| George Mogridge | |
|---|---|
 Mogridge in 1924 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1889-02-18)February 18, 1889 Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: March 4, 1962(1962-03-04) (aged 73) Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 17, 1912, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 2, 1927, for the Boston Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 132–133 |
| Earned run average | 3.23 |
| Strikeouts | 678 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
George Anthony Mogridge (February 18, 1889 – March 4, 1962) was an American professionalbaseball pitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball for theChicago White Sox (1911–12),New York Yankees (1915–20),Washington Senators (1921–25),St. Louis Browns (1925), andBoston Braves (1926–27). Mogridge threw the firstno-hitter for the Yankees franchise in 1917 and was a member of the1924 World Series champions with the Senators.
George Anthony Mogridge was born inRochester, New York. He attended Holy Family School[1] and theUniversity of Rochester, where he playedcollege baseball for theRochester Yellowjackets. He also playedsemi-professional baseball in Rochester.[2]
Mogridge made hisprofessional baseball debut in 1911 with theGalesburg Pavers of theClass DCentral Association. A friend who signed with Galesburg suggested Mogridge to the team.[2] TheChicago White Sox purchased Mogridge from the Pavers in June, and gave him a brief trial in the major leagues in September 1911.[3] He had a 0–2win–loss record in fourgames pitched for Chicago.[4] He opened the 1912 season with the White Sox, but he struggled, pitching to a 3–4 record in 17 games.[5] The White Sox sent Mogridge to theLincoln Railsplitters of theClass AWestern League in July.[6] He participated inspring training with the White Sox in 1913,[7][8] and was released to theMinneapolis Millers of theClass AAAmerican Association.[9]Larry Schlafly, themanager of theBuffalo Buffeds of the outlawFederal League pursued Mogridge before the 1914 season,[10] but he returned to Minneapolis for the start of the season.[11] Minneapolis traded Mogridge to theDes Moines Boosters of the Western League in May 1914.[12]
In 1915, Mogridge emerged as theace of the Boosters' pitching staff. Des Moines sold Mogridge to theNew York Yankees for $3,500 ($108,788 in current dollar terms) in June after he wasscouted byDuke Farrell; per the arrangement, Mogridge did not join the Yankees until after the conclusion of Des Moines' season in September.[13][14] He had a 2–3 record and a 1.76earned run average (ERA) in six games for the Yankees in 1915.[15] The next year, he had a 6–12 record and a 2.31 ERA with 10complete games.[16] On April 24, 1917, atFenway Park, he threw the firstno-hitter in Yankees history.[17] He had a 9–11 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 15 complete games in 1917.[18] In 1918, Mogridge had a 16–13 record and a 2.18 ERA, and led the American League in games pitched (45), saves (7) and games finished (23).[17][19] He had a 16–13 record in 1919, but slipped to a 5–9 record in 1920.[20]
On December 31, 1920, the Yankees traded Mogridge andDuffy Lewis to theWashington Senators forBraggo Roth.[21] His 3.00 ERA for the 1921 season was the second-best in the league, behind onlyRed Faber.[22] Mogridge helped the Senators win the1924 World Series. With the Senators trailing in the series two games to one, Mogridge started Game 4 for the Senators, which they won.[23][24] He also pitched inrelief for the Senators in the deciding Game 7, replacingCurly Ogden, whoBucky Harris, Washington's manager, decided to start but allow to only pitch to two batters.[25] Mogridge pitched4+2⁄3innings, allowing one earned run, to give Washington the chance to stay in the game, which Washington won inextra innings.[17][26]
Mogridge struggled at the beginning of the 1925 season, pitching to a 3–4 record with only three complete games. On June 18, the Senators traded Mogridge andPinky Hargrave to theSt. Louis Browns forHank Severeid.[27] He pitched in two games for the Browns in 1925.[28] On February 6, 1926, the Browns traded Mogridge with cash to the New York Yankees forWally Schang.[29] The Yankees intended to send Mogridge to a minor league team as payment for players acquired during the 1925 season. Mogridge refused to accept a minor league assignment, which was his right as a 10-year veteran of the major leagues. TheBoston Braves selected Mogridge off ofwaivers from the Yankees on February 15.[30][31] He had a 6–10 record and a 4.50 ERA with two complete games in 1926.[32] In 1927, he had a 6–4 record and a 3.70 ERA.[33]
The Braves sold Mogridge to theRochester Tribe of the Class AAInternational League in June 1927 so that he could become their manager, following the resignation ofGeorge Stallings.[34] Mogridge signed a three-year contract with Rochester for $30,000 ($543,046 in current dollar terms).[35] TheSt. Louis Cardinals acquired the Tribe after the 1927 season, incorporating it into their expandingfarm system, and bought Mogridge out of the remaining two years on his contract so they could hireBilly Southworth to manage the team.[36]
After his release from the Tribe, Mogridge stayed in Rochester, where he resumed playing semi-professional baseball.[37] Mogridge owned a hotel, the Mogridge Inn, from 1927 to 1934, when it was destroyed by a fire. He then operated a sporting goods store until 1942. He took a job with the Weathermaster Company, sellingstorm windows, and worked for them until 1960. In his later years, Mogridge enjoyed fishing. He purchased a cottage on theBay of Quinte inOntario,Canada.[1]
Mogridge and his wife, Clara, had a son, George J. Mogridge. He was a member of theSociety of the Holy Name.[1]
Mogridge died in his home in Rochester on March 4, 1962.[35] He was buried in theHoly Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.[1]
· Baseball Almanac| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | MLB no-hitters April 24, 1917 | Succeeded by |