Gus Weyhing

Gus Weyhing
Pitcher
Born: (1866-12-29)December 29, 1866
Louisville, Kentucky
Died: September 4, 1955(1955-09-04) (aged 88)
Louisville, Kentucky
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 2, 1887, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last MLB appearance
August 21, 1901, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 264–232
Earned run average 3.89
Strikeouts 1,665
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • 12th most complete games in Major League history (448)
  • 4 200+ strikeout seasons
  • 7 20-win seasons

August "Gus" Weyhing (September 29, 1866 – September 4, 1955) was a pitcher for nine professional baseball teams in a career that spanned 14 years from 1887 to 1901. He was small for a pitcher by today's standards, listed at 5 feet 10 inches tall and between 120 and 145 pounds. He enjoyed quite a bit of success, winning 25 games or more for six years in a row, capped by a 32 win season in 1892 for the Philadelphia Phillies. He completed 46 of his 49 starts that year, hurled six shutouts, and logged 469 2⁄3 innings pitched. He collected 216 wins in his first eight professional seasons. Weyhing was nicknamed "Cannonball", "Rubber Arm", and "Rubber-Winged Gus". Weyhing was known to be a poor hitter and suspect fielder. He holds the dubious honor of having hit the most batters in a career (277).[1]

Career

Weyhing was a solid pitcher, though he never led the league in any specific categories. He did have a few career highlights, however. In one memorable week in the 1888 season, Weyhing pitched three consecutive complete game victories against Brooklyn to eliminate that team from the pennant race. In addition, Weyhing came close to throwing a perfect game when he hurled a no-hitter on July 31, 1888, against the Kansas City Cowboys. He walked one batter and another reached base via an error. He set the record for most hit baseman 278.

Accusations of theft

One odd report, taken from the local Louisville, Kentucky newspaper, tells the tale of Weyhing's possible involvement in a pigeon theft. The following report is from newspaper accounts in Louisville (Weyhing's hometown) in 1892:

“ Louisville, Jan. 26 — Gus Weyhing, pitcher of the Philadelphia Base Ball Club, was before the police court this morning upon an alleged charge of grand larceny. During the past two days a number of pigeons have been stolen from the coops at the National Pigeon Show, and last night, when Weyhing started out of the building with his basket, a pair of blondinettes, valued at $100, were found in his possession. He could not explain how he got the birds, and was therefore arrested. The case was continued and he was released on bail. Weyhing has a weakness for fine pigeons; in fact, is quite a pigeon fancier, and this fact makes the charge appear plausible. It does not, however, seem possible that a man in Weyhing's position, and with such an income as he enjoys, would be guilty of such a deed for a couple of birds. Weyhing has in the past been in trouble through indiscretion, but nothing more serious than conviviality, and consequent excesses, was ever charged against him. It is to be hoped, however, for his own sake, as well as for the sake of the Philadelphia Club and the good repute of the profession, that the charge against him is unfounded. If he should not be able to clear himself it would be a hard blow to the Philadelphia Club, which had counted on Weyhing as its star pitcher next season. ”

It appears that Weyhing was either cleared of the charges, or found guilty and took care of the matter before the 1892 season commenced. He was with the Phillies all of 1892, and won 32 games.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jackson, Frank. "The Plunks of Hazard: Baseball's Order of the Purple Heart". http://www.hardballtimes.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014. External link in |website= (help)

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Ed Seward		 No-hitter pitcher
July 31, 1888 		Succeeded by
Cannonball Titcomb
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