Alvin Crowder

Alvin Crowder
Alvin Crowder
	Pitcher
	Born: January 11, 1899; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
	Died: April 3, 1972 (aged 73); Winston-Salem, North Carolina
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
	July 24, 1926, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
	June 26, 1936, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	167–115
Earned run average	4.12
Strikeouts	799
Teams
	Washington Senators (1926–1927); St. Louis Browns (1927–1930); Washington Senators (1930–1934); Detroit Tigers (1934–1936);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1933); World Series champion (1935); 2× AL wins leader (1932, 1933);

Alvin Floyd Crowder (January 11, 1899 – April 3, 1972), nicknamed "General", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eleven seasons in the American League with the Washington Senators, the St. Louis Browns, and the Detroit Tigers. In 402 career games, Crowder pitched 2344.1 innings and posted w win-loss record of 167–115, with 150 complete games, 16 shutouts, and a 4.12 earned run average (ERA).

Early life

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Crowder served almost three years in the army in World War I, including assignments in the Philippines and 11 months with the American Expeditionary Force in Siberia.^[1] However, he never reached the rank of "General." His nickname, "General" Crowder, came from General Enoch Crowder, who designed the World War I draft lottery in the United States.^[2]^[1]

Crowder learned to play baseball when he was a private in the Army. He had been shipped from Siberia to the Philippines and back again before a Pacific Coast League scout offered him a job.^[3]

Career

Although he signed his first baseball contract in 1920, he did not play a full season until 1923 with the Winston-Salem Twins. He did not play in his first major league game until he was 27 in 1926. He won only 7 games in each of his first two seasons, but finished the 1928 season with a record of 21–5 for the Browns. His .808 win percentage was the best in the American League, and his 21 wins was 4th best in the league.

Crowder won 20 games in three different seasons, including a 26–13 record in 1932, the most wins in the American League. In that same season, Crowder set the record, which he still holds, for the most innings pitched in a season without hitting a batter, with 327.^[4] In 1933, Crowder won 24 games, again the most in the AL, helped the Senators win the pennant, pitched in the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and finished 7th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

The Detroit Tigers selected Crowder off waivers on August 3, 1934. He went 5–1 for the Tigers down the stretch, helping them win their first pennant in 25 years. He faced the Yankees in two series late in the 1934 season, winning the opening game in both series. those two victories helped the Tigers pass the Yankees for the American League pennant. In the 1934 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, he lost Game 1 to Dizzy Dean.

In 1935, he was 16–10 for the Tigers as the club won its second consecutive American League pennant. He pitched a complete game in Game 4 of the 1935 World Series for a 2–1 victory to help the Tigers win their first World Series championship. Crowder pitched in three World Series consecutively (1933–1935), posting a record of 1–2 with 3.81 ERA in 26 innings pitched.

Crowder was also known as "Yankee Killer", for his success against the Yankees and Babe Ruth in particular.^[5]

In his career, Crowder had a 167–115 record with a 4.12 ERA.

Post-baseball

After his playing career ended, Crowder returned to Winston-Salem where he operated the Winston-Salem Twins during the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1967, Crowder was named to North Carolina's Sports Hall of Fame.

Crowder died in 1972 at age 73 in Winston-Salem.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Deveaux 2001, p. 105.
^ "General Crowder". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Sport 1933, p. 2.
^ "Single Season Hit by Pitch Records". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 4 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
^ "Former Major League Pitcher Dies Here". The Winston-Salem Journal. April 4, 1972. Retrieved July 13, 2011.

References

Deveaux, Tom (2001). The Washington Senators, 1901–1971. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-0993-2.
"Sport: Pitchers of the Year". Time. August 14, 1933. Retrieved July 13, 2011.

External links

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

[FOOTNOTEDeveaux2001105-1] Deveaux 2001, p. 105.

[ballplayersbio-2] "General Crowder". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[FOOTNOTESport19332-3] Sport 1933, p. 2.

[4] "Single Season Hit by Pitch Records". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 4 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)

[obituary-5] "Former Major League Pitcher Dies Here". The Winston-Salem Journal. April 4, 1972. Retrieved July 13, 2011.

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v t e Detroit Tigers 1935 World Series champions
2 Charlie Gehringer 3 Mickey Cochrane 4 Goose Goslin 5 Hank Greenberg (AL MVP) 6 Gee Walker 7 Billy Rogell 8 Marv Owen 9 Pete Fox 10 Tommy Bridges 11 Firpo Marberry 12 Clyde Hatter 13 Elden Auker 14 Schoolboy Rowe 15 Hugh Shelley 15 Carl Fischer 16 Alvin Crowder 17 Elon Hogsett 18 Vic Sorrell 19 Joe Sullivan 21 Frank Reiber 22 Heinie Schuble 23 Ray Hayworth 24 Flea Clifton 25 Jo-Jo White 26 Roxie Lawson 27 Chet Morgan 30 Hub Walker
Manager 3 Mickey Cochrane Coaches 31 Cy Perkins 32 Del Baker
Regular season