Weldon Wyckoff
Encyclopedia
John Weldon Wyckoff was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Philadelphia Athletics
(1913-1916[start]) and Boston Red Sox
(1917[end]-1918). Wyckoff batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
. In some baseball resources, he is referred as John Wyckoff.
In a six-season career, Wyckoff posted a 23-34 record with 299 strikeout
s and a 3.55 ERA
in 573-2/3 innings pitched
.
Wyckoff attended Bucknell University
and began his baseball career at age 19 with Wilmington in the Tri-State League
in 1911. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics two years later. His most productive season came in 1914, when he recorded career-highs with 11 wins
and a 3.02 ERA, and pitched in Game One of the World Series
.
A hard thrower, Wyckoff was prone to wildness, always walking
more batters than he struck out. In 1915 he led the American League with 165 walks in 276 innings. A year later, he led the league with 22 losses. He was sent to the Boston Red Sox in the 1916 midseason. Over parts of two seasons he appeared in only nine games and was released in 1917. He ended the year with the Buffalo Bisons
of the International League
and rejoined Boston in 1918, his last major league season, and retired to his taxicab
business in Williamsport.
Wyckoff died in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
, at the age of 69.
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....
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...
who played for the 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....
(1913-1916[start]) and 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"...
(1917[end]-1918). Wyckoff batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
. In some baseball resources, he is referred as John Wyckoff.
In a six-season career, Wyckoff posted a 23-34 record with 299 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 and a 3.55 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...
in 573-2/3 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...
.
Wyckoff attended Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
and began his baseball career at age 19 with Wilmington in the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
in 1911. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics two years later. His most productive season came in 1914, when he recorded career-highs with 11 wins
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...
and a 3.02 ERA, and pitched in Game One of the World Series
1914 World Series
In the 1914 World Series, the Boston Braves beat the Philadelphia Athletics in a four-game sweep.A contender for greatest upset of all time, the "Miracle Braves" were in last place on July 4, then roared on to win the National League pennant by games and sweep the stunned Athletics...
.
A hard thrower, Wyckoff was prone to wildness, always walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
more batters than he struck out. In 1915 he led the American League with 165 walks in 276 innings. A year later, he led the league with 22 losses. He was sent to the Boston Red Sox in the 1916 midseason. Over parts of two seasons he appeared in only nine games and was released in 1917. He ended the year with the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of 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...
and rejoined Boston in 1918, his last major league season, and retired to his taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
business in Williamsport.
Wyckoff died in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Sheboygan Falls is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States whose population was 6,772 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, at the age of 69.