Rube Parnham
Encyclopedia
James Arthur "Rube" Parnham was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the 1916 and 1917 Philadelphia Athletics
.
Parnham started only five games for the Athletics, completing two of them. His career record in the majors was 2-2. However, he was acquired by the International League
's Baltimore Orioles
during the 1917 season, and over the next 10 seasons, he would compile a 139-60 record for Jack Dunn
's ballclub.
1919 was Rube's breakout year. He led the league in wins (28) and strikeout
s (187), as the Orioles dynasty won their first pennant. After starting out 5-0 in 1920, Parnham quit the team in 1920 to pitch in a Pennsylvania industrial league. He rejoined in the middle of the 1922 season.
In 1923, he had another outstanding performance, going 33-7 with 28 complete games. He managed to outshine even future Hall of Famer Lefty Grove
, who was on the same team. The 33 wins are a 20th century International League record. Needless to say, Baltimore won another pennant.
Ever unpredictable, Parnham quit the team again the following season and pitched his last professional game in 1927. He was later described as the "dumbest man off the field - and the smartest on."
In 1957, Parnham was elected to the International League Hall of Fame
. He died in 1963.
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 1916 and 1917 Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Parnham started only five games for the Athletics, completing two of them. His career record in the majors was 2-2. However, he was acquired by the International 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 Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
during the 1917 season, and over the next 10 seasons, he would compile a 139-60 record for Jack Dunn
Jack Dunn
John Joseph Dunn was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball at the turn of the 20th century who later went on to become a minor league baseball club owner....
's ballclub.
1919 was Rube's breakout year. He led the league in wins (28) and 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 (187), as the Orioles dynasty won their first pennant. After starting out 5-0 in 1920, Parnham quit the team in 1920 to pitch in a Pennsylvania industrial league. He rejoined in the middle of the 1922 season.
In 1923, he had another outstanding performance, going 33-7 with 28 complete games. He managed to outshine even future Hall of Famer Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
, who was on the same team. The 33 wins are a 20th century International League record. Needless to say, Baltimore won another pennant.
Ever unpredictable, Parnham quit the team again the following season and pitched his last professional game in 1927. He was later described as the "dumbest man off the field - and the smartest on."
In 1957, Parnham was elected to the International League Hall of Fame
International League Hall of Fame
The International League Hall of Fame honors the best players, managers and executives from the International League. The hall began in 1947 and ran with yearly elections until 1963. The selections for the Hall of Fame were made by the International League Baseball Writers Association...
. He died in 1963.