Razor Ledbetter
Encyclopedia
Ralph Overton "Razor" Ledbetter (December 8, 1894 - February 1, 1969) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who pitched one inning for the Detroit Tigers
in April 1915. He also played 11 years in minor league baseball from 1913 to 1926.
Ledbetter was born in Rutherford College, North Carolina
in 1894. He began playing professional baseball in the North Carolina State League
in 1913. In 1914, he compiled a 26-12 record for the Charlotte Hornets
.
After his 26-win season, Ledbetter joined the Detroit Tigers
at the start of the 1915 season. On April 16, 1915, Ledbetter came in to pitch the top of the 9th inning
in a home game against the Cleveland Indians
at Navin Field. He pitched a scoreless inning, but the Tigers lost 9-6. He never appeared in another Major League game, although he did play for the Tigers in a May 10, 1915 exhibition game against the Cincinnati Reds
. His lifetime ERA
stands at 0.00.
Ledbetter returned to Charlotte for most of the 1915 season, compiling a record of 17-12. He continued to play in the minor leagues through the 1925 season, including stints with the Charlotte Hornets
(1914-1915, 1920), Mobile Sea Gulls (1916), Little Rock Travelers
(1917, 1919), St. Joseph Saints
(1923-1924), and Durham Bulls
(1924-1925). He compiled a 19-9 record in 1921. His career record in the minor leagues was 119-112.
Ledbetter died in West Palm Beach, Florida
.
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...
who pitched one inning for 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...
in April 1915. He also played 11 years in minor league baseball from 1913 to 1926.
Ledbetter was born in Rutherford College, North Carolina
Rutherford College, North Carolina
Rutherford College is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,293. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 1894. He began playing professional baseball in the North Carolina State League
North Carolina State League
The North Carolina State League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball. The original version of the league existed from 1913-1917 as the successor to the Carolina Association...
in 1913. In 1914, he compiled a 26-12 record for the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history...
.
After his 26-win season, Ledbetter joined 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...
at the start of the 1915 season. On April 16, 1915, Ledbetter came in to pitch the top of the 9th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
in a home game against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
at Navin Field. He pitched a scoreless inning, but the Tigers lost 9-6. He never appeared in another Major League game, although he did play for the Tigers in a May 10, 1915 exhibition game against 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....
. His lifetime 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...
stands at 0.00.
Ledbetter returned to Charlotte for most of the 1915 season, compiling a record of 17-12. He continued to play in the minor leagues through the 1925 season, including stints with the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history...
(1914-1915, 1920), Mobile Sea Gulls (1916), Little Rock Travelers
Little Rock Travelers
The Little Rock Travelers were an American minor league baseball team located in Little Rock, Arkansas and members of the Southern Association, which as a Class A, A1 or AA circuit was typically two rungs below Major League Baseball...
(1917, 1919), St. Joseph Saints
St. Joseph Saints
The Saint Joseph Saints were a Western Association and Western League baseball team based in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930, the Chicago Cubs in 1940 and the New York Yankees in 1954.They won three straight league championships, from 1933 to...
(1923-1924), and Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
(1924-1925). He compiled a 19-9 record in 1921. His career record in the minor leagues was 119-112.
Ledbetter died in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
.