went to the Southern Association
's Memphis Egyptians in 1908. On April 28, the Pittsburgh Press
reported that he had developed a new pitch called the "finger nail curve" and would be using it during the season:
Savidge started off hot, and on July 16, he was purchased by the National League
's Cincinnati Reds for $3,500. He stayed in Memphis for the next two months, however, and ran his record to 20-11. The 20 wins led the entire league. Savidge also had a record of 67 consecutive scoreless innings pitched that season.
Savidge was called up to the Reds in September. In four major league games (including one start), he went 0-1 with a 2.57 earned run average
. He started off 1909 with Cincinnati, as well, but allowed 10 earned runs in 4 innings. He made his last MLB appearance on May 19. That month, it was reported that Memphis was "making strenuous efforts" to try to re-acquire Savidge, but he was eventually purchased by the Eastern League
's Montreal Royals
. Savidge pitched well in May. However, his overall record that year was just 11-15. He was a holdout in early 1910 and eventually pitched for the Rochester Bronchos, going 13-12.
Savidge was purchased by Montgomery of the Southern Association for 1911. On February 25, Sporting Life reported that his addition made the Montgomery pitching staff "look unusually strong" and that he was expected to give his team a "brilliant chance of winning the pennant." He ended up going 7-8.
In 1912, Savidge had a hard time getting into shape, was released in July, and subsequently retired from professional baseball. Over his eight-year minor league career, he compiled a win-loss record of 111-101 to go along with his major league record of 0-1. His son, Don Savidge
, made it to the majors in 1929 with the Washington Senators
.
Ralph Savidge died in 1959 in Berwick, Pennsylvania
. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.
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...
. He played 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....
in 1908 and 1909 and also had an eight-year minor league career. He stood at 6' 2" and weighed 210 lbs.
Career
Savidge was born in Jerseytown, PennsylvaniaJerseytown, Pennsylvania
Jerseytown is a census-designated place in Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 150 at the 2000 census...
. He started his professional baseball career in 1904 and played four seasons in the South Atlantic League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. He went 17-13 during his first year, with 185 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 in 33 games. He then slumped to win–loss records of 10-13 and 14-17, but rebounded in 1907, going 19-12 for the Jacksonville Jays. Savidge's 216 strikeouts that year ranked second in the league to Bugs Raymond
Bugs Raymond
Arthur Lawrence "Bugs" Raymond was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1904 to 1911. He played for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Giants.-Career:...
's total.
Savidge went to the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
's Memphis Egyptians in 1908. On April 28, 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 had developed a new pitch called the "finger nail curve" and would be using it during the season:
"Savidge has introduced the finger-nail ball, so called because it is pitched with the nails of the thumb and the first three fingers penetrating the leather sphere. The finger-nail ball is thrown with all the force possible, but the Southern pitcher has mastered it so that it floats slowly toward the plate and breaks fast as it passes the batter."
Savidge started off hot, and on July 16, he was purchased by 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...
's Cincinnati Reds for $3,500. He stayed in Memphis for the next two months, however, and ran his record to 20-11. The 20 wins led the entire league. Savidge also had a record of 67 consecutive scoreless innings pitched that season.
Savidge was called up to the Reds in September. In four major league games (including one start), he went 0-1 with a 2.57 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...
. He started off 1909 with Cincinnati, as well, but allowed 10 earned runs in 4 innings. He made his last MLB appearance on May 19. That month, it was reported that Memphis was "making strenuous efforts" to try to re-acquire Savidge, but he was eventually purchased by the Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
's Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
. Savidge pitched well in May. However, his overall record that year was just 11-15. He was a holdout in early 1910 and eventually pitched for the Rochester Bronchos, going 13-12.
Savidge was purchased by Montgomery of the Southern Association for 1911. On February 25, Sporting Life reported that his addition made the Montgomery pitching staff "look unusually strong" and that he was expected to give his team a "brilliant chance of winning the pennant." He ended up going 7-8.
In 1912, Savidge had a hard time getting into shape, was released in July, and subsequently retired from professional baseball. Over his eight-year minor league career, he compiled a win-loss record of 111-101 to go along with his major league record of 0-1. His son, Don Savidge
Don Savidge
Donald Snyder Savidge was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Washington Senators in 1929. His father, Ralph Savidge, was also an MLB pitcher.-External links:...
, made it to the majors in 1929 with 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...
.
Ralph Savidge died in 1959 in Berwick, Pennsylvania
Berwick, Pennsylvania
Berwick is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 22.6 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre. Berwick is one of two principal cities of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Columbia and Montour counties and had a combined population of 82,387...
. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.