Hal Newhouser

Hal Newhouser
Pitcher
Born: May 20, 1921 Detroit , United States
Died on: November 10, 1998 Bloomfield Hills , United States
Suggested: Left	Threw: Left
Debut in Major League Baseball
September 29,  1939  with the  Detroit Tigers
Last MLB assignment
May 3,  1955  with the  Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics (until end of career)
Win-loss	207-150
Earned Run Average	3.06
Strikeouts	1,796
Teams
Detroit Tigers (1939-1953) Cleveland Indians (1954–1955)
Awards
7 × All-Star (1942–1948) World Series Winner (1945) 2 × AL MVP (1944, 1945) Triple Crown (1945) 4 × pitchers with the most wins in the AL (1944–1946, 1948) 2 × pitchers with the best ERA in the AL (1945, 1946) 2 × pitchers with the most strikeouts in the AL (1944, 1945) In his honor, the # 61 is no longer awarded by the Detroit Tigers
member of
Baseball Hall of Fame
Recorded	1992
Special selection	Veteran's Committee

Harold "Hal" Newhouser (born May 20, 1921 in Detroit , Michigan , † November 10, 1998 in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan) was an American baseball player in Major League Baseball . His nickname was Prince Hal .

biography

Hal Newhouser statue in Comerica Park

Hal Newhouser grew up in Detroit and was signed as a star on his school team in 1939 by the Detroit Tigers . On September 29, 1939, the left-handed pitcher made his debut in the American League . In the first few seasons he struggled with the control of his throws and did not get any positive statistics. From the 1942 season, however, this improved. His Earned Run Average (ERA) fell significantly, but with the Tigers' weak offense, Newhouser continued to lose more losses than wins. During the Second World War , Newhouser was not called up to serve in the army due to a congenital heart defect, so that he was available to his team throughout the war years.

In 1944 Newhouser was able to win 29 games, the Tigers finished the season in 2nd place in the American League and Newhouser was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP). In the following year Newhouser rose again. He won the Triple Crown as a pitcher (Siege, ERA, Strikeouts ) and continued to lead the league in the categories of innings thrown, started games, complete games and shutouts. With the Tigers he won the championship and the World Series against the Chicago Cubs in seven games. In the World Series he also won two games, including the crucial game seven. As the only pitcher in baseball history to date, Newhouser has won consecutive titles as an MVP. Critics who downplayed his achievements due to the fact that many strong players did military service and did not play in the major leagues in those years were impressively refuted by Newhouser in 1946. Even with the return of the superstars from the war, Newhouser was able to lead the league in Siegen (26) and ERA (1.94). In the American League MVP election, he finished second behind Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox .

He showed consistent performance until 1950 when he struggled with arm and shoulder problems. After his release from the Tigers in 1953, he joined the Cleveland Indians . In Cleveland he was used as a substitute pitcher. In 1954 he was able to win the title in the American League with his new team, but had to admit defeat to the New York Giants in the World Series . Then he ended his career as a professional player.

He remained loyal to baseball even after his retirement and worked as a scout for the Houston Astros , Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers. In 1992 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee . Since July 27, 1997, the Tigers no longer assign his number 16. Newhouser died on November 10, 1998 at the age of 77 after a long illness.

His stations as a player

• 1939-1953 Detroit Tigers
• 1954–1955 Cleveland Indians

Web links

• Player information and statistics from Baseball Reference  or  Baseball Reference (Minor League) (English)
• Biography of Hal Newhouser (English)
• Hal Newhouser in the Hall of Fame (English)