Ken Raffensberger
Ken Raffensberger | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: York, Pennsylvania | August 8, 1917|
Died: November 10, 2002 York, Pennsylvania | (aged 85)|
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
April 25, 1939, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 2, 1954, for the Cincinnati Redlegs | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 119–154 |
Earned run average | 3.60 |
Strikeouts | 806 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Kenneth David Raffensberger (August 8, 1917 – November 10, 2002) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). From 1939 through 1954, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1939), Chicago Cubs (1940–41), Philadelphia Phillies (1943–47), and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs (1947–54). Raffensberger batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
Career
In a 15-season big league career, Raffensberger posted a win–loss record of 119–154 with 806 strikeouts and a 3.60 earned run average (ERA) in 2,151+2⁄3 innings pitched. His career winning percentage was .463, despite being an all-star and having an above average career ERA (3.60).
Raffensberger started his career as a fastball pitcher, particularly gaining success with his rising fastball. However, further along in his career (beginning in the early 1940s), he developed an arsenal of additional pitches to complement his fastball: a dependable forkball, a slow curveball, and a changeup. Raffensberger had one of the widest ranges of deliveries in the major leagues, ranging from underhand to overhand and a variety of sidearm and three-quarter deliveries in between. Stan Musial said in 1964 of Raffensberger:
- Raffy had nothing except slow stuff, and a forkball, but, with changing speeds and control, he made those pitches seem so fat when they weren't... I stubbornly tried to slug with him and didn't have much success."
On November 10, 2002, Raffensberger died in his native York, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85.
Achievements
- Made National League All-Star team (1944)
- Twice led NL in shutouts (1949, five – 1952, six)
- Led NL in games started (1949, 38)
- Led NL in saves (1946, six)
- Led NL in WHIP (1951, 1.086)
- Led NL in SO to Walk (1944, 3.02)
- 3-time appeared in National League MVP vote (1949, 1951–52)
- Twice led NL in losses (1944, 20 – 1951, 17)
- Led NL in home runs allowed (1950, 34)
- Led NL in hits allowed (1949, 289)
Quotations
- I didn't go along with it... I never believed in throwing at a guy, Raffensberger said, after Phillies manager Ben Chapman had instructed his pitchers to throw the ball at Jackie Robinson when there was a 3–0 count.
- St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial said on an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that Raffensberger was the toughest left-handed pitcher he had ever faced and dubbed him "Crafty Raffy."
See also
- 1917 births
- 2002 deaths
- Baseball players from Pennsylvania
- Burlington Bees players
- Cambridge Cardinals players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Cincinnati Redlegs players
- Cincinnati Reds players
- Havana Sugar Kings players
- Lafayette Oilers players
- Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Minor league baseball managers
- National League All-Stars
- Philadelphia Phillies players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- Sportspeople from York, Pennsylvania
- York White Roses players
- American expatriate baseball players in Cuba